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Algebra Level 2

Let a , b , c a,b,c be three real positive numbers and a 2 + b 2 + c 2 = 3 a^2+b^2+c^2=3 . Find the minimum of the expression P = a 2 b + 2 c + b 2 c + 2 a + c 2 a + 2 b . P = \dfrac{a^2}{b + 2c} +\dfrac{b^2}{c + 2a}+ \dfrac{c^2}{a + 2b}.


The answer is 1.

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1 solution

Prasun Biswas
Mar 14, 2015

Using Titu's Lemma on the positive reals a , b , c a,b,c , we have,

a 2 + b 2 + c 2 ( a + b + c ) 2 1 + 1 + 1 ( a + b + c ) 2 3 × 3 = 9 a + b + c 3 a^2+b^2+c^2\geq \frac{(a+b+c)^2}{1+1+1}\\ \implies (a+b+c)^2\leq 3\times 3=9 \implies a+b+c\leq 3

and equality occurs when a = b = c = 1 a=b=c=1 .

Now, using Titu's Lemma on P P , we have,

P ( a + b + c ) 2 3 ( a + b + c ) = a + b + c 3 a + b + c 3 P P\geq \frac{(a+b+c)^2}{3(a+b+c)}=\frac{a+b+c}{3}\implies a+b+c\leq 3P

From the two results obtained, we can tell that the minimum of P P is achieved when 3 P 3P provides the tightest upper bound for ( a + b + c ) (a+b+c) which is 3 3 . Hence, we have,

3 min ( P ) = 3 min ( P ) = 1 3\min(P)=3\implies \min(P)=1

The minimum can be verified easily using the equality case for Titu's Lemma. The minimum occurs at a = b = c = 1 a=b=c=1 which was the same for ( a + b + c ) (a+b+c) . Hence, the equality cases are matched and the minimum is confirmed to be 1 \boxed{1}


P.s- I will edit the solution a bit, if necessary, the next day. It's 5:00 AM now and I need to go to sleep.

In fact the smaller the value of a+b+c, the lower the minimum. This means that your proof sadly does not work.

Joel Tan - 6 years, 3 months ago

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The first result shows that 3 3 is the tightest upper bound and the second result shows that 3 P 3P is an upper bound (variable).

For P < 1 P\lt 1 , we get the tightest upper bound as < 3 \lt 3 which is false. For P 1 P\geq 1 , the bounds are valid and the minimum should be at P = 1 P=1 where it provides the tightest upper bound.

Prasun Biswas - 6 years, 3 months ago

Just in case, I'm tagging @Calvin Lin here so that he can check if the solution is correct. To be honest, even I thought that my approach might be flawed.

Prasun Biswas - 6 years, 3 months ago

Nice, I also used Tittu's lemma

Raushan Sharma - 5 years, 6 months ago

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If you agree with the solution, you can upvote it, you know. Just saying.

Prasun Biswas - 5 years, 6 months ago

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