IMO 1973 · Problem 3

Let \(a\) and \(b\) be real numbers for which the equation \[ x^4+ax^3+bx^2+ax+1=0 \] has at least one real solution. For all such pairs \((a,b)\), find the minimum value of \(a^2+b^2\).

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

Answer

\[ \boxed{\frac45}. \]

Solution

Let \(x\) be a real root. Since the constant term is \(1\), we have \(x\ne0\). Dividing the equation by \(x^2\) gives \[ x^2+\frac1{x^2}+a\left(x+\frac1x\right)+b=0. \] Put \(t=x+\frac1x\). Then \[ t^2=\left(x-\frac1x\right)^2+4\ge4, \qquad at+b=2-t^2. \]

By the Cauchy–Schwarz inequality, \[ (t^2-2)^2=(at+b)^2\le(a^2+b^2)(t^2+1). \] Consequently, \[ \begin{aligned} a^2+b^2 &\ge \frac{(t^2-2)^2}{t^2+1}\\ &=\frac45+\frac{(t^2-4)(5t^2-4)}{5(t^2+1)} \ge\frac45, \end{aligned} \] where the last inequality follows from \(t^2\ge4\).

To show that this bound is attained, take \[ a=-\frac45,\qquad b=-\frac25. \] Then \(x=1\) is a root, since \[ 1-\frac45-\frac25-\frac45+1=0, \] and \[ a^2+b^2=\frac{16}{25}+\frac4{25}=\frac45. \] Thus the required minimum is \(\boxed{\frac45}\).

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