Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 5 / 325 of 400 #925 of 1964

Problem 925

AIME late
Algebra Difficulty 5.8 Prove it

13 If a,b,c(0,+)a, b, c \in(0,+\infty), prove:
b+c2a+c+a2b+a+b2c2ab+c+2bc+a+2ca+b. \frac{b+c}{2 a}+\frac{c+a}{2 b}+\frac{a+b}{2 c} \geqslant \frac{2 a}{b+c}+\frac{2 b}{c+a}+\frac{2 c}{a+b} .

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.

Official solutions — 2

Solution 1

13 Because
(b+c)2=b2+c2+2bc4bc, (b+c)^{2}=b^{2}+c^{2}+2 b c \geqslant 4 b c,

so b+cbc4b+c\frac{b+c}{b c} \geqslant \frac{4}{b+c}, which means 1b+1c4b+c\frac{1}{b}+\frac{1}{c} \geqslant \frac{4}{b+c}. Since a>0a>0, we have
ab+ac4ab+c, \frac{a}{b}+\frac{a}{c} \geqslant \frac{4 a}{b+c},

Similarly, we get
bc+ba4bc+a,ca+cb4ca+b, \begin{array}{l} \frac{b}{c}+\frac{b}{a} \geqslant \frac{4 b}{c+a}, \\ \frac{c}{a}+\frac{c}{b} \geqslant \frac{4 c}{a+b}, \end{array}

Adding the above three inequalities, we obtain
b+c2a+c+a2b+a+b2c2ab+c+2bc+a+2ca+b. \frac{b+c}{2 a}+\frac{c+a}{2 b}+\frac{a+b}{2 c} \geqslant \frac{2 a}{b+c}+\frac{2 b}{c+a}+\frac{2 c}{a+b} .

Solution 2

Three, 13. From (b+c)2=b2+c2+2bc4bc(b+c)^{2}=b^{2}+c^{2}+2 b c \geqslant 4 b c
b+cbc4b+c1b+1c4b+c \Rightarrow \frac{b+c}{b c} \geqslant \frac{4}{b+c} \Rightarrow \frac{1}{b}+\frac{1}{c} \geqslant \frac{4}{b+c} \text {. }

Since a>0a>0, we have ab+ac4ab+c\frac{a}{b}+\frac{a}{c} \geqslant \frac{4 a}{b+c}.
Similarly, bc+ba4bc+a,ca+cb4ca+b\frac{b}{c}+\frac{b}{a} \geqslant \frac{4 b}{c+a}, \frac{c}{a}+\frac{c}{b} \geqslant \frac{4 c}{a+b}.
Adding the above three inequalities, we get
b+c2a+c+a2b+a+b2c2ab+c+2bc+a+2ca+b \frac{b+c}{2 a}+\frac{c+a}{2 b}+\frac{a+b}{2 c} \geqslant \frac{2 a}{b+c}+\frac{2 b}{c+a}+\frac{2 c}{a+b} \text {. }

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