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Algebra Difficulty 9.0 IMO level Prove it IMO

Prove that for any four positive real numbers aa, bb, cc, dd the inequality
(ab)(ac)a+b+c+(bc)(bd)b+c+d+(cd)(ca)c+d+a+(da)(db)d+a+b0 \frac{(a-b)(a-c)}{a+b+c}+\frac{(b-c)(b-d)}{b+c+d}+\frac{(c-d)(c-a)}{c+d+a}+\frac{(d-a)(d-b)}{d+a+b} \geq 0
holds. Determine all cases of equality.

Solution

Solution 1. Denote the four terms by
A=(ab)(ac)a+b+c,B=(bc)(bd)b+c+d,C=(cd)(ca)c+d+a,D=(da)(db)d+a+b. A=\frac{(a-b)(a-c)}{a+b+c}, \quad B=\frac{(b-c)(b-d)}{b+c+d}, \quad C=\frac{(c-d)(c-a)}{c+d+a}, \quad D=\frac{(d-a)(d-b)}{d+a+b} .
The expression 2A2A splits into two summands as follows,
2A=A+A where A=(ac)2a+b+c,A=(ac)(a2b+c)a+b+c 2A=A' + A'' \quad \text{ where } \quad A' = \frac{(a-c)^2}{a+b+c}, \quad A'' = \frac{(a-c)(a-2b+c)}{a+b+c}
this is easily verified. We analogously represent 2B=B+B2B = B' + B'', 2C=C+C2C = C' + C'', 2D=D+D2D = D' + D'' and examine each of the sums A+B+C+DA'+B'+C'+D' and A+B+C+DA''+B''+C''+D'' separately.
Write s=a+b+c+ds = a+b+c+d; the denominators become sds-d, sas-a, sbs-b, scs-c. By the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality,
(acsdsd+bdsasa+casbsb+dbscsc)2((ac)2sd+(bd)2sa+(ca)2sb+(db)2sc)(4ss)=3s(A+B+C+D) \begin{aligned} & \left(\frac{|a-c|}{\sqrt{s-d}} \cdot \sqrt{s-d} + \frac{|b-d|}{\sqrt{s-a}} \cdot \sqrt{s-a} + \frac{|c-a|}{\sqrt{s-b}} \cdot \sqrt{s-b} + \frac{|d-b|}{\sqrt{s-c}} \cdot \sqrt{s-c}\right)^2 \\ & \quad \leq \left(\frac{(a-c)^2}{s-d} + \frac{(b-d)^2}{s-a} + \frac{(c-a)^2}{s-b} + \frac{(d-b)^2}{s-c}\right)(4s-s) = 3s\left(A'+B'+C'+D'\right) \end{aligned}
Hence
A+B+C+D(2ac+2bd)23s16acbd3s \begin{equation*} A'+B'+C'+D' \geq \frac{(2|a-c|+2|b-d|)^2}{3s} \geq \frac{16 \cdot |a-c| \cdot |b-d|}{3s} \tag{1} \end{equation*}
Next we estimate the absolute value of the other sum. We couple AA'' with CC'' to obtain
A+C=(ac)(a+c2b)sd+(ca)(c+a2d)sb=(ac)(a+c2b)(sb)+(ca)(c+a2d)(sd)(sd)(sb)=(ac)(2b(sb)b(a+c)+2d(sd)+d(a+c))s(a+c)+bd=3(ac)(db)(a+c)M, with M=s(a+c)+bd \begin{aligned} A''+C'' & = \frac{(a-c)(a+c-2b)}{s-d} + \frac{(c-a)(c+a-2d)}{s-b} \\ & = \frac{(a-c)(a+c-2b)(s-b) + (c-a)(c+a-2d)(s-d)}{(s-d)(s-b)} \\ & = \frac{(a-c)(-2b(s-b)-b(a+c)+2d(s-d)+d(a+c))}{s(a+c)+bd} \\ & = \frac{3(a-c)(d-b)(a+c)}{M}, \quad \text{ with } \quad M = s(a+c)+bd \end{aligned}
Hence by cyclic shift
B+D=3(bd)(ac)(b+d)N, with N=s(b+d)+ca B''+D'' = \frac{3(b-d)(a-c)(b+d)}{N}, \quad \text{ with } \quad N = s(b+d)+ca
Thus
A+B+C+D=3(ac)(bd)(b+dNa+cM)=3(ac)(bd)WMN \begin{equation*} A''+B''+C''+D'' = 3(a-c)(b-d)\left(\frac{b+d}{N} - \frac{a+c}{M}\right) = \frac{3(a-c)(b-d)W}{MN} \tag{2} \end{equation*}
where
W=(b+d)M(a+c)N=bd(b+d)ac(a+c) \begin{equation*} W = (b+d)M - (a+c)N = bd(b+d) - ac(a+c) \tag{3} \end{equation*}
Note that
MN>ac(a+c)+bd(b+d)sWs. \begin{equation*} MN > ac(a+c) + bd(b+d) s \geq |W| \cdot s . \tag{4} \end{equation*}
Now (2) and (4) yield
A+B+C+D3acbds. \begin{equation*} \left|A''+B''+C''+D''\right| \leq \frac{3 \cdot |a-c| \cdot |b-d|}{s} . \tag{5} \end{equation*}
Combined with (1) this results in
2(A+B+C+D)=(A+B+C+D)+(A+B+C+D)16acbd3s3acbds=7acbd3(a+b+c+d)0 \begin{aligned} & 2(A+B+C+D) = \left(A'+B'+C'+D'\right) + \left(A''+B''+C''+D''\right) \\ & \quad \geq \frac{16 \cdot |a-c| \cdot |b-d|}{3s} - \frac{3 \cdot |a-c| \cdot |b-d|}{s} = \frac{7 \cdot |a-c| \cdot |b-d|}{3(a+b+c+d)} \geq 0 \end{aligned}
This is the required inequality. From the last line we see that equality can be achieved only if either a=ca = c or b=db = d. Since we also need equality in (1), this implies that actually a=ca = c and b=db = d must hold simultaneously, which is obviously also a sufficient condition.

Solution 2. We keep the notations AA, BB, CC, DD, ss, and also MM, NN, WW from the preceding solution; the definitions of MM, NN, WW and relations (3), (4) in that solution did not depend on the foregoing considerations. Starting from
2A=(ac)2+3(a+c)(ac)a+b+c2a+2c, 2A = \frac{(a-c)^2 + 3(a+c)(a-c)}{a+b+c} - 2a + 2c,
we get
2(A+C)=(ac)2(1sd+1sb)+3(a+c)(ac)(1sd1sb)=(ac)22sbdM+3(a+c)(ac)dbM=p(ac)23(a+c)(ac)(bd)M \begin{aligned} & 2(A+C) = (a-c)^2\left(\frac{1}{s-d} + \frac{1}{s-b}\right) + 3(a+c)(a-c)\left(\frac{1}{s-d} - \frac{1}{s-b}\right) \\ & \quad = (a-c)^2 \frac{2s-b-d}{M} + 3(a+c)(a-c) \cdot \frac{d-b}{M} = \frac{p(a-c)^2 - 3(a+c)(a-c)(b-d)}{M} \end{aligned}
where p=2sbd=s+a+cp = 2s-b-d = s+a+c. Similarly, writing q=s+b+dq = s+b+d we have
2(B+D)=q(bd)23(b+d)(bd)(ca)N; 2(B+D) = \frac{q(b-d)^2 - 3(b+d)(b-d)(c-a)}{N} ;
specific grouping of terms in the numerators has its aim. Note that pq>2s2pq > 2s^2. By adding the fractions expressing 2(A+C)2(A+C) and 2(B+D)2(B+D),
2(A+B+C+D)=p(ac)2M+3(ac)(bd)WMN+q(bd)2N 2(A+B+C+D) = \frac{p(a-c)^2}{M} + \frac{3(a-c)(b-d)W}{MN} + \frac{q(b-d)^2}{N}
with WW defined by (3).
Substitution x=(ac)/Mx = (a-c)/M, y=(bd)/Ny = (b-d)/N brings the required inequality to the form
2(A+B+C+D)=Mpx2+3Wxy+Nqy20. \begin{equation*} 2(A+B+C+D) = Mp x^2 + 3W x y + Nq y^2 \geq 0 . \tag{6} \end{equation*}
It will be enough to verify that the discriminant Δ=9W24MNpq\Delta = 9W^2 - 4MNpq of the quadratic trinomial Mpt2+3Wt+NqMp t^2 + 3W t + Nq is negative; on setting t=x/yt = x/y one then gets (6). The first inequality in (4) together with pq>2s2pq > 2s^2 imply 4MNpq>8s3(ac(a+c)+bd(b+d))4MNpq > 8s^3(ac(a+c)+bd(b+d)). Since
(a+c)s3>(a+c)44ac(a+c)2 and likewise (b+d)s3>4bd(b+d)2 (a+c)s^3 > (a+c)^4 \geq 4ac(a+c)^2 \quad \text{ and likewise } \quad (b+d)s^3 > 4bd(b+d)^2
the estimate continues as follows,
4MNpq>8(4(ac)2(a+c)2+4(bd)2(b+d)2)>32(bd(b+d)ac(a+c))2=32W29W2. 4MNpq > 8\left(4(ac)^2(a+c)^2 + 4(bd)^2(b+d)^2\right) > 32(bd(b+d)-ac(a+c))^2 = 32W^2 \geq 9W^2 .
Thus indeed Δ<0\Delta < 0. The desired inequality (6) hence results. It becomes an equality if and only if x=y=0x = y = 0; equivalently, if and only if a=ca = c and simultaneously b=db = d.

Solution 3.
(ab)(ac)(a+b+d)(a+c+d)(b+c+d)==((ab)(a+b+d))((ac)(a+c+d))(b+c+d)==(a2+adb2bd)(a2+adc2cd)(b+c+d)==(a4+2a3da2b2a2bda2c2a2cd+a2d2ab2dabd2ac2dacd2+b2c2+b2cd+bc2d+bcd2)(b+c+d)=a4b+a4c+a4d+(b3c2+a2d3)a2c3+(2a3d2b3a2+c3b2)++(b3cdc3dad3ab)+(2a3bd+c3dbd3ac)+(2a3cdb3da+d3bc)+(a2b2c+3b2c2d2ac2d2)+(2a2b2d+2bc2d2)+(a2bc22a2c2d2ab2d2+2b2cd2)++(2a2bcdab2cdabc2d2abcd2) \begin{gathered} (a-b)(a-c)(a+b+d)(a+c+d)(b+c+d)= \\ =((a-b)(a+b+d))((a-c)(a+c+d))(b+c+d)= \\ =\left(a^2+ad-b^2-bd\right)\left(a^2+ad-c^2-cd\right)(b+c+d)= \\ =\left(a^4+2a^3d-a^2b^2-a^2bd-a^2c^2-a^2cd+a^2d^2-ab^2d-abd^2-ac^2d-acd^2+b^2c^2+b^2cd+b c^2d+bcd^2\right)(b+c+d)= \\ a^4b+a^4c+a^4d+\left(b^3c^2+a^2d^3\right)-a^2c^3+\left(2a^3d^2-b^3a^2+c^3b^2\right)+ \\ +\left(b^3cd-c^3da-d^3ab\right)+\left(2a^3bd+c^3db-d^3ac\right)+\left(2a^3cd-b^3da+d^3bc\right) \\ +\left(-a^2b^2c+3b^2c^2d-2ac^2d^2\right)+\left(-2a^2b^2d+2bc^2d^2\right)+\left(-a^2bc^2-2a^2c^2d-2ab^2d^2+2b^2cd^2\right)+ \\ +\left(-2a^2bcd-ab^2cd-abc^2d-2abcd^2\right) \end{gathered}
Introducing the notation Sxyzw=cycaxbyczdwS_{xyzw} = \sum_{cyc} a^x b^y c^z d^w, one can write
cyc(ab)(ac)(a+b+d)(a+c+d)(b+c+d)==S4100+S4010+S4001+2S3200S3020+2S3002S3110+2S3101+2S30113S21206S2111=+(S4100+S4001+12S3110+12S30113S2120)++(S4010S302032S3110+32S3011+916S2210+916S220198S2111)++916(S3200S2210S2201+S3002)+2316(S32002S3101+S3002)+398(S3101S2111), \begin{gathered} \sum_{cyc}(a-b)(a-c)(a+b+d)(a+c+d)(b+c+d)= \\ =S_{4100}+S_{4010}+S_{4001}+2S_{3200}-S_{3020}+2S_{3002}-S_{3110}+2S_{3101}+2S_{3011}-3S_{2120}-6S_{2111}= \\ +\left(S_{4100}+S_{4001}+\frac{1}{2}S_{3110}+\frac{1}{2}S_{3011}-3S_{2120}\right)+ \\ +\left(S_{4010}-S_{3020}-\frac{3}{2}S_{3110}+\frac{3}{2}S_{3011}+\frac{9}{16}S_{2210}+\frac{9}{16}S_{2201}-\frac{9}{8}S_{2111}\right)+ \\ +\frac{9}{16}\left(S_{3200}-S_{2210}-S_{2201}+S_{3002}\right)+\frac{23}{16}\left(S_{3200}-2S_{3101}+S_{3002}\right)+\frac{39}{8}\left(S_{3101}-S_{2111}\right), \end{gathered}
where the expressions
S4100+S4001+12S3110+12S30113S2120=cyc(a4b+bc4+12a3bc+12abc33a2bc2),S4010S302032S3110+32S3011+916S2210+916S220198S2111=cyca2c(ac34b+34d)2,S3200S2210S2201+S3002=cycb2(a3a2cac2+c3)=cycb2(a+c)(ac)2,S32002S3101+S3002=cyca3(bd)2 and S3101S2111=13cycbd(2a3+c33a2c) \begin{gathered} S_{4100}+S_{4001}+\frac{1}{2}S_{3110}+\frac{1}{2}S_{3011}-3S_{2120}=\sum_{cyc}\left(a^4b+bc^4+\frac{1}{2}a^3bc+\frac{1}{2}abc^3-3a^2bc^2\right), \\ S_{4010}-S_{3020}-\frac{3}{2}S_{3110}+\frac{3}{2}S_{3011}+\frac{9}{16}S_{2210}+\frac{9}{16}S_{2201}-\frac{9}{8}S_{2111}=\sum_{cyc} a^2c\left(a-c-\frac{3}{4}b+\frac{3}{4}d\right)^2, \\ S_{3200}-S_{2210}-S_{2201}+S_{3002}=\sum_{cyc} b^2\left(a^3-a^2c-ac^2+c^3\right)=\sum_{cyc} b^2(a+c)(a-c)^2, \\ S_{3200}-2S_{3101}+S_{3002}=\sum_{cyc} a^3(b-d)^2 \quad \text{ and } \quad S_{3101}-S_{2111}=\frac{1}{3} \sum_{cyc} bd\left(2a^3+c^3-3a^2c\right) \end{gathered}
are all nonnegative.

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