Proof: Let ba=x,cb=y,ac=z, then the original inequality is equivalent to, if positive numbers x,y,z satisfy xyz=1, then the inequality x21+y21+z21+3⩾2(x+y+z) holds, which is x2y2+y2z2+z2x2+3⩾2(x+y+z). Noting that x2y2z2=1, it follows that at least two of x2,y2,z2 are simultaneously not less than 1, or not greater than 1. Without loss of generality, assume they are x2 and y2, then (x2−1)(y2−1)⩾0.
Below, we use the method of difference to prove inequality (*). In fact,
x2y2+y2z2+z2x2+3−2(x+y+z)
=x2y2+y2z2+z2x2+3−2(x+y+z)
=(y2z2+z2x2−2yz⋅zx)+(x2y2−x2−y2
+1)+(x2−2x+1)+(y2−2y+1)
=(yz−zx)2+(x2−1)(y2−1)+(x−1)2+ (y−1)2⩾0.
This shows that inequality (*) holds, hence the original inequality is proved.