Problem:
Determine the smallest possible value of the expression
where satisfy and .
Problem:
Determine the smallest possible value of the expression
where satisfy and .
Solution:
The minimum is , which is obtained for and permutations of this triple.
As is negative, the triple has either exactly one negative number or three negative numbers. Also, since , at least one of the three numbers has absolute value greater than .
If all of were negative, the previous statement would contradict , hence exactly one of is negative.
WLOG let be the unique negative number. So , as the value isn't possible by . Let be the given sum of fractions. We then have
using AM-GM on the three pairs of summands respectively for the inequality. We can do this since and , so every summand is positive.
So all we want to do now is show , to conclude . From the two given conditions we have . If , then and thereby . So the implication is indeed true.