Let a, b and c be positive real numbers such that a+b+c=1. Prove that a+b2a+b+c2b+c+a2c≤41(a1+b1+c1).(Toncˊi Kokan)
Solution
By using the condition a+b+c=1 and the inequality between arithmetic and geometric means, we have that a+b2a=a(a+b+c)+b2a=a2+b2+ab+aca≤2ab+ab+aca=3b+c1. By applying the inequality between harmonic and arithmetic means, it follows that b3+c14=b1+b1+b1+c14≤4b+b+b+c=43b+c, i.e. a+b2a≤3b+c1≤161(b3+c1). Analogously, b+c2b≤161(c3+a1)andc+a2c≤161(a3+b1). Finally, by adding the inequalities above, we have that a+b2a+b+c2b+c+a2c≤161(a4+b4+c4)=41(a1+b1+c1).
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