Maths Olympiad Prep

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Problem 1655

National Olympiad, first round
Algebra Difficulty 6.0 Prove it Romanian Mathematical Olympiad - District Round · Romania

If xx, yy, zz are positive numbers with x+y+z=1x + y + z = 1, show that:
a) 1−x2−yzx2+x=(1−y)(1−z)x2+x;b) x2−yzx2+x+y2−zxy2+y+z2−xyz2+z≤0. \begin{align*} a)\ 1 - \frac{x^2-yz}{x^2+x} &= \frac{(1-y)(1-z)}{x^2+x}; \\ b)\ \frac{x^2-yz}{x^2+x} + \frac{y^2-zx}{y^2+y} + \frac{z^2-xy}{z^2+z} &\le 0. \end{align*}

This one wants a proof. Work it on paper, then read the official solution and mark yourself. Be honest about it: the record is only any use to you if it is.

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Official solution

a.
1−x2−yzx2+x=x+yzx2+x=1−y−z+yzx2+x=(1−y)(1−z)x2+x1 - \frac{x^2 - yz}{x^2 + x} = \frac{x + yz}{x^2 + x} = \frac{1 - y - z + yz}{x^2 + x} = \frac{(1 - y)(1 - z)}{x^2 + x}.

b.
Using a), the inequality is rewritten
(1−y)(1−z)x(x+1)+(1−z)(1−x)y(y+1)+(1−x)(1−y)z(z+1)≥3, \frac{(1-y)(1-z)}{x(x+1)} + \frac{(1-z)(1-x)}{y(y+1)} + \frac{(1-x)(1-y)}{z(z+1)} \geq 3,
that is
(x+z)(x+y)x[(x+z)+(x+y)]+(y+z)(y+x)y[(y+z)+(y+x)]+(z+y)(z+x)z[(z+y)+(z+x)]≥3. \frac{(x+z)(x+y)}{x[(x+z)+(x+y)]} + \frac{(y+z)(y+x)}{y[(y+z)+(y+x)]} + \frac{(z+y)(z+x)}{z[(z+y)+(z+x)]} \geq 3.
But applying the inequality between the arithmetic mean and the harmonic mean we deduce that
(x+z)(x+y)x[(x+z)+(x+y)]+(y+z)(y+x)y[(y+z)+(y+x)]+(z+y)(z+x)z[(z+y)+(z+x)]≥≥9xx+y+xx+z+yy+z+yy+x+zz+y+zz+x=91+1+1=3. \frac{(x+z)(x+y)}{x[(x+z)+(x+y)]} + \frac{(y+z)(y+x)}{y[(y+z)+(y+x)]} + \frac{(z+y)(z+x)}{z[(z+y)+(z+x)]} \geq \\ \geq \frac{9}{\frac{x}{x+y} + \frac{x}{x+z} + \frac{y}{y+z} + \frac{y}{y+x} + \frac{z}{z+y} + \frac{z}{z+x}} = \frac{9}{1+1+1} = 3.

Alternative solution.

b.
Using a), the inequality is rewritten
(1−x)(1−y)(1−z)(1x−x3+1y−y3+1z−z3)≥3. (1-x)(1-y)(1-z) \left( \frac{1}{x-x^3} + \frac{1}{y-y^3} + \frac{1}{z-z^3} \right) \geq 3.
Applying the inequality between the arithmetic mean and the harmonic mean, we have
1x−x3+1y−y3+1z−z3≥9(x+y+z)−(x3+y3+z3)=91−(x3+y3+z3)=9(x+y+z)3−(x3+y3+z3)=93(x+y)(y+z)(z+x)=3(1−x)(1−y)(1−z) \begin{align*} \frac{1}{x-x^3} + \frac{1}{y-y^3} + \frac{1}{z-z^3} &\ge \frac{9}{(x+y+z)-(x^3+y^3+z^3)} \\ &= \frac{9}{1-(x^3+y^3+z^3)} \\ &= \frac{9}{(x+y+z)^3 - (x^3+y^3+z^3)} \\ &= \frac{9}{3(x+y)(y+z)(z+x)} = \frac{3}{(1-x)(1-y)(1-z)} \end{align*}
and the inequality is demonstrated.

Source: MathNet, licensed CC-BY-4.0. Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty, ordering) added by this project.