View source for 2001 IMO Shortlist Problems/A6

== Problem ==
Prove that for all positive real numbers <math>a,b,c</math>,
<center><math>\frac {a}{\sqrt {a^2 + 8bc}} + \frac {b}{\sqrt {b^2 + 8ca}} + \frac {c}{\sqrt {c^2 + 8ab}} \geq 1.</math></center>

=== Generalization ===
The leader of the Bulgarian team had come up with the following generalization to the inequality:

<center><math>\frac {a}{\sqrt {a^2 + kbc}} + \frac {b}{\sqrt {b^2 + kca}} + \frac {c}{\sqrt {c^2 + kab}} \geq \frac{3}{\sqrt{1+k}}.</math></center>

== Solution ==
We will use the Jenson's inequality. 

Now, normalize the inequality by assuming <math>a+b+c=1</math>

Consider the function <math>f(x)=\frac{1}{\sqrt{x}}</math>. Note that this function is convex and monotonically decreasing which implies that if <math>a > b</math>, then <math>f(a) < f(b)</math>.

Thus, we have

<math>\frac {a}{\sqrt {a^2 + 8bc}} + \frac {b}{\sqrt {b^2 + 8ca}} + \frac {c}{\sqrt {c^2 + 8ab}} = af(a^2+8bc)+bf(b^2+8ca)+cf(c^2+8ab) \geq f(a^3+b^3+c^3+24abc)</math>

Thus, we only need to show that <math>a^3+b^3+c^3+24abc \leq 1</math> i.e.

<cmath>a^3+b^3+c^3+24abc \leq (a+b+c)^3=a^3+b^3+c^3+3(a+b+c)(ab+bc+ca)-3abc</cmath>

<cmath>i.e.   (a+b+c)(ab+bc+ca) \geq 9abc</cmath>

Which is true since

<cmath>(a+b+c)(ab+bc+ca) \geq (3\sqrt[3]{abc})(3\sqrt[3]{a^{2}b^{2}c^{2}}) = 9abc</cmath>
The last part follows by the AM-GM inequality.

Equality holds if <math>a=b=c</math>

== Alternative Solution ==

By Carlson's Inequality, we can know that <cmath>\Bigg(\frac {a}{\sqrt {a^2 + 8bc}} + \frac {b}{\sqrt {b^2 + 8ca}} + \frac {c}{\sqrt {c^2 + 8ab}}\Bigg)\Bigg(\frac {a}{\sqrt {a^2 + 8bc}} + \frac {b}{\sqrt {b^2 + 8ca}} + \frac {c}{\sqrt {c^2 + 8ab}}\Bigg)\Big((a^3+8abc)+(b^3+8abc)+(c^3+8abc)\Big) \ge (a+b+c)^3</cmath>

Then, <cmath>\Bigg(\frac {a}{\sqrt {a^2 + 8bc}} + \frac {b}{\sqrt {b^2 + 8ca}} + \frac {c}{\sqrt {c^2 + 8ab}}\Bigg)^2 \ge \frac{(a+b+c)^3}{a^3+b^3+c^3+24abc}</cmath>

On the other hand, <cmath>3a^2b+3b^2c+3c^2a \ge 9abc</cmath> and <cmath>3ab^2+3bc^2+3ca^2 \ge 9abc</cmath>

Then, <cmath>(a+b+c)^3 = a^3+b^3+c^3+3(a^2b+ab^2+a^2c+ac^2+b^2c+bc^2)+6abc \ge a^3+b^3+c^3+24abc</cmath>

Therefore, <cmath>\Bigg(\frac {a}{\sqrt {a^2 + 8bc}} + \frac {b}{\sqrt {b^2 + 8ca}} + \frac {c}{\sqrt {c^2 + 8ab}}\Bigg)^2 \ge \frac{(a+b+c)^3}{a^3+b^3+c^3+24abc} \ge 1</cmath>

Thus, <cmath>\frac {a}{\sqrt {a^2 + 8bc}} + \frac {b}{\sqrt {b^2 + 8ca}} + \frac {c}{\sqrt {c^2 + 8ab}} \ge 1</cmath>

-- Haozhe Yang

== Resources ==

* [[2001 IMO Shortlist Problems]]
* [http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=17451 Discussion on AOPS/MathLinks]

[[Category:Olympiad Algebra Problems]]
[[Category:Olympiad Inequality Problems]]