Let a, b, c be real numbers which satisfy the conditions: a<b<c, a+b+c=6, ab+bc+ca=9. Prove that the inequality a2+b2+c2−a−4b−7c+15<0
Solution
It is obvious that a<2<c. Therefore 3(a−1)(a−3)−(a−b)(a−c)=3(b−1)(b−3)−(b−1)(b−a)= 3(c−1)(c−3)−(c−a)(c−b)=0 (0=9−ab−bc−ca=9+a2−2a(b+c)−(a−b)(a−c)==9+a2−2a(6−a)−(a−b)(a−c)=3(a−1)(a−3)−(a−b)(a−c)) Since a<b<c we get (a−b)(b−c)>0, (b−a)(b−c)<0, (c−a)(c−b)>0 and (a−1)(a−3)>0, (b−1)(b−3)>0, (c−1)(c−3)>0. Therefore a<1<b<3<c. It follows that (1−a)(1−b)<0. Since 0=9−ab−bc−ca=(c−1)(c−4)−(1−a)(1−b) we get (c−1)(c−4)<0 and c<4. Similarly, (1−a)(1−b)<0 and 0=9−ab−bc−ca=a(a−3)−(3−b)(3−c) we get a(a−3)<0 and a>0. It implies 0<a<1<b<3<c<4 and a(1−a)+(b−1)(3−b)+(c−3)(4−c)>0 from which follows required inequality. There is no value to attain equality.
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