AM-GM Inequality
In Algebra, the AM-GM Inequality, or more formally the Inequality of Arithmetic and Geometric Means, states that the arithmetic mean is greater than or equal to the geometric mean of any list of nonnegative reals; furthermore, equality holds if and only if every real in the list is the same.
In symbols, the inequality states that for any real numbers , with equality if and only if .
NOTE: This article is a work-in-progress and meant to replace the Arithmetic mean-geometric mean inequality article, which is of poor quality.
Contents
[hide]Proofs
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Generalizations
The AM-GM Inequality has been generalized into several other inequalities, which either add weights or relate more means in the inequality.
Weighted AM-GM Inequality
The Weighted AM-GM Inequality relates the weighted arithmetic and geometric means. It states that for any list of weights such that , with equality if and only if . When , the weighted form is reduced to the AM-GM Inequality. Several proofs of the Weighted AM-GM Inequality can be found in the proofs of AM-GM article.
Mean Inequality Chain
- Main article: Mean Inequality Chain
The Mean Inequality Chain, also called the RMS-AM-GM-HM Inequality, relates the root mean square, arithmetic mean, geometric mean, and harmonic mean of a list of nonnegative reals. In particular, it states that with equality if and only if . As with AM-GM, there also exists a weighted version of the Mean Inequality Chain.
Power Mean Inequality
- Main article: Power Mean Inequality
The Power Mean Inequality relates every power mean of a list of nonnegative reals. The power mean is defined as follows: The Power Mean inequality then states that if , then , with equality holding if and only if Plugging into this inequality reduces it to AM-GM, and gives the Mean Inequality Chain. As with AM-GM, there also exists a weighted version of the Power Mean Inequality.
Introductory examples
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Intermediate examples
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Olympiad examples
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More Problems
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