6
$\begingroup$

If $a,b,c > 0$ and $a+b+c = 18 abc$, prove that $$\sqrt{3 +\frac{1}{a^{2}}}+\sqrt{3 +\frac{1}{b^{2}}}+\sqrt{3 +\frac{1}{c^{2}}}\geq 9$$

I started writing the left member as $\frac{\sqrt{3a^{2}+ 1}}{a}+ \frac{\sqrt{3b^{2}+ 1}}{b} + \frac{\sqrt{3c^{2}+ 1}}{c}$ and I applied AM-QM inequality, but I obtain something with $\sqrt[4]{3}$.

$\endgroup$
3
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Use Minkowski's Inequality and finish off with rearrangement inequality, similar to solutions to Problem 682 here: artofproblemsolving.com/community/c6h299899p3084827 $\endgroup$
    – player3236
    Nov 18, 2020 at 13:17
  • $\begingroup$ If I am not wrong, threads containing answers to this question got deleted $2$ times. $\endgroup$ Nov 18, 2020 at 13:29
  • $\begingroup$ Is there a typo in third radical, which now matches second? [should its $b^2$ really be $c^2$] $\endgroup$
    – coffeemath
    Nov 18, 2020 at 13:32

4 Answers 4

6
$\begingroup$

$$\sqrt{3 +\frac{1}{a^{2}}}+\sqrt{3 +\frac{1}{b^{2}}}+\sqrt{3 +\frac{1}{b^{2}}}$$ $$ = \sqrt{ 9 + \frac{1}{a^{2}} + \frac{1}{b^{2}} + \frac{1}{c^{2}} + 2\sum_{cyc} {\sqrt{ \left(3 + \frac{1}{a^{2}}\right) \left(3 +\frac{1}{b^{2}}\right)}} } $$ $$\tag{By C-S}\geqslant \sqrt{9 + \frac{1}{a^{2}} + \frac{1}{b^{2}} + \frac{1}{c^{2}} + 2\sum_{cyc}{3 + \frac{1}{ab}}}$$ $$= \sqrt{9 + \frac{1}{a^{2}} + \frac{1}{b^{2}} + \frac{1}{c^{2}} + 54}$$ $$\geqslant \sqrt{9 +18 + 54} =\sqrt{81} = 9$$ Which uses $\frac{1}{ab} + \frac{1}{bc} + \frac{1}{ca} = 18$ and $\frac{1}{a^2} + \frac{1}{b^2} + \frac{1}{c^2} \geqslant \frac{1}{ab} + \frac{1}{bc} + \frac{1}{ca}$.

$\endgroup$
3
  • $\begingroup$ can you clarify the C-S step? $\endgroup$
    – cosmo5
    Nov 18, 2020 at 14:13
  • $\begingroup$ nice!(+1) but @cosmo5 that step is right and self explanatory $\endgroup$ Nov 18, 2020 at 15:06
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @cosmo5 If you are thinking of applying C-S on $\sum_{cyc}{\sqrt{\left(3 +\frac{1}{a^{2}}\right)\left(3 +\frac{1}{b^{2}}\right)}}$, think of applying C-S to each term in that sum, not on entire sum. $\endgroup$ Nov 18, 2020 at 15:18
5
$\begingroup$

let $x=\frac{1}{a},y=\frac{1}{b},z=\frac{1}{c}$ $$xy+yz+zx=18 \tag{given}$$ $$\color{red}{x+y+z\ge 3\sqrt{6}} \tag1$$

notice that $${(x-\sqrt{6})}^2\ge 0\Rightarrow \sqrt{3+x^2}\ge \frac{\sqrt{6}}{3}x+1$$

Thus $$\sum \sqrt{3+x^2}\ge \sum \frac{\sqrt{6}}{3}x+1\ge\frac{\sqrt{6}}{3}\color{red}{3\sqrt{6}}+3=9$$

Note the inequality marked $(1)$ is left as an exercise

$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ Very nice! ($+1$) Only the last equality should be inequality. $\endgroup$ Nov 18, 2020 at 15:13
3
$\begingroup$

From Minkowski inequality: $\sqrt{x^2 + a^2} + \sqrt{y^2 + b^2} \ge \sqrt{(x + y)^2 + (a + b)^2}$

applied to the first two terms, with the notation of @Albus, we get: $\sqrt{\sqrt{3}^2 +x^2} + \sqrt{\sqrt{3}^2 +y^2} \ge \sqrt{(2\sqrt{3})^2 + (x+ y)^2}$. Let's denote RHS of the inequality by $X$.

Then, apply Minkowski inequality again to $ X + \sqrt{3 + z^2}$, to obtain: $\sqrt{27 + (x + y + z)^2} \ge 9$, which is equivalent to (1) from @Albus Dumbledore's answer.

$\endgroup$
3
$\begingroup$

Hints:

Put Let $a=\frac{x}{3\sqrt2},$ $b=\frac{y}{3\sqrt2}$ and $c=\frac{z}{3\sqrt2}.$

And $x=\tan(u)$,$y=\tan(v)$,$z=\tan(w)$ with $u+v+w=\pi$

Then the function $f(u)=\sqrt{3+\frac{18}{\tan(u)^2}}$ is convex on $(0,\pi)$ see here

Remains to apply Jensen's inequality .

$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ How do you get the idea to conver to trigonometry? In a middle / high-school contest, I find taking the second derivative of f(u) a bit challenging. $\endgroup$
    – Mircea
    Dec 27, 2020 at 16:36

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .