Olympiad Maths Prep

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Problem 1330

National olympiad, first round
Algebra Difficulty 6.6 Prove it

Example 1 Given that x,y,zx, y, z are non-negative real numbers, and satisfy x+y+z=1x+y+z=1. Prove:
0xy+yz+zx2xyz7270 \leqslant x y+y z+z x-2 x y z \leqslant \frac{7}{27} \text {. }
(25th IMO)

This one wants a proof. Work it on paper, read the official solution, then mark yourself honestly — the ladder only means something if the record is true.

Official solution

Analysis: Since the original inequality is not homogeneous, we first homogenize it, i.e., transform it into
0(xy+yz+zx)(x+y+z)2xyz727(x+y+z)3. Let f(x,y,z)=(xy+yz+zx)(x+y+z)2xyz=ag3,1+bg3,2+cg3,3.\begin{array}{l} 0 \leqslant(x y+y z+z x)(x+y+z)-2 x y z \\ \leqslant \frac{7}{27}(x+y+z)^{3} . \\ \text { Let } f(x, y, z) \\ =(x y+y z+z x)(x+y+z)-2 x y z \\ =a g_{3,1}+b g_{3,2}+c g_{3,3} . \end{array}

To quickly calculate the undetermined coefficients, note that
a=f(1,0,0),b=f(1,1,0)2c=f(1,1,1)\begin{array}{l} a=f(1,0,0), b=\frac{f(1,1,0)}{2} \\ c=f(1,1,1) \end{array}

Thus, we have a=0,b=1,c=7a=0, b=1, c=7.
Proof: Note that
(xy+yz+zx)2xyz=(xy+yz+zx)(x+y+z)2xyz=g3,2+7g3,30. Then 727(xy+yz+zx)+2xyz=727(x+y+z)3(xy+yz+zx).(x+y+z)+2xyz=727g3,1+127g3,20.\begin{array}{l} (x y+y z+z x)-2 x y z \\ =(x y+y z+z x)(x+y+z)-2 x y z \\ = g_{3,2}+7 g_{3,3} \geqslant 0 . \\ \text { Then } \frac{7}{27}-(x y+y z+z x)+2 x y z \\ = \frac{7}{27}(x+y+z)^{3}-(x y+y z+z x) . \\ (x+y+z)+2 x y z \\ = \frac{7}{27} g_{3,1}+\frac{1}{27} g_{3,2} \geqslant 0 . \end{array}

Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic, difficulty and ordering added by this site.