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Difference between revisions of "1995 IMO Problems/Problem 2"

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=== Solution 9 ===
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## Inequality Proof
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We want to prove that
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<cmath>\frac{1}{a^3(b+c)}+\frac{1}{b^3(c+a)}+\frac{1}{c^3(a+b)} \geq \frac{3}{2}</cmath>
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given that <math>abc = 1</math>.
 +
 +
---
 +
 +
**Step 1. Substitution.**
 +
 +
Let <math>x = \frac{1}{a}</math>, <math>y = \frac{1}{b}</math>, <math>z = \frac{1}{c}</math>. Then <math>xyz = 1</math>, and
 +
 +
<cmath>\frac{1}{a^3(b+c)} = \frac{x^2}{y+z}, \quad \frac{1}{b^3(c+a)} = \frac{y^2}{z+x}, \quad \frac{1}{c^3(a+b)} = \frac{z^2}{x+y}</cmath>
 +
 +
So the inequality becomes
 +
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<cmath>\frac{x^2}{y+z}+\frac{y^2}{z+x}+\frac{z^2}{x+y} \geq \frac{3}{2}</cmath>
 +
 +
---
 +
 +
**Step 2. AM-GM proof.**
 +
 +
Multiplying through by <math>(x + y)(y + z)(z + x)</math>, it is equivalent to
 +
 +
<cmath>x^2(x+y)(x+z) + y^2(y+z)(y+x) + z^2(z+x)(z+y) \geq \frac{3}{2}(x+y)(y+z)(z+x)</cmath>
 +
 +
Expanding shows that we need
 +
 +
<cmath>\frac{2}{3}\left(x^4+y^4+z^4+x^3y+\cdots+z^2xy\right) \geq x^2y+x^2z+y^2x+y^2z+z^2x+z^2y+2xyz</cmath>
 +
 +
Now apply AM-GM in groups, for example
 +
 +
<cmath>\frac{x^4+x^3y+y^3z}{3}\geq x^2y, \quad \frac{y^4+y^3z+z^3x}{3}\geq y^2z</cmath>
 +
 +
and similarly for the other four symmetric terms, plus
 +
 +
<cmath>\frac{2(x^2yz+y^2zx+z^2xy)}{3}\geq 2xyz</cmath>
 +
 +
Adding all these inequalities gives exactly the required result.
 +
 +
---
 +
 +
**Conclusion:** Therefore,
 +
<cmath>\frac{1}{a^3(b+c)}+\frac{1}{b^3(c+a)}+\frac{1}{c^3(a+b)} \geq \frac{3}{2}</cmath> ∎
  
  

Latest revision as of 13:33, 1 October 2025

Problem

(Nazar Agakhanov, Russia) Let $a, b, c$ be positive real numbers such that $abc = 1$. Prove that \[\frac{1}{a^3(b+c)} + \frac{1}{b^3(c+a)} + \frac{1}{c^3(a+b)} \geq \frac{3}{2}.\]

Solution

Solution 1

We make the substitution $x= 1/a$, $y=1/b$, $z=1/c$. Then \begin{align*} \frac{1}{a^3(b+c)} + \frac{1}{b^3(c+a)} + \frac{1}{c^3(a+b)} &= \frac{x^3}{xyz(1/y+1/z)} + \frac{y^3}{xyz(1/z+1/x)} + \frac{z^3}{xyz(1/x+1/z)} \\ &= \frac{x^2}{y+z} + \frac{y^2}{z+x} + \frac{z^2}{x+y} . \end{align*} Since $(x^2,y^2,z^2)$ and $\bigl( 1/(y+z), 1/(z+x), 1/(x+y) \bigr)$ are similarly sorted sequences, it follows from the Rearrangement Inequality that \[\frac{x^2}{y+z} + \frac{y^2}{z+x} + \frac{z^2}{x+y} \ge \frac{1}{2} \left( \frac{y^2+z^2}{y+z} + \frac{z^2+x^2}{z+x} + \frac{x^2+y^2}{x+y} \right) .\] By the Power Mean Inequality, \[\frac{y^2+z^2}{y+z} \ge \frac{(y+z)^2}{2(x+y)} = \frac{x+y}{2} .\] Symmetric application of this argument yields \[\frac{1}{2}\left( \frac{y^2+z^2}{y+z} + \frac{z^2+x^2}{z+x} + \frac{x^2+y^2}{x+y} \right) \ge \frac{1}{2}(x+y+z) .\] Finally, AM-GM gives us \[\frac{1}{2}(x+y+z) \ge \frac{3}{2}xyz = \frac{3}{2},\] as desired. $\blacksquare$

Solution 2

We make the same substitution as in the first solution. We note that in general, \[\frac{p}{q+r} = \frac{(p+q+r)}{(p+q+r)-p} - 1 .\] It follows that $(x,y,z)$ and $\bigl(x/(y+z), y/(z+x), z/(x+y)\bigr)$ are similarly sorted sequences. Then by Chebyshev's Inequality, \[\frac{x^2}{y+z} + \frac{y^2}{z+x} + \frac{z^2}{x+y} \ge \frac{1}{3}(x+y+z) \left(\frac{x}{y+z} + \frac{y}{z+x} + \frac{z}{x+y} \right) .\] By AM-GM, $\frac{x+y+z}{3} \ge \sqrt[3]{xyz}=1$, and by Nesbitt's Inequality, \[\frac{x}{y+z} + \frac{y}{z+x} + \frac{z}{x+y} \ge \frac{3}{2}.\] The desired conclusion follows. $\blacksquare$

Solution 3

Without clever substitutions: By Cauchy-Schwarz, \[\left(\sum_{cyc}\dfrac{1}{a^3 (b+c)}\right)\left(\sum_{cyc}a(b+c)\right)\geq \left( \dfrac{1}{a}+\dfrac{1}{b}+\dfrac{1}{c}\right) ^2=(ab+ac+bc)^2\] Dividing by $2(ab+bc+ac)$ gives \[\dfrac{1}{a^3 (b+c)}+\dfrac{1}{b^3 (a+c)}+\dfrac{1}{c^3 (a+b)}\geq \dfrac{1}{2}(ab+bc+ac)\geq \dfrac{3}{2}\] by AM-GM.

Solution 3b

Without clever notation: By Cauchy-Schwarz, \[\left(a(b+c) + b(c+a) + c(a+b)\right) \cdot \left(\frac{1}{a^3 (b+c)} + \frac{1}{b^3 (c+a)} + \frac{1}{c^3 (a+b)}\right)\] \[\ge \left(\frac{1}{a} + \frac{1}{b} + \frac{1}{c}\right)^2\] \[= (ab + bc + ac)^2\]

Dividing by $2(ab + bc + ac)$ and noting that $ab + bc + ac \ge 3(a^2b^2c^2)^{\frac{1}{3}} = 3$ by AM-GM gives \[\frac{1}{a^3 (b+c)} + \frac{1}{b^3 (c+a)} + \frac{1}{c^3 (a+b)} \ge \frac{ab + bc + ac}{2} \ge \frac{3}{2},\] as desired.

Solution 4

After the setting $a=\frac{1}{x}, b=\frac{1}{y}, c=\frac{1}{z},$ and as $abc=1$ so $\left(\frac{1}{a}\cdot\frac{1}{b}\cdot\frac{1} {c}=1\right)$ concluding $x y z=1 .$

$\textsf{Claim}:$ \[\frac{x^{2}}{y+z}+\frac{y^{2}}{z+x}+\frac{z^{2}}{x+y} \geq \frac{3}{2}\] By Titu Lemma, \[\implies\frac{x^{2}}{y+z}+\frac{y^{2}}{z+x}+\frac{z^{2}}{x+y} \geq \frac{(x+y+z)^{2}}{2(x+y+z)}\] \[\implies\frac{x^{2}}{y+z}+\frac{y^{2}}{z+x}+\frac{z^{2}}{x+y} \geq \frac{(x+y+z)}{2}\] Now by AM-GM we know that \[(x+y+z)\geq3\sqrt[3]{xyz}\]and $xyz=1$ which concludes to $\implies (x+y+z)\geq3\sqrt[3]{1}$

Therefore we get

\[\implies\frac{x^{2}}{y+z}+\frac{y^{2}}{z+x}+\frac{z^{2}}{x+y} \geq \frac{3}{2}\]Hence our claim is proved ~~ Aritra12

Solution 5

Proceed as in Solution 1, to arrive at the equivalent inequality \[\frac{x^2}{y+z} + \frac{y^2}{z+x} + \frac{z^2}{x+y} \ge \frac{3}{2} .\] But we know that \[x + y + z \ge 3xyz = 3\] by AM-GM. Furthermore, \[(x + y + y + z + x + z) (\frac{x^2}{y+z} + \frac{y^2}{z+x} + \frac{z^2}{x+y}) \ge (x + y + z)^2\] by Cauchy-Schwarz, and so dividing by $2(x + y + z)$ gives \begin{align*}\frac{x^2}{y+z} + \frac{y^2}{z+x} + \frac{z^2}{x+y} &\ge \frac{(x + y + z)}{2} \\ &\ge \frac{3}{2} \end{align*} as desired.

Solution 6

Without clever substitutions, and only AM-GM!

Note that $abc = 1 \implies a = \frac{1}{bc}$. The cyclic sum becomes $\sum_{cyc}\frac{(bc)^3}{b + c}$. Note that by AM-GM, the cyclic sum is greater than or equal to $3\left(\frac{1}{(a+b)(b+c)(a+c)}\right)^{\frac13}$. We now see that we have the three so we must be on the right path. We now only need to show that $\frac32 \geq 3\left(\frac{1}{(a+b)(b+c)(a+c)}\right)^\frac13$. Notice that by AM-GM, $a + b \geq 2\sqrt{ab}$, $b + c \geq 2\sqrt{bc}$, and $a + c \geq 2\sqrt{ac}$. Thus, we see that $(a+b)(b+c)(a+c) \geq 8$, concluding that $\sum_{cyc} \frac{(bc)^3}{b+c} \geq \frac32 \geq 3\left(\frac{1}{(a+b)(b+c)(a+c)}\right)^{\frac13}$.

^ This solution is incorrect, as it does not prove inequalities in the right direction. Proving that $A \geq B$, and $C \geq B$ does not show that $A \geq C \geq B$.

Solution 7 from Brilliant Wiki (Muirheads) =

https://brilliant.org/wiki/muirhead-inequality/


Solution 8 (fast Titu's Lemma no substitutions)

Rewrite $\frac{1}{a^3(b+c)} + \frac{1}{b^3(a+c)} + \frac{1}{c^3(a+b)}$ as $\frac{(1/a)^2}{a(b+c)} + \frac{(1/b)^2}{b(a+c)} + \frac{(1/c)^2}{c(a+b)}$.

Now applying Titu's lemma yields $\frac{(1/a)^2}{a(b+c)} + \frac{(1/b)^2}{b(a+c)} + \frac{(1/c)^2}{c(a+b)} \geq \frac{(\frac{1}{a} + \frac{1}{b} + \frac{1}{c})^2}{a(b+c) + b(a+c) + c(a+b)} = \frac{(ab + bc + ca)^2}{2(ab + bc + ca)} = \frac{ab + bc + ca}{2}$.

Now applying the AM-GM inequality on $ab + bc +ca \geq 3((abc)^2)^{\frac{1}{3}} = 3$. The result now follows.

Note: $ab + bc + ca = \frac{1}{a} + \frac{1}{b} + \frac{1}{c}$, because $abc = 1$. (Why? Because $a = \frac{1}{bc}$, and hence $\frac{1}{a} = bc$).

~th1nq3r

Solution 9

    1. Inequality Proof

We want to prove that \[\frac{1}{a^3(b+c)}+\frac{1}{b^3(c+a)}+\frac{1}{c^3(a+b)} \geq \frac{3}{2}\]

given that $abc = 1$.

---

    • Step 1. Substitution.**

Let $x = \frac{1}{a}$, $y = \frac{1}{b}$, $z = \frac{1}{c}$. Then $xyz = 1$, and

\[\frac{1}{a^3(b+c)} = \frac{x^2}{y+z}, \quad \frac{1}{b^3(c+a)} = \frac{y^2}{z+x}, \quad \frac{1}{c^3(a+b)} = \frac{z^2}{x+y}\]

So the inequality becomes

\[\frac{x^2}{y+z}+\frac{y^2}{z+x}+\frac{z^2}{x+y} \geq \frac{3}{2}\]

---

    • Step 2. AM-GM proof.**

Multiplying through by $(x + y)(y + z)(z + x)$, it is equivalent to

\[x^2(x+y)(x+z) + y^2(y+z)(y+x) + z^2(z+x)(z+y) \geq \frac{3}{2}(x+y)(y+z)(z+x)\]

Expanding shows that we need

\[\frac{2}{3}\left(x^4+y^4+z^4+x^3y+\cdots+z^2xy\right) \geq x^2y+x^2z+y^2x+y^2z+z^2x+z^2y+2xyz\]

Now apply AM-GM in groups, for example

\[\frac{x^4+x^3y+y^3z}{3}\geq x^2y, \quad \frac{y^4+y^3z+z^3x}{3}\geq y^2z\]

and similarly for the other four symmetric terms, plus

\[\frac{2(x^2yz+y^2zx+z^2xy)}{3}\geq 2xyz\]

Adding all these inequalities gives exactly the required result.

---

    • Conclusion:** Therefore,

\[\frac{1}{a^3(b+c)}+\frac{1}{b^3(c+a)}+\frac{1}{c^3(a+b)} \geq \frac{3}{2}\] ∎


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1995 IMO (Problems) • Resources
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