Problem: Let a, b and c be positive real numbers such that abc=1. Prove the inequality (ab+bc+ca1)(bc+ca+ab1)(ca+ab+bc1)≥(1+2a)(1+2b)(1+2c)
Solutions — 2
Solution 1
Solution: By Cauchy-Schwarz inequality and abc=1 we get (bc+ca+ab1)(ab+bc+ca1)=(bc+ca+ab1)(ca1+ab+bc)≥(ab⋅ab1+bc⋅bc+ca1⋅ca)=(2+bc)=(2abc+bc)=bc(1+2a) Analogously we get (bc+ca+ab1)(ca+ab+bc1)≥ca(1+2b) and (ca+ab+bc1)(ab+bc+ca1)≥ab(1+2a). Multiplying these three inequalities we get: (ab+bc+ca1)(bc+ca+ab1)(ca+ab+bc1)≥a2b2c2(1+2a)(1+2b)(1+2c)= (1+2a)(1+2b)(1+2c) because abc=1.
Equality holds if and only if a=b=c=1.
Solution 2
Solution: Using abc=1 we get (ab+bc+ca1)(bc+ca+ab1)(ca+ab+bc1)==(c1+a1+b)(a1+b1+c)(b1+c1+a)==ac(a+c+abc)⋅ab(b+a+abc)⋅bc(b+c+abc)=(a+b+1)(b+c+1)(c+a+1) Thus, we need to prove (a+b+1)(b+c+1)(c+a+1)≥(1+2a)(1+2b)(1+2c) After multiplication and using the fact abc=1 we have to prove a2b+a2c+b2c+b2a+c2a+c2b+3(ab+bc+ca)+2(a+b+c)+a2+b2+c2+3≥≥4(ab+bc+ca)+2(a+b+c)+9 So we need to prove a2b+a2c+b2c+b2a+c2a+c2b+a2+b2+c2≥ab+bc+ca+6 This follows from the well-known (AM-GM inequality) inequalities a2+b2+c2≥ab+bc+ca and a2b+a2c+b2c+b2a+c2a+c2b≥6abc=6
Want a route through all this instead of an archive? The track
puts 2,000 problems in a working order, from AMC 10 level to the IMO shortlist.
Source: MathNet,
licensed CC-BY-4.0.
Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty) added by this project.