Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 3 / 201 of 260 #201 of 1964

Problem 201

AMC 10/12, early questions
Algebra Difficulty 3.6 Multiple choice

Given aa, bb, c(0,1)c \in (0,1) and ab+bc+ac=1ab+bc+ac=1, find the minimum value of 11a+11b+11c\dfrac {1}{1-a}+ \dfrac {1}{1-b}+ \dfrac {1}{1-c}.

Pick one

Official solution

Since 0<a0 < a, bb, c<1c < 1 satisfy the condition ab+bc+ac=1ab+bc+ac=1,

it follows that (a+b+c)23(ab+ac+bc)=3(a+b+c)^{2} \geqslant 3(ab+ac+bc)=3

Therefore, a+b+c3a+b+c \geqslant \sqrt {3},

Since (11a+11b+11c)(1a+1b+1c)(1+1+1)2( \dfrac {1}{1-a}+ \dfrac {1}{1-b}+ \dfrac {1}{1-c})(1-a+1-b+1-c) \geqslant (1+1+1)^{2}

Therefore, 11a+11b+11c93(a+b+c)9+332\dfrac {1}{1-a}+ \dfrac {1}{1-b}+ \dfrac {1}{1-c} \geqslant \dfrac {9}{3-(a+b+c)} \geqslant \dfrac {9+3 \sqrt {3}}{2}.

The minimum value of 11a+11b+11c\dfrac {1}{1-a}+ \dfrac {1}{1-b}+ \dfrac {1}{1-c} is 9+332\dfrac {9+3 \sqrt {3}}{2} if and only if a=b=c=33a=b=c= \dfrac { \sqrt {3}}{3}.

Therefore, the correct answer is D\boxed{D}.

To determine a+b+c3a+b+c \geqslant \sqrt {3}, use the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality (11a+11b+11c)(1a+1b+1c)(1+1+1)2( \dfrac {1}{1-a}+ \dfrac {1}{1-b}+ \dfrac {1}{1-c})(1-a+1-b+1-c) \geqslant (1+1+1)^2, which allows us to find the minimum value of 11a+11b+11c\dfrac {1}{1-a}+ \dfrac {1}{1-b}+ \dfrac {1}{1-c}.

This problem examines the minimum value of 11a+11b+11c\dfrac {1}{1-a}+ \dfrac {1}{1-b}+ \dfrac {1}{1-c} and the application of the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality, making it a medium-level question.

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