# Prove $\frac{1}{a(1+b)} + \frac{1}{b(1+c)} + \frac{1}{c(1+a)} \geq \frac{3}{ (abc)^{\frac{1}{3}}\big( 1+ (abc)^{\frac{1}{3}}\big) }$ using AM-GM

I need to proof this inequality by AM-GM method.
Any ideas how to do it?

$$\frac{1}{a(1+b)} + \frac{1}{b(1+c)} + \frac{1}{c(1+a)} \geq \frac{3}{ (abc)^{\frac{1}{3}}\big( 1+ (abc)^{\frac{1}{3}}\big) }$$

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We may assume without loss of generality that $abc = k^3$, which enables us to make the substitution $\displaystyle a = \frac{kq}{p}, b = \frac{kr}{q}, c = \frac{kp}{r}$.
Now, $\displaystyle a(1+b) = \frac{kq}{p} \left(1+ \frac{kr}{q} \right) = \frac{k(q+kr)}{p}$.
Thus, the inequality reduces to proving (after cancelling $k$ from the denominator on both sides) $$\frac{p}{q+kr} +\frac{q}{r+kp} +\frac{r}{p+kq} \ge \frac{3}{1+k}$$ By Cauchy Schwarz, we get $$\left(\frac{p}{q+kr} +\frac{q}{r+kp} +\frac{r}{p+kq} \right) ( p(q+kr) + q(r+kp) + r(p+kq)) \ge (p+q+r)^2$$ Thus, we have that $$\frac{p}{q+kr} +\frac{q}{r+kp} +\frac{r}{p+kq} \ge \frac{(p+q+r)^2}{(1+k)(pq+qr+rp)} \ge \frac 3{1+k}$$ due to the well known $(p+q+r)^2 \ge 3(pq+qr+rp)$
How do you use Cauchy Schwartz in the third step? This is not of the form $|x||y|\ge |x\cdot y|$ right? (are you using the sum norm on $\mathbb{R}^{n}$? – Bombyx mori Sep 15 '12 at 15:36