Suppose a,b,c are the side lengths of a triangle ABC. Let x=2b+c,y=2c+a,z=2a+b. Show that x,y,z are the side lengths of a triangle XYZ, with the same perimeter as ABC, but with a bigger area, unless ABC is equilateral.
Solution
First of all, for instance, x<y+z, because 2x=b+c<2a+b+c=(c+a)+(a+b)=2y+2z. Thus, x,y,z are the side lengths of a triangle. Next, x+y+z=a+b+c=2s, in the usual notation. Hence, △ABC and △XYZ have the same perimeter. Now, by Heron's formula, the area of △XYZ is given by (XYZ)=s(s−x)(s−y)(s−z). But, s−x=22s−(b+c)=2a,s−y=22s−(c+a)=2b,s−z=22s−(a+b)=2c and so (s−x)(s−y)(s−z)=8abc. Thus, (XYZ)2=abc/s, and so, since (ABC)2=s(s−a)(s−b)(s−c), we must show that abc≥8(s−a)(s−b)(s−c), with equality iff a=b=c. Now 2(s−a)(s−b)≤s−a+s−b=c, with equality iff a=b. Hence, 8(s−a)(s−b)(s−c)=(2(s−a)(s−b))(2(s−b)(s−c))(2(s−c)(s−a))≤cab, with equality iff a=b=c.
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