MHB Real Number Pairs $(p,\,q)$ Satisfying Inequality

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The discussion focuses on identifying all pairs of real numbers (p, q) that satisfy the inequality |√(1-x²) - px - q| ≤ (√2 - 1)/2 for every x in the interval [0, 1]. Participants analyze the behavior of the function √(1-x²) and its linear approximation given by px + q. Key points include exploring the endpoints of the interval and the maximum deviation allowed by the inequality. The conversation also touches on the implications of the inequality for the values of p and q, leading to potential solutions. Ultimately, the goal is to derive specific pairs (p, q) that meet the criteria across the specified range of x.
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Find all pairs of real numbers $(p,\,q)$ such that the inequality $|\sqrt{1-x^2}-px-q|\le \dfrac{\sqrt{2}-1}{2}$ holds for every $x\in [0,\,1]$.
 
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Let $f(x) = \sqrt{1-x^2}-(px+q)$ and $\delta_0 = \frac{\sqrt{2}-1}{2} \approx 0,2071$.

With this notation, the given problem reads: $|f(x)| \leq \delta_0, \;\; x \in \left [ 0;1 \right ]$.

As seen from the expression, the problem can be interpreted graphically as a constraint

on the absolute difference between the two functions: $\sqrt{1-x^2}$ and $px + q$.

Note, that the pair $(x,y) = (x, \sqrt{1-x^2})$, for $x \in \left [ 0;1 \right ]$ is the arc of a unit circle in the 1st quadrant of the coordinate system.

Hence, a symmetry argument intuitively suggests $p = -1$ as a solution. Another way to see this, is to use the endpoint constraints:

$x = 0$: $|1-q| \leq \delta_0 \Rightarrow 1-\delta_0 \leq q \leq 1 + \delta_0\;\;\;\;\;(1)$

$x = 1$: $|-p-q| \leq \delta_0\;\;\;\;\;(2)$

Obviously, putting $p = -1$ makes the two conditions identically valid. In addition, we have the function maximum constraint:

$0 < x < 1$: $|\sqrt{1+p^2}-q| \leq \delta_0 \;\;\;\;\;(3)$

The inequality follows from two observations:

(a). $f’’(x) = \frac{-1}{(1-x^2)^{\frac{3}{2}}} \leq 0$ (i.e. $f$ is truly concave on the open interval $]0;1[$, so if an extremum is detected, it must be a maximum).

(b). $ f’(x_0) = 0 \Rightarrow x_0 = -\frac{p}{\sqrt{1+p^2}}$.

Note the minus sign (we know from $(2)$, that $p < 0$). The condition: $|f(x_0)| < \delta_0$ yields $(3)$.

The presumed solution: $p = -1$ also satisfies $(3)$, because:

\[ \left | \sqrt{1+(-1)^2}-q \right | \leq \delta_0 \Rightarrow q \geq \sqrt{2}-\delta_0 = 1+\delta_0 \Rightarrow q = 1+\delta_0\] – which is the upper limit of $q$. We can conclude, that $(p,q) = ( -1, 1+\delta_0) = \left (-1, \frac{\sqrt{2}+1}{2} \right )$ is a solution to the problem.

We need to check for other possibilities:

The conditions $(2)$ and $(3)$ imply:

$-\delta_0 -p \leq q \leq \delta_0 -p \;\;\;\;(2a)$

$\sqrt{1+p^2}-\delta_0 \leq q \leq \sqrt{1+p^2}+\delta_0 \;\;\;\; (3a)$

Note from $(3a)$ and $(1)$, that $p$ is restricted to the interval $-1 \leq p \leq 0$. We can graphically illustrate the set of possible solutions:

p-q boundaries.png


Only $(p,q)$-pairs in the intersection of the yellow and green sets are allowed. Thus only the o-marked corner point at $(-1,1+\delta_0)$, is a valid solution. Indeed, the lower limit in $(3a)$ intersects the upper limit in $(2a)$ in $p = -1$:

\[\sqrt{1+(-1)^2}-\delta_0 = \delta_0 - (-1) \Rightarrow \sqrt{2}-\delta_0 = 1+\delta_0\Rightarrow 2\delta_0 = \sqrt{2}-1 \Rightarrow \delta_0 = \frac{\sqrt{2}-1}{2}\;\;\;\;TRUE\]

We can conclude, that $(p,q) = \left (-1, \frac{\sqrt{2}+1}{2} \right )$ is the only solution.
 
[TIKZ] [scale=5]
\draw (-0.25,0) -- (1.25,0) ;
\draw (0,-0.25) -- (0,1.25) ;
\draw [dashed] (1,0) arc (0:90:1) ;
\draw [thick,green] (1,0.2071) arc (0:90:1) ;
\draw [thick,red] (1,-0.2071) arc (0:90:1) ;
\draw [very thick,dotted] (0,1.2071) -- (1,0.2071) ;[/TIKZ]
The dashed curve is the quadrant $y= \sqrt{1-x^2}$. Raise it by a distance $\frac{\sqrt2-1}2$ to get the green quadrant, and lower it by a distance $\frac{\sqrt2-1}2$ to get the red quadrant. The dotted line is the unique line that can be fitted between the green and red quadrants. It has slope $-1$ and $y$-intercept $\frac{\sqrt2+1}2$, and that gives the values for $p$ and $q$ that lfdahl obtained. But I never got round to writing up the details.
 
Seemingly by some mathematical coincidence, a hexagon of sides 2,2,7,7, 11, and 11 can be inscribed in a circle of radius 7. The other day I saw a math problem on line, which they said came from a Polish Olympiad, where you compute the length x of the 3rd side which is the same as the radius, so that the sides of length 2,x, and 11 are inscribed on the arc of a semi-circle. The law of cosines applied twice gives the answer for x of exactly 7, but the arithmetic is so complex that the...