Easy Inequality

Algebra Level 4

If a + b = 1 a + b = 1 . Then the minimum value of ( a + 1 a ) 2 + ( b + 1 b ) 2 (a + \frac{1}{a} )^2 + (b + \frac{1}{b} )^2 is of the form " m / n m/n " . Where m m and n n are coprime. Then the value of m + n m+n ?


The answer is 27.

This section requires Javascript.
You are seeing this because something didn't load right. We suggest you, (a) try refreshing the page, (b) enabling javascript if it is disabled on your browser and, finally, (c) loading the non-javascript version of this page . We're sorry about the hassle.

2 solutions

Satej Bagal
Aug 1, 2014

(a+1/a)^2 +(b+1/b)^2 = a^2+1/a^2 + b^2 +1/b^2 +4 =(a+b)^2 -2ab +(1/a +1/b)^2 - 2/ab +4
by AM- GM, ab <=(a+b /2)^2=1/4 hence we get (a+1/a)^2 +(b+1/b)^2 >= (1-1/2)(1+16) +4 =25/2 so, m+n =25+2=27

Since ab<=1/4, if we substitute ab=1/4, then 1/4 is the maximum value of ab, so how can it be the minimum value of the question?

思澄 馮 - 6 years, 9 months ago

Log in to reply

You seem to be claiming "The minimum value of a function cannot occur at the maximum value of its domain".

This is not true. For example, if we consider the function f ( x ) = 1 x f(x) = 1- x on the domain [ 0 , 1 ] [0,1] , then the minimum value of f ( x ) f(x) is clearly f ( 1 ) = 0 f(1) = 0 .

Calvin Lin Staff - 4 years, 6 months ago
Abdul Lah
Sep 29, 2014

by inspection a = b = 1/2 and a+ 1/a = 5/2 = b+1/b and so (a+ 1/a)^2 + (b+1/b)^2 = 25/2= m/n so m+n = 25+2 = 27

Why must we have a = b = 1 / 2 a = b = 1/2 ? Why can't we have a = 0.2 , b = 0.8 a = 0.2, b = 0.8 ?

Calvin Lin Staff - 6 years, 6 months ago

Log in to reply

Maybe because the expression is symmetric for a a and b b ?

Rushikesh Jogdand - 5 years ago

Log in to reply

Check out inequalities with strange equality conditions for many reasons why this is not true.

Calvin Lin Staff - 5 years ago

Log in to reply

@Calvin Lin So inequalities are not that easy too!

Rushikesh Jogdand - 5 years ago

I know that many times it works but where is the proof.

Nivedit Jain - 4 years, 6 months ago

0 pending reports

×

Problem Loading...

Note Loading...

Set Loading...