Let be a triple of positive real numbers satisfying
and and be the smallest, the median and the largest of , respectively. Find the smallest possible value of
Solution
Answer: .
Let , and . The problem conditions in this new variables take the following form
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Now we readily get . Therefore, at least one of the numbers should be equal to . Without loss of generality we assume that . Then and .
If then and if then . Hence in all cases is a median: . Finally by AM-GM inequality we get
The equality holds when or . In this case and . Thus, takes its smallest value at , , and . Done.
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