Chapter 25 AM-GM Inequalities

tkhalid
March 16, 2015

a2 + b2
1. Prove ≥ ab
2
We know (a − b)2 ≥ 0 by the trivial inequality thus

a2 − 2ab + b2 ≥ 0

a2 + b2 ≥ 2ab

a2 + b2
≥ ab 
2
√
2. Prove a + b ≥ 2 ab
√ √
( a − b)2 ≥ 0
√
a − 2 ab + b ≥ 0
√
a + b ≥ 2 ab 
a3 + b3 + c3
3. Prove ≥ abc
3
a3 + b3 + c3 + 3ab(a + b) + 3bc(b + c) + 3ac(a + c) + 6abc = (a + b + c)3

a3 +b3 +c3 +3ab(a+b+c−c)+3bc(b+c+a−a)+3ac(a+c+b−b)+6abc =

1
 (a + b + c)3

a3 +b3 +c3 +3ab(a+b+c)+3bc(a+b+c)+3ac(a+b+c)−3abc = (a+b+c)3

a3 + b3 + c3 + (a + b + c)(3ab + 3bc + 3ac) = (a + b + c)3 + 3abc

a3 + b3 + c3 = (a + b + c)3 − (a + b + c)(3ab + 3bc + 3ac) + 3abc

a3 + b3 + c3 = (a + b + c)(a2 + b2 + c2 − ab − bc − ac) + 3abc

a2 + b2 ≥ 2ab

b2 + c2 ≥ 2bc

a2 + c2 ≥ 2ac

(a2 + b2 ) + (b2 + c2 ) + (a2 + c2 ) ≥ 2ab + 2bc + 2ac

a2 + b2 + c2 ≥ ab + bc + ac

a2 + b2 + c2 − ab − bc − ac ≥ 0

Thus (a + b + c)(a2 + b2 + c2 − ab − bc − ac) ≥ 0 and

a3 + b3 + c3 = X + 3abc (where X ≥ 0)

a3 + b3 + c3 − 3abc = X ≥ 0

a3 + b3 + c3 ≥ 3abc and finally

a3 + b3 + c3
≥ abc 
3
a+b+c √
4. Prove ≥ 3 abc
3
Looking back at our previous proof and letting x = a3 , y = b3 , and z = c3
we have:
x+y+z √
≥ 3 xyz  (Note: We are done because the domain of a is
3
nonnegative reals so the domain of x = a3 is as well.)
a b
5. Prove + ≥2
b a

2
 a2 + b2 ≥ 2ab

a2 + b2
≥2
ab
a b
+ ≥2
b a
a b c
6. Prove + + ≥3
b c a
a2 c + b2 a + c2 b √
3
≥ a2 c ∗ b2 a ∗ c2 b
3
a2 c + b2 a + c2 b ≥ 3abc

a2 c + b2 a + c2 b
≥3
abc
a b c
+ + ≥3
b c a
1
7. Prove a + ≥2
a
(a − 1)2 ≥ 0

a2 − 2a + 1 ≥ 0

a2 + 1 ≥ 2a

a2 1
+ ≥2
a a
1
a+ ≥2 
a
2 √
8. Prove ≤ ab
1 1
+
a b

3
 √
a + b ≥ 2 ab

√
(a + b) ab ≥ 2ab

a + b√
ab ≥ 2
ab

√
 
1 1
+ ab ≥ 2
b a

√ 2
ab ≥
1 1
+
a b

2 √
≤ ab 
1 1
+
a b
2
a2 + b2

a+b
9. Prove ≤
2 2
2
a + 2ab + b2
2

a+b
=
2 4
a2 + 2ab + b2 a2 + (a2 + b2 ) + b2 a2 + b2
≤ = 
4 4 2
1
10. Prove when a > 0, a − 1 ≥ 1 −
a
1
a+ ≥2
a
1
a−1≥1− 
a
a2
11. Prove ≥ 2a − b
b
a2 + b2 ≥ 2ab

a2 ≥ 2ab − b2

a2
≥ 2a − b 
b
12. Prove a(a − b) ≥ b(a − b)

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 a2 + b2 ≥ 2ab

a2 − ab ≥ ab − b2

a(a − b) ≥ b(a − b) 
13. Prove a2 + b2 + c2 ≥ ab + bc + ac

a2 + b2 ≥ 2ab

b2 + c2 ≥ 2bc

a2 + c2 ≥ 2ac

(a2 + b2 ) + (b2 + c2 ) + (a2 + c2 ) ≥ 2ab + 2bc + 2ac

a2 + b2 + c2 ≥ ab + bc + ac
a2
14. Prove ≥ 2a − b
b
See proof 11
 
1 1
15. Prove (a + b) + ≥ 22
a b
√
a + b ≥ 2 ab
1 1 2
+ ≥√
a b ab
√
 
1 1 2
(a + b) + ≥ 2 ab ∗ √ = 22 
a b ab
 
1 1 1
16. Prove (a + b + c) + + ≥ 32
a b c
√
a + b + c ≥ 3 3 abc
1 1 1 3
+ + ≥ √ 3
a b c abc
√
 
1 1 1 3
(a + b + c) + + ≥ 3 3 abc ∗ √
3
= 32 
a b c abc
17. Prove (a + b + c)2 ≤ 3(a2 + b2 + c2 )

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 a2 + b2 + c2 ≥ ab + bc + ac

2a2 + 2b2 + 2c2 ≥ 2ab + 2bc + 2ac

2a2 + 2b2 + 2c2 + (a2 + b2 + c2 ) ≥ 2ab + 2bc + 2ac + (a2 + b2 + c2 )

3(a2 + b2 + c2 ) ≥ (a + b + c)2

(a + b + c)2 ≤ 3(a2 + b2 + c2 ) 

18. Prove a4 + b4 + c4 ≥ a2 b2 + b2 c2 + c2 a2

a4 + b4 ≥ 2a2 b2

b4 + c4 ≥ 2b2 c2

c4 + a4 ≥ 2c2 a2

(a4 + b4 ) + (b4 + c4 ) + (c4 + a4 ) ≥ 2a2 b2 + 2b2 c2 + 2c2 a2

2(a4 + b4 + c4 ) ≥ 2(a2 b2 + b2 c2 + c2 a2 )

a4 + b4 + c4 ≥ a2 b2 + b2 c2 + c2 a2 
19. Prove a2 b2 + b2 c2 + c2 a2 ≥ abc(a + b + c)
√
a2 b2 + b2 c2 ≥ 2 a2 b2 ∗ b2 c2 = 2ab2 c
√
b2 c2 + c2 a2 ≥ 2 b2 c2 ∗ c2 a2 = 2bc2 a
√
a2 b2 + c2 a2 ≥ 2 a4 b2 c2 = 2a2 bc

(a2 b2 + b2 c2 ) + (b2 c2 + c2 a2 ) + (a2 b2 + c2 a2 ) ≥ 2ab2 c + 2bc2 a + 2a2 bc

2(a2 b2 + b2 c2 + c2 a2 ) ≥ 2[abc(a + b + c)]

a2 b2 + b2 c2 + c2 a2 ≥ abc(a + b + c) 
20. Prove 3(a3 + b3 + c3 ) ≥ (a + b + c)(a2 + b2 + c2 )

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 a3 + b3 = (a + b)(a2 − ab + b2 ) ≥ (a + b)(2ab − ab) = a2 b + b2 a

Similarly

b3 + c3 ≥ b2 c + c2 b

c3 + a3 ≥ c2 a + a2 c

(a3 + b3 ) + (b3 + c3 ) + (c3 + a3 ) ≥ a2 b + b2 a + b2 c + c2 b + c2 a + a2 c

2(a3 + b3 + c3 ) ≥ a(b2 + c2 ) + b(c2 + a2 ) + c(a2 + b2 )

2(a3 + b3 + c3 ) + (a3 + b3 + c3 ) ≥ a(b2 + c2 ) + (a3 ) + b(c2 + a2 ) + (b3 ) +

c(a2 + b2 ) + (c3 )

3(a3 + b3 + c3 ) ≥ a(a2 + b2 + c2 ) + b(a2 + b2 + c2 ) + c(a2 + b2 + c2 )

3(a3 + b3 + c3 ) ≥ (a + b + c)(a2 + b2 + c2 ) 
21. Prove a3 + b3 + c3 ≥ 3abc

See proof 3
22. Prove a4 + b4 + c4 ≥ abc(a + b + c)

Combining proofs 19 and 18 we see a4 + b4 + c4 ≥ a2 b2 + b2 c2 + a2 c2 ≥

abc(a + b + c) thus

a4 + b4 + c4 ≥ abc(a + b + c) 
23. Prove a5 + b5 + c5 ≥ abc(a2 + b2 + c2 )

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 a5 + b5 = (a + b)(a4 − a3 b + a2 b2 − b3 a + b4 )

(a + b)(a4 − a3 b + a2 b2 − b3 a + b4 ) = (a + b)[(a4 + b4 ) − ab(a2 + b2 ) + a2 b2 ]

(a + b)[(a4 + b4 ) − ab(a2 + b2 ) + a2 b2 ] ≥ (a + b)[2a2 b2 − ab(2ab) + a2 b2 ]

(a + b)[2a2 b2 − ab(2ab) + a2 b2 ] = (a + b)(a2 b2 ) = a3 b2 + b3 a2 Thus

a5 + b5 ≥ a3 b2 + b3 a2 Similarly

b5 + c5 ≥ b3 c2 + c3 b2

c5 + a5 ≥ c3 a2 + a3 c2

(a5 + b5 ) + (b5 + c5 ) + (c5 + a5 ) ≥ a3 (b2 + c2 ) + b3 (c2 + a2 ) + c3 (a2 + b2 )

2(a5 + b5 + c5 ) ≥ a3 (b2 + c2 ) + b3 (c2 + a2 ) + c3 (a2 + b2 )

a3 (b2 + c2 ) + b3 (c2 + a2 ) + c3 (a2 + b2 ) ≥ a3 (2bc) + b3 (2ca) + c3 (2ab) =

2abc(a2 + b2 + c2 )

2(a5 + b5 + c5 ) ≥ 2abc(a2 + b2 + c2 )

a5 + b5 + c5 ≥ abc(a2 + b2 + c2 ) 
24. Prove (a + b)(a4 + b4 ) ≥ (a2 + b2 )(a3 + b3 )

a2 + b2 ≥ 2ab

(a2 + b2 )ab ≥ 2(ab)ab

a3 b + b3 a ≥ 2a2 b2

0 ≥ −a3 b + a2 b2 + a2 b2 − ab3

a4 + b4 ≥ a4 − a3 b + a2 b2 + a2 b2 − ab3 + b4

a4 + b4 ≥ (a2 + b2 )(a2 − ab + b2 )

(a + b)(a4 + b4 ) ≥ (a2 + b2 )(a3 + b3 ) 

25. Prove (a + b)(b + c)(c + a) ≥ 8abc

8
 √
a + b ≥ 2 ab
√
b + c ≥ 2 bc
√
c + a ≥ 2 ca Multiplying results in

(a + b)(b + c)(c + a) ≥ 8abc 

26. Prove (x + y)(x2 + y 2 )(x3 + y 3 ) ≥ 8x3 y 3
√
x + y ≥ 2 xy
p
x2 + y 2 ≥ 2 x2 y 2
p
x3 + y 3 ≥ 2 x3 y 3 Multiplying we have

(x + y)(x2 + y 2 )(x3 + y 3 ) ≥ 8x3 y 3 

27. Prove (a + b + c)(a2 + b2 + c2 ) ≥ 9abc
√
a + b + c ≥ 3 3 abc
√
3
a2 + b2 + c2 ≥ 3 a2 b2 c2 Multiplying gives

(a + b + c)(a2 + b2 + c2 ) ≥ 9abc 
28. Prove (a + b + c + d)(a3 + b3 + c3 + d3 ) ≥ 16abcd
√
a + b + c + d ≥ 4 4 abcd
√
4
a3 + b3 + c3 + d3 ≥ 4 a3 b3 c3 d3

(a + b + c + d)(a3 + b3 + c3 + d3 ) ≥ 16abcd 
a b c 3
29. Prove + + ≥
b+c c+a a+b 2

9
 a b c a b c
+ + =1+ +1+ +1+ −3
b+c c+a a+b b+c c+a a+b
b+c+a c+a+b a+b+c
= + + −3
b+c c+a a+b
 
1 1 1
= (a + b + c) + + −3
b+c c+a a+b
 
1 1 1 1
= [(b + c) + (c + a) + (a + b)] + + −3
2 b+c c+a a+b
 
1 1 1
By proof 16 we know (x + y + z) + + ≥ 9 so
x y z
 
1 1 1 1 1
[(b + c) + (c + a) + (a + b)] + + −3≥ ∗9−3
2 b+c c+a a+b 2
Therefore
a b c 1 3
+ + ≥ ∗9−3= 
b+c c+a a+b 2 2
2 2 2 9
30. Prove + + ≥
b+c c+a a+b a+b+c
a b c 3
+ + ≥ By proof 29
b+c c+a a+b 2
a b c 9
1+ +1+ +1+ ≥
b+c c+a a+b 2
a+b+c a+b+c a+b+c 9
+ + ≥
b+c c+a a+b 2
a b c 1 3
+ + ≥ ∗9−3= 
b+c c+a a+b 2 2

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