Problem

Source: IMO LongList 1967, Soviet Union 5

Tags: geometry, function, algebra, Inequality, Linear Function, IMO Shortlist, IMO Longlist



A linear binomial $l(z) = Az + B$ with complex coefficients $A$ and $B$ is given. It is known that the maximal value of $|l(z)|$ on the segment $-1 \leq x \leq 1$ $(y = 0)$ of the real line in the complex plane $z = x + iy$ is equal to $M.$ Prove that for every $z$ \[|l(z)| \leq M \rho,\] where $\rho$ is the sum of distances from the point $P=z$ to the points $Q_1: z = 1$ and $Q_3: z = -1.$