IMO 1969 · Problem 2

Let \(a_1, a_2, \cdots, a_n\) be real constants, \(x\) a real variable, and

\[ f(x)=\cos(a_1+x)+\frac12\cos(a_2+x)+\frac14\cos(a_3+x) +\cdots+\frac{1}{2^{n-1}}\cos(a_n+x). \]

Given that \(f(x_1)=f(x_2)=0\), prove that \(x_2-x_1=m\pi\) for some integer \(m\).

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

Solution

By the cosine addition formula, \[ f(x)=A\cos x-B\sin x, \] where \[ A=\sum_{k=1}^{n}\frac{\cos a_k}{2^{k-1}}, \qquad B=\sum_{k=1}^{n}\frac{\sin a_k}{2^{k-1}}. \]

We first show that \(A\) and \(B\) cannot both be zero. Indeed, since every cosine is at least \(-1\), \[ \begin{aligned} f(-a_1) &=1+\sum_{k=2}^{n}\frac{\cos(a_k-a_1)}{2^{k-1}}\\ &\ge 1-\sum_{k=2}^{n}\frac1{2^{k-1}} =2^{1-n}>0. \end{aligned} \] For \(n=1\), the sums here are empty and the same conclusion holds. Thus \(f\) is not identically zero, so \((A,B)\ne(0,0)\).

The two given zeros yield \[ \begin{cases} A\cos x_1-B\sin x_1=0,\\ A\cos x_2-B\sin x_2=0. \end{cases} \] Because this homogeneous system has the nonzero solution \((A,B)\), its determinant must vanish. Hence \[ 0= \begin{vmatrix} \cos x_1&-\sin x_1\\ \cos x_2&-\sin x_2 \end{vmatrix} =\sin x_1\cos x_2-\cos x_1\sin x_2 =\sin(x_1-x_2). \] Therefore \(x_2-x_1=m\pi\) for some integer \(m\), as required.

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