Math Problem Statement

Two real numbers a and b satisfy the inequality (a+b)2<a2+b2 .

Which of the following statements always holds?

a+b<0 a<0 and b<0 a=0 or b=0 a<0<b or b<0<a a+b<1

Solution

We are tasked with determining which statement always holds true if aa and bb satisfy the inequality:

(a+b)2<a2+b2(a + b)^2 < a^2 + b^2

Step 1: Expand the inequality

Expand (a+b)2(a + b)^2: (a+b)2=a2+2ab+b2(a + b)^2 = a^2 + 2ab + b^2

The inequality becomes: a2+2ab+b2<a2+b2a^2 + 2ab + b^2 < a^2 + b^2

Cancel a2+b2a^2 + b^2 from both sides: 2ab<02ab < 0

Step 2: Analyze the inequality

The condition 2ab<02ab < 0 implies: ab<0ab < 0

This means aa and bb must have opposite signs (one is positive and the other is negative).

Step 3: Evaluate each statement

  1. a+b<0a + b < 0:
    This does not always hold. For example, if a=2a = 2 and b=1b = -1, a+b=1a + b = 1, which is not less than 0.

  2. a<0 and b<0a < 0 \text{ and } b < 0:
    This cannot hold because ab<0ab < 0 requires aa and bb to have opposite signs.

  3. a=0 or b=0a = 0 \text{ or } b = 0:
    This does not always hold. For example, a=1a = 1 and b=1b = -1 satisfy ab<0ab < 0, but neither aa nor bb is zero.

  4. a<0<b or b<0<aa < 0 < b \text{ or } b < 0 < a:
    This always holds. Since ab<0ab < 0, aa and bb must have opposite signs, which means one is negative and the other is positive.

  5. a+b<1a + b < 1:
    This does not always hold. For example, a=2a = 2 and b=1b = -1 satisfy ab<0ab < 0, but a+b=1a + b = 1, not less than 1.

Final Answer:

The statement that always holds is:

a<0<b or b<0<a\boxed{a < 0 < b \text{ or } b < 0 < a}


Would you like me to provide a detailed graph or example to further illustrate this?

Here are five related questions to explore:

  1. What happens if a+b=0a + b = 0? Does the inequality still hold?
  2. Can you derive the inequality ab<0ab < 0 geometrically?
  3. What additional constraints would enforce a+b<0a + b < 0?
  4. How would the solution change if aa and bb are restricted to integers?
  5. What happens if we relax the condition to (a+b)2a2+b2(a+b)^2 \leq a^2 + b^2?

Tip: Always simplify inequalities by canceling like terms carefully to reveal the core relationship.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Inequalities
Real Numbers
Algebraic Manipulation

Formulas

(a + b)^2 = a^2 + 2ab + b^2
Simplified inequality: 2ab < 0

Theorems

Properties of inequalities
Behavior of products of real numbers

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 9-12