MathDB
upper bound of side ratio in trapezoid

Source: Putnam 1989 B5

August 27, 2021
ratiogeometrytrapezoid

Problem Statement

Label the vertices of a trapezoid TT inscribed in the unit circle as A,B,C,DA,B,C,D counterclockwise with ABCDAB\parallel CD. Let s1,s2,s_1,s_2, and dd denote the lengths of ABAB, CDCD, and OEOE, where EE is the intersection of the diagonals of TT, and OO is the center of the circle. Determine the least upper bound of s1s2d\frac{s_1-s_2}d over all TT for which d0d\ne0, and describe all cases, if any, in which equality is attained.