IMO 1960 · Problem 2

For what values of the variable \(x\) does the following inequality hold: \[ \frac{4x^2}{(1-\sqrt{1+2x})^2}<2x+9? \]

Official text of the problem. Official problem paper (PDF)

Answer

\[ \boxed{x\in\left[-\frac12,0\right)\cup\left(0,\frac{45}{8}\right).} \]

Solution

The square root is real exactly when \(x\ge -\frac12\). The denominator vanishes exactly when \[ \sqrt{1+2x}=1, \] that is, when \(x=0\). Thus the domain is \(x\ge-\frac12\), \(x\ne0\).

On this domain, the identity \[ (1-\sqrt{1+2x})(1+\sqrt{1+2x})=-2x \] gives \[ \frac{4x^2}{(1-\sqrt{1+2x})^2} =(1+\sqrt{1+2x})^2 =2x+2+2\sqrt{1+2x}. \] Consequently, the given inequality is equivalent to \[ 2x+2+2\sqrt{1+2x}<2x+9, \] or \[ \sqrt{1+2x}<\frac72. \] Both sides are nonnegative, so squaring is reversible and yields \[ 1+2x<\frac{49}{4} \quad\Longleftrightarrow\quad x<\frac{45}{8}. \]

Intersecting this condition with the domain gives precisely \[ \left[-\frac12,0\right)\cup\left(0,\frac{45}{8}\right). \] The left endpoint is included; \(0\) is excluded because the original expression is undefined, and \(\frac{45}{8}\) is excluded because it gives equality.

The solution was checked against John Scholes' IMO solution archive (Kalva).