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Belarusian Mathematical Olympiad

Belarus algebra

Problem

Determine, whether there exists a function defined on the set of all positive real numbers and taking positive values such that for all positive and ?
Solution
Answer: such function doesn't exist. Suppose that such a function exists. Putting in the inequality we obtain where , . So for all . From (2) it follows that for all sufficiently large (namely when ). Putting in (1) we get Therefore for all large enough. Further, we have for all large enough. Hence is an increasing function for large enough. Therefore, from it follows that for all and all large enough. Together with (3) this leads for all large enough, which is obviously wrong. The contradiction shows that there is no such function.
Final answer
No such function exists.

Techniques

Existential quantifiersLinear and quadratic inequalities