Maths Olympiad Prep

Library / Taiwan IMO Selection Camp /268 of 359

Taiwan IMO Selection Camp

Algebra Difficulty 6.5 National Olympiad Prove it Taiwan

Let x,y,zx, y, z be positive real numbers satisfying x+y+z=1x + y + z = 1. Find the smallest kk such that
x2y21−z+y2z21−x+z2x21−y≤k−3xyz \frac{x^2 y^2}{1-z} + \frac{y^2 z^2}{1-x} + \frac{z^2 x^2}{1-y} \le k - 3xyz
always holds.

Solution

Solution: First let x=y=z=13x = y = z = \frac{1}{3}, then k≥16k \ge \frac{1}{6}. Next we prove that:
x2y21−z+y2z21−x+z2x21−y≤16−3xyz.(1) \frac{x^2 y^2}{1-z} + \frac{y^2 z^2}{1-x} + \frac{z^2 x^2}{1-y} \le \frac{1}{6} - 3xyz. \quad (1)
Since x>0,y>0,z>0x > 0, y > 0, z > 0 and x+y+z=1x + y + z = 1, we know that inequality (1) is equivalent to
xyz(x+y)+yzx(y+z)+zxy(z+x)+3≤16xyz⇔xyzz(x+y)+xyzx(y+z)+xyzy(z+x)≤16(xy+yz+zx)⇔xyx+y+yzy+z+zxz+x≤16(xy+yz+zx). \begin{align*} & \frac{xy}{z(x+y)} + \frac{yz}{x(y+z)} + \frac{zx}{y(z+x)} + 3 \le \frac{1}{6xyz} \\ \Leftrightarrow & \frac{xyz}{z(x+y)} + \frac{xyz}{x(y+z)} + \frac{xyz}{y(z+x)} \le \frac{1}{6(xy+yz+zx)} \\ \Leftrightarrow & \frac{xy}{x+y} + \frac{yz}{y+z} + \frac{zx}{z+x} \le \frac{1}{6(xy+yz+zx)}. \tag{2} \end{align*}
From
From 1=(x+y+z)2=x2+y2+z2+2xy+2yz+2zx≥3(xy+yz+zx)⇒16(xy+yz+zx)≥12.Also xy≤14(x+y)2⇒Σxyx+y≤14Σ(x+y)=14(2x+2y+2z)=12. \begin{align*} & \text{From } 1 = (x + y + z)^2 \\ &= x^2 + y^2 + z^2 + 2xy + 2yz + 2zx \\ &\ge 3(xy + yz + zx) \\ &\Rightarrow \frac{1}{6(xy + yz + zx)} \ge \frac{1}{2}. \\ & \text{Also } xy \le \frac{1}{4}(x + y)^2 \\ &\Rightarrow \Sigma \frac{xy}{x+y} \le \frac{1}{4} \Sigma (x+y) \\ &= \frac{1}{4}(2x + 2y + 2z) = \frac{1}{2}. \end{align*}
Here, "Σ\Sigma" denotes the cyclic symmetric sum.

Thus, inequality (2) holds, so inequality (1) holds. Equality holds if and only if x=y=z=13x = y = z = \frac{1}{3}. Therefore the minimum value of kk is 16\frac{1}{6}.

Want a route through all this instead of an archive? The track puts 2,604 problems in a working order, from Junior Challenge level to the IMO shortlist.

Source: MathNet, licensed CC-BY-4.0. Statement translated into English from zh; metadata (topic, difficulty) added by this project.