If are positive reals such that , then what is the maximum value of ?
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We write the given sum as 1 = a + 2 b + 3 c = ( 3 1 a ) + ( 3 1 a ) + ( 3 1 a ) + b + b + ( 3 c ) . With AM-GM, 6 ( 3 1 a ) + ( 3 1 a ) + ( 3 1 a ) + b + b + ( 3 c ) ≥ 6 ( 3 1 a ) ⋅ ( 3 1 a ) ⋅ ( 3 1 a ) ⋅ b ⋅ b ⋅ ( 3 c ) . 6 1 ≥ 6 9 1 a 3 b 2 c . Equality holds when 3 1 a = b = 3 c ; for that case, a 3 b 2 c = 9 ⋅ ( 6 1 ) 6 = 5 1 8 4 1 .