Honsberger Revisited：Mathematical Gems Polished

Contents
Introduction vii
Preface viii

1 Mathematical Delights 1
1.1 Triangles in Orthogonal Position   1
1.2 Pan Balance   6
1.3 Schoch 3   7
1.4 A Nice Problem in Probability   10
1.5 Three Proofs of the Heron Formula   13
1.6 Incenter   18
1.7 On Median, Altitude and Angle Bisector   19
1.8 A Geometry Problem from Quantum   23
1.9 Monochromatic Triangle   25
1.10 Sum of the Greatest Odd Divisors    26
1.11 Prime Numbers of the Form m2k + mknk + n2k   27

2 In P olya's Footsteps   29
2.1 Curious Squares   29
2.2 A Problem from 15th Russian Olympiad   32
2.3 Maximum Without Calculus   34
2.4 Cocyclic Points   36
2.5 Reconstruction of the Original Triangle   37
2.6 The Sums of the Powers   38
2.7 A Problem from Crux Mathematicorum    46
2.8 A Puzzle   47
2.9 Pedal Triangle with Preasigned Shape    47
2.10 An Intriguing Geometry Problem   49

3 Mathematical Chestnuts from Around the World   52
3.1 Three Similar Triangles Sharing a Vertex   52
3.2 The Simson Line in Disguise   55
3.3 Circle through Points   56
3.4 Zigzag   57
3.5 Cevians   60
3.6 Integers of a Particular Type Divisible by 2n    61
3.7 Quadrangles with Perpendicular Diagonals   61

4 Mathematical Diamonds   64
4.1 Orthic Triangle   64
4.2 Quartering a Quadrangle   66
4.3 A Well-Known Figure   67
4.4 Rangers with Walkie-Talkie   71
4.5 A Piston Rod   73
4.6 The Schwab-Schoenberg Mean   75
4.7 Construction of an Isosceles Triangle   79
4.8 The Conjugate Orthocenter   82
4.9 A Remarkable Pair   85
4.10 Calculus?   89
4.11 A Problem from the 1980 Tournament of Towns   91

5 From Erdos to Kiev   96
5.1 The Sum of Consecutive Positive Integers   96
5.2 A Problem in Graph Theory   98
5.3 A Triangle with its Euler Line Parallel to a Side   99
5.4 A “Pythagorean” Triple   102
5.5 A Geometry Problem from the K?ursch?ak Competition   104
5.6 A Lovely Geometric Construction   109
5.7 A Problem from the 1987 Austrian Olympiad   112
5.8 Another Problem from the 1987 Austrian Olympiad   116
5.9 An Unexpected Property of Triangles   119
5.10 Products of Consecutive Integers   125
5.11 A Problem from the Second Balkan Olympiad, 1985   129

A Exercises   136

B Solutions   166

C Useful Theorems   288
C.1 Triangles   288
C.1.1 Complex Plane   288
C.1.2 Corollaries   290
C.1.3 Equilateral Triangles   291
C.1.4 Theorems of Ceva and Menelaus   291
C.2 Circles   294
C.2.1 Subtended Angles   294
C.2.2 The Power Theorem   297

Preface

　　Before my retirement, I was responsible for composing the problems for the New Mexico Mathematics Contest1. Whenever I needed an inspiration then, I always turned to the wonderful books by Professor Ross Honsberger. I knew his books were a treasure trove of interesting problems with brilliant solutions. So it was only natural that when I retired and wanted to prevent dementia, I chose problems from his books for my “Problem-of-the-Day” activity. I would not peek at the solution unless I had solved the problem myself, or could not come up with a fresh approach to tackle the problem for at least 72 hours. The problem-of-the-day activity gave me a daily drama. Some days, I was delighted to have found nice solutions, but some other days I was disappointed that my “brilliant” solutions turned out to be essentially the same as those presented in his books, or worse, not so brilliant compared to the published ones.

　　Time and again, Professor Honsberger encouraged me to publish my solutions. This book is the consequence. I can only claim I found these solutions myself. But as it is irrelevant for my problem-of-the-day activity, no effort is made to check whether they are new. Naturally, my solutions that have already appeared in Professor Honsberger's books are excluded. On the other hand, some solutions that are not so elegant are included, in the hope that they still have some merits. By the way, my original plan was to include also Episodes in Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Euclidean Geometry, which is another very rich source for exploration. However, my manuscript is already over 300 pages, and the inclusion would make this one too lopsided toward geometry. Furthermore, after five years on this book project, I am eager to move on to the next phase of my life.

　　Each chapter corresponds to Professor Honsberger's book with the same title. However, the order of the chapters is random, and so they can be read in any order. Yet, in Exercises (Appendix A) and Solutions (Appendix B), I preserve the order in Professor Honsberger's books for easy reference. The source of each problem is identified by a single or a pair of number(s) in brackets. For example, because Chapter 2 corresponds to In P?olya's Footsteps, so a problem taken from page 67 of In P?olya's Footsteps is indicated by [67] in Chapter 2, while this same problem is referred to in other chapters by [2:67]. None of the problems in Exercises (Appendix A)1See my book, New Mexico Mathematics Contest Problem Book (University of New Mexico Press, 2005).popped out of thin air. If they have appeared in Professor Honsberger's books, then alternate solutions can be found in Solutions (Appendix B). Others are byproducts of my solutions. Therefore, all have their origins, directly or indirectly, in Professor Honsberger's works. Appendix C is designed to provide sufficient background for the readers. It contains my favorite “tools of the trade”.

　　I am an unabashed admirer of the late Professor George P?olya, mainly for the elegance of his mathematics, but also for his teaching and problem-solving methods, not to mention his devotion to mathematics education.

　　I keep on telling students whenever I have a chance: “If you find a book by Professor P?olya, buy it and read it. You will be happy you did.” His books are invaluable for anyone in mathematics, both in teaching and in research. I only wish I had a chance to hear his comments on my solutions. I am sure many readers can detect his influence on me.

　　Although Professor Honsberger's books are not a necessary background; i.e., this book can be read independently, I am sure, by parallel reading, the reader will be all the more entertained. And I certainly hope that readers who enjoy his books will also enjoy mine. At the minimum, I hope I have some success in conveying the joy of problem solving.

　　It is a pleasure to express my heartfelt appreciation to Professor Honsberger for his friendship over the decades, and his encouragement throughout this book project. I can never thank him enough for his very meticulous reading of the manuscript and generous help in improvement of the presentation, not to mention his endorsement in the Introduction.

L.-s. H.
February 2008

　　Postscript. It is a pleasure to express my deep appreciation to Dr. Luke Cheng-chung Yu (neonatology and pediatric cardiology, board certified) and my son, Shin-Yi, for their help in solving the computer problems for me. Without their help, I don’t know how long the publication of this book would have been delayed. Even though the manuscript was completed in February 2008, it was submitted to the National Taiwan University Press three years later. Knowing the book will be published within one year was a happy surprise for the author. Now the fortunate result is before you.

中文說明

　　本書(中譯名：重訪亨斯貝爾格--磨亮數學寶石)是美國 New Mexico 大學退休教授 Liong-Shin Hahn（韓良信）從著名數學家 Ross A Hongsberger 所著的五本書中選出好題目，加以探索、分析、解題、延伸之後，寫下的一本「讀數」札記。

　　Hongsberger 的這五本書分別是(1) Mathematical Delights(2004出版) (2) In Polya's Footsteps(1997出版) (3) Mathematical Chestnuts from around the world(2001出版) (4) Mathematical Diamonds(2003出版) (5) From Erd?s to Kiev(1996出版)。

　　韓教授將上述這五本書的書名作為本書的章名，每一章的題目都是從 Hongsberger 對應的書中挑出來的，並且提供了比原書更好，更精緻，且更具啟發性的解法。作者特別強調「重訪」這本書完全可以獨立閱讀，當然也可以與 Hongsberger 的原書平行閱讀。

　　除了上述五章本文之外，「重訪」一書另有A、B、C三個附錄。附錄A收集了115個挑戰題，粗分為52題幾何題，20題代數題，18題數論題，20題組合題和5題微積分題，解題所需的工具是高中數學。

　　附錄B是對附錄A的詳解。附錄C是整本「重訪」一書解題所需的定理，作者將這些定理作了很好的證明和延伸，這些定理包含了中學教育最核心的議題：

　　c.1 三角形相關定理
　　c.2 圓形相關定理
　　c.3 三角學相關定理
　　c.4 圓錐曲線相關定理
　　c.5 Jensen不等式的各種面貌

　　本書不單是一本解題手冊，而是藉解題來呈現作者認為最重要的數學，適合對數學有興趣的高中生、大學生以及中學的數學教師研讀。

Introduction

　　What is it about math problems that makes them so addictive?

　　When I get going on a problem, I’d rather stay at it than eat!

　　Liong-shin Hahn and I are kindred spirits who have lived like this for the last fifty years. As you might expect, Liong-shin has become very adept at solving problems, and in this volume he has collected his treatments of some hundred problems that caught his eye in my books. If you would like a sample of his ingenuity, take a look at Exercise 49 (pages 149 and 215) or his solution to Exercise 8 (pages 138 and 177); and wait till you see what Problem 2.1 (page 29) conjured up in his mind!

　　While this volume might be used in the training of young scholars to write mathematics contests, it is more than that. This is a book for everyone who delights in the richness, beauty, and excitement of the wonderful ideas that abide in the realms of elementary mathematics. I feel it is only fair to caution you that this book can lead to a deeper appreciation and love of mathematics.

　　Without further ado, then, let us turn over the stage to this remarkable man—Liong-shin Hahn.

By Ross Honsberger.