MathDB
2023 Putnam A3

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December 3, 2023
PutnamPutnam 2023

Problem Statement

Determine the smallest positive real number rr such that there exist differentiable functions f:RRf: \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R} and g:RRg: \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R} satisfying (a) f(0)>0f(0)>0, (b) g(0)=0g(0)=0, (c) f(x)g(x)\left|f^{\prime}(x)\right| \leq|g(x)| for all xx, (d) g(x)f(x)\left|g^{\prime}(x)\right| \leq|f(x)| for all xx, and (e) f(r)=0f(r)=0.