2001 IMO Problems/Problem 2

Problem

Let $a,b,c$ be positive real numbers. Prove that $\frac{a}{\sqrt{a^{2}+8bc}}+\frac{b}{\sqrt{b^{2}+8ca}}+\frac{c}{\sqrt{c^{2}+8ab}}\ge 1$ .

Solution

Solution using Holder's

By Holder's inequality, $\left(\sum\frac{a}{\sqrt{a^{2}+8bc}}\right)\left(\sum\frac{a}{\sqrt{a^{2}+8bc}}\right)\left(\sum a(a^{2}+8bc)\right)\ge (a+b+c)^{3}$ Thus we need only show that $(a+b+c)^{3}\ge a^{3}+b^{3}+c^{3}+24abc$ Which is obviously true since $(a+b)(b+c)(c+a)\ge 8abc$ .

Alternate Solution using Jensen's

This inequality is homogeneous so we can assume without loss of generality $a+b+c=1$ and apply Jensen's inequality for $f(x)=\frac{1}{\sqrt{x}}$ , so we get: $\frac{a}{\sqrt{a^2+8bc}}+\frac{b}{\sqrt{b^2+8ac}}+\frac{c}{\sqrt{c^2+8ab}} \geq \frac{1}{\sqrt{a^3+b^3+c^3+24abc}}$ but $1=(a+b+c)^3=a^3+b^3+c^3+6abc+3(a^2b+a^2c+b^2a+b^2c+c^2a+c^2b) \geq a^3+b^3+c^3+24abc$ by AM-GM, and thus the inequality is proven.

Alternate Solution using Isolated Fudging

We claim that $\frac{a}{\sqrt{a^2+8bc}} \geq \frac{a^{\frac{4}{3}}}{a^{\frac{4}{3}}+b^{\frac{4}{3}}+c^{\frac{4}{3}}}$ Cross-multiplying, squaring both sides and expanding, we have $a^{\frac{14}{3}}+a^{2}b^{\frac{8}{3}}+a^{2}c^{\frac{8}{3}}+2a^{\frac{11}{3}}b^{\frac{4}{3}}+2a^{\frac{11}{3}}c^{\frac{4}{3}}+2a^{2}b^{\frac{4}{3}}c^{\frac{4}{3}} \geq a^{\frac{14}{3}}+8a^{\frac{8}{3}}bc$ After cancelling the $a^{\frac{14}{3}}$ term, we apply AM-GM to RHS and obtain $a^{2}b^{\frac{8}{3}}+a^{2}c^{\frac{8}{3}}+2a^{\frac{11}{3}}b^{\frac{4}{3}}+2a^{\frac{11}{3}}c^{\frac{4}{3}}+2a^{2}b^{\frac{4}{3}}c^{\frac{4}{3}} \geq 8(a^{\frac{64}{3}}b^8c^8)^{\frac{1}{8}}=8a^{\frac{8}{3}}bc$ as desired, completing the proof of the claim.

Similarly $\frac{b}{\sqrt{b^2+8ca}} \geq \frac{b^{\frac{4}{3}}}{a^{\frac{4}{3}}+b^{\frac{4}{3}}+c^{\frac{4}{3}}}$ and $\frac{c}{\sqrt{c^2+8ab}} \geq \frac{c^{\frac{4}{3}}}{a^{\frac{4}{3}}+b^{\frac{4}{3}}+c^{\frac{4}{3}}}$ . Summing the three inequalities, we obtain the original inequality.

Alternate Solution using Cauchy

We want to prove $\sum_{cyc}\dfrac{a}{\sqrt{a^2+8bc}}\ge 1$

Note that since this inequality is homogenous, assume $a+b+c=3$ .

By Cauchy, $\left(\sum_{cyc}\dfrac{a}{\sqrt{a^2+8bc}}\right)\left(\sum_{cyc}a\sqrt{a^2+8bc}\right)\ge (a+b+c)^2=9$

Dividing both sides by $\sum_{cyc}a\sqrt{a^2+8bc}$ , we see that we want to prove $\dfrac{9}{\sum\limits_{cyc}a\sqrt{a^2+8bc}}\ge 1$ or equivalently $\sum\limits_{cyc}a\sqrt{a^2+8bc}\le 9$

Squaring both sides, we have $\left(\sum_{cyc}a\sqrt{a^2+8bc}\right)^2\le 81$

Now use Cauchy again to obtain $\left(\sum_{cyc}a\sqrt{a^2+8bc}\right)^2\le (a+b+c)\left(\sum_{cyc}a(a^2+8bc)\right)\le 81$

Since $a+b+c=3$ , the inequality becomes $\sum_{cyc}a^3+8abc\le 27$ after some simplifying.

But this equals $(a+b+c)^3-3\left(\sum_{sym}a^2b\right)+18abc\le 27$ and since $a+b+c=3$ we just want to prove $\left(\sum_{sym}a^2b\right)\ge 6abc$ after some simplifying.

But that is true by AM-GM or Muirhead. Thus, proved. $\Box$

2001 IMO (Problems) • Resources
Preceded by Problem 1	1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6	Followed by Problem 3
All IMO Problems and Solutions

Page

Toolbox

Search