Three-variable inequalities

Bach Ngoc Thanh Cong

Nguyen Vu Tuan
Nguyen Trung Kien
Grade 10 maths students Tran Phu high school
for gifted students, Hai Phong, Viet Nam

September 22nd 2007

1 Theorem
For any triad of numbers a, b, c we denote that:

p = a+b+c
q = ab + bc + ca
r = abc

We have the following identities:

a2 + b2 + c2 = p2 2q
a3 + b3 + c3 = p3 3pq + 3r
a2 (b + c) + b2 (c + a) + c2 (a + b) = pq 3r
a4 + b4 + c4 = p4 + 2q2 + 4pr 4p2q
a2 b2 + b2c2 + c2a2 = q2 2pr
a3 (b + c) + b3 (c + a) + c3 (a + b) = p2q 2q2 pr
(a b)2 (b c)2 (c a)2 = p2q2 + 18pqr 27r2 4q3 4p3r

A 0
The expression f(X) = AX 2 + BX + C: B
Xmin =
2A
2
(+) f(X) 0 X = B 4AC 0

1
 ( (
Xmin 0 B 0

f(0) 0 C 0
(+) f(X) 0 X 0

(

(
Xmin 0 B 0
f(Xmin ) 0 = B 2 4AC 0

2 Applications
We have already known the applications of the method using p, q, r in the proof for symetric in-
equalities, and here are some applications of this for cyclic inequalities, note that some problem are
very hard.

Example 1: Let a, b, c be non-negative real numbers satisfying a + b + c = 3. Prove that:

a2b + b2c + c2a 4 ()

SOLUTION.
We have:
X
() 2 a2b 8
cyc
X X X X
a2b ab2 8 a2b ab2
cyc cyc cyc cyc
X
(a b)(b c)(a c) 8 a2 (b + c)
sym

We only need to prove when (a b)(b c)(a c) 0, so the inequality is equivalent to:
p X
(a b)2 (b c)2(c a)2 8 a2(b + c)
sym
p
(p2 q2 + 18pqr 27r2 4q3 4q3 r) 8 (pq 3r)

(p2 q2 + 18pqr 27r2 4q3 4p3r) (8 pq + 3r)2

36r2 + (4p3 24pq + 48)r + 4q3 16pq + 64 0

f(r) = 9r2 + (p3 6pq + 12)r + q3 4pq + 16 0

For p = 3:
f(r) = 9r2 + (39 18q)r + q3 12q + 16 0
39 + 18q
Observe that rmin = . Consider two cases:
18
39
If 0 q rct 0, then:
18
f(0) = q3 12q + 16 = (q + 4)(q 2)2 0

2
 39
If q 3 rmin 0, we have:
18
 
3 2 39
f(rmin ) = 24q 216q + 648q 630 0 q ;3
18

Therefore we have f(r) 0 r 0, the inequality is proved.

Example 2: Let a, b, c be non-negative real numbers adding up to 3. Prove that:

a2b + b2c + c2a + 2(ab2 + bc2 + ca2 ) 6 3

SOLUTION.
The inequality is equivalent to:
X X
2 a2 b + 4 ab2 12 3
cyc cyc

X X X
3 a2(b + c) + ab2 a2b 12 3
sym cyc cyc
X
3 a2 (b + c) + (a b)(b c)(c a) 12 3
cyc

We need to prove the above inequality when (a b)(b c)(c a) 0, which is

X p
3 a2(b + c) + (a b)2 (b c)2 (c a)2 12 3
sym
p
3(pq 3r) + p2q2 + 18pqr 27r2 4q3 4p3r 12 3
 2
p2q2 + 18pqr 27r2 4q3 4p3r 12 3 3pq + 9r
 
f(r) = 108r2 + 4p3 72pq + 216 3 r + 4q3 + 8p2q2 72 3pq + 432 0

216q 108 216 3
Find that rmin = , consider two cases:
108
216 3 + 108
If 0 q rmin 0, then:
216
  2
f(0) = 4 q + 12 + 6 3 q + 3 3 0

216 3 + 108
If q 3 rct 0, we have:
216
 
1
f(rct ) = 4q3 36q2 + 108q + 81 108 3 0 q 3+ ;3
2

3
Thus f(r) is non-negative for all r 0, the inequality is proved.

Example 3: (Pham Sinh Tan). Find the greatest constant k such that the following inequality
holds for any non-negative real numbers a, b, c:

k(a + b + c)4 (a3 b + b3 c + c3 a) + (a2b2 + b2c2 + c2 a2) + abc(a + b + c)

SOLUTION.
4
For a = 2, b = 1, c = 0 we obtain k . We will prove that this is the desired value, it means that
27
4
the given inequality holds for k = . Without loss of generality, assume that p = 1, we have:
27
4 X X X
(a + b + c)4 a3 b + b2 c2 + abc a
27 cyc sym sym
X X  X X X 
8
(a + b + c)4 3
a b+ 3
ab +2 2 2
b c + 3
a b 3
ab + 2abc(a + b + c)
27 cyc cyc sym cyc cyc

8 X X
(a + b + c)4 a3(b + c) + 2 b2c2 + (a + b + c)(a b)(b c)(a c) + 2abc(a + b + c)
27 sym sym

We only need to consider the case (a b)(b c)(a c) 0, then the inequality is equivalent to:
8 p
(a + b + c)4 p2 q 2q2 pr + 2q2 4pr + 2pr + p p2q2 + 18pqr 27r2 4q3 4p3r
27
 2
8 4
p2(p2 q2 + 18pqr 27r2 4q3 4p3 r) p p2 q + 3pr
27
 
52 5 64 3 16
f(r) = 36p2r2 + p 24p3q r + p + 4p2 q3 p6 q 0
9 729 27
For p = 3:
f(r) = 324r2 + (1404 648q)r + 36q3 432q + 576 0

Consider two cases:

13
If 0 q 39 18q 0, then
6
f(0) = 36(q + 4)(q 2)2 0
13
If q 3 we have:
6
 
13
= (39 18q)2 4.9.(q3 12q + 16) = 36q3 + 324q2 972q + 945 0 for q ;3
6

4
Therefore, f(r) 0 r 0, the inequality is proved.

Example 4: (Varsile Cirtoaje). Prove the following inequality for all real numbers a, b, c:

(x2 + y2 + z 2 )2 3(x3y + y3 z + z 3 x) ()

SOLUTION.
If p = 0 the inequality can be rewritten as:

7(y2 + z 2 + yz)2 0

which is obviously true.

Consider the case p 6= 0, without loss of generality, suppose that p = 3, we have:
X X  X X 
2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3
() 2(a + b + c ) 3 a b+ ab + 3 a b ab
cyc cyc cyc cyc
X
2(a2 + b2 + c2)2 3 a3(b + c) + 3(a + b + c)(a b)(b c)(a c)
sym

We only need to prove when (a b)(b c)(a c) 0, then the inequality is equivalent to:
X p
2(a2 + b2 + c2 )2 3 a3 (b + c) + 3(a + b + c) (a b)2(b c)2 (c a)2
sym
p
2(p2 2q)2 3(p2q 2q2 pr) + 3p p2 q2 + 18pqr 27r2 4q3 4p3r
 2
9p2(p2 q2 + 18pqr 27r2 4q3 4p3r) 2(p2 2q)2 3(p2 q 2q2 pr)


f(r)252p2 r2 + 84pq2 228p3q + 48p5 r + 4p8 44p4q + 168p4q2 272p2q3 + 196q4 0

For p = 3:


f(r) = 4 567r2 + (63q2 1539q + 2916)r + 49q4 612q3 + 3402q2 8019q + 6561 0

We have:

0 = (63q2 1539q+2916)22268(49q4 612q3 +3402q28019q+6561) = 2187(7q18)2(q3)2 0

Hence f(r) 0 for all real number r, this ends the proof.

Example 5: Determine the greatest constant k such that the following inequality holds for any
positive real numbers a, b, c:
a b c ab + bc + ca
+ + +k 2 3+k
b c a a + b2 + c2

5
SOLUTION.
The inequality is equivalent to the following one:
! !
Xa Xb ab + bc + ca Xb Xa
+ + 2k 2 6 + 2k
cyc
b cyc
a a + b2 + c2 cyc
a cyc b
P
a2 (b + c)
sym ab + bc + ca (a b)(b c)(a c)
2
+ 2k
2 2
6 + 2k +
abc a +b +c abc
We only need to prove when (a b)(b c)(a c) 0
p
pq 3r 2kq p2 q2 + 18pqr 27r2 4q3 4p3r
+ 2 6 + 2k +
r p 2q r

 2
p2q2 + 18pqr 27r2 4q3 4p3q (p2 2q)2 (pq 3r)(p2 2q) + 2kqr (6 + 2k)r(p2 2q)

Without loss of generality, assume that p = 3. After expanding, the above inequality is written as:

f(r) = 4(Ar2 + Br + C) 0

For:

A = 81k2 + 9k2q2 + 54kq2 + 729k 972q + 108q2 + 2187 54k2q 405kq

B = 2187 108q3 + 1080q2 3159q 18kq3 243kq + 135kq2
C = 4q5 36q4 + 81q3

It is easy to prove thatA and C is non-negative.

Consider two cases:
3 k + 11 k2 + 10k + 49
If 0 q B 0 f(r) 0
2(k + 6)

3 k + 11 k2 + 10k + 49
If q 3 then
2(k + 6)


= B 2 4AC = 9(q3)2 (2q9)2 48q3 + 24kq3 + 4k2q3 144kq2 468q2 9k2q2 + 162kq + 1296q 719

whence we can find that kmax = 3 3 4 2, this is the desired value.

Example 6: (Bach Ngoc Thanh Cong). Find the greatest constant k such that the following in-
equality holds for all positive real numbers a, b, c:

a2 b2 c2 a2 + b2 + c2
+ + + k(a + b + c) 3(k + 1) ()
b c a a+b+c

SOLUTION.

6
We observe that:
P
! ! a3(b + c)
X a2 X a2 X b2 X a2 X b2 cyc (a + b + c)(a b)(b c)(c a)
2 = + + = +
cyc
b cyc
b cyc
a cyc
b cyc
a abc abc

Hence
X a2 a2 + b2 + c2
() 2 + 2k(a + b + c) 6(k + 1)
cyc
b a+b+c
P
a3(b + c)
cyc a2 + b2 + c2 (a + b + c)(a b)(b c)(a c)
+ 2k(a + b + c) 6(k + 1)
abc a+b+c abc
Consider the case (a b)(b c)(a c) 0, the above inequality can be rewritten as:
p
p2q 2q2 pr p2 2q p p2 q2 + 18pqr 27r2 4q3 4p3r
+ 2kp 6(k + 1)
r p r
 2 2
f(r) = (p q 2q2 pr)p + 2kp2r 6(k + 1)r(p2 2q) p4 (p2 q2 +18pqr27r2 4q3 4p3 r) 0

Similarly, suppose that p = 3, after expanding we have:

f(r) = 4 Ar2 + Br + C 0

In which:

A = 72kq2 + 36k2q2 + 324k2 378q + 1134k 594kq 216k2q + 36q2 + 1539

B = 2187 486kq + 270kq2 36kq3 1944q + 351q2 36q3
C = 9q4

The root qo of the equation B = 0 satisfying qo [0, 3] is:

 
1
3 28k2 100k 119
qo = M+ 3
+ 10k + 13
4(1 + k) M
For:

M = 1475 2382k 960k2 80k3 + 36 N + 36k N
N = 12k4 + 324k63 63k2 + 2742k + 2979

Consider two cases:

If 0 q qo then B 0, we can prove that A and C are non-negative, thus f(r) 0
If qo q 3 then


= B 2 4AC = 729(q3)2 16q3 + 16k2q3 + 32kq3 252kq2 189q2 36k2q2 + 324kq + 810q 729

Now we can find that kmax 1, 5855400068, this is the desired value.

7
Example 7: (Bach Ngoc Thanh Cong - Nguyen Vu Tuan). Determine the greatest constant k such
that the following inequality is true for all positive real number a, b, c:
a b c (9 + 3k)(a2 + b2 + c2)
+ + +k
b c a (a + b + c)2

SOLUTION.
The inequality is equivalent to:
! !
Xa Xb 6(3 + k)(a2 + b2 + c2 ) Xb Xa
+ + 2k +
cyc
b cyc
a (a + b + c)2 cyc
a cyc b
P
a2 (b + c)
sym 6(3 + k)(a2 + b2 + c2 ) (a b)(b c)(a c)
+ 2k
abc (a + b + c)2 abc
We only need to prove when (a b)(b c)(a c) 0, then the above inequality can be rewritten as:
p
pq 3r 6(3 + k)(p2 2q) p2 q2 + 18pqr 27r2 4q3 4p3r
+ 2k
r p2 r
  2
f(r) = (pq 3r)p2 + 2kp2r 6(3 + k)(p2 2q)r (p2q2 + 18pqr 27r2 4q3 4p3r)p4 0

Suppose that p = 3, after expanding we have:

f(r) = 4 Ar2 + Br + C 0

A = 144k2q2 + 864kq2 + 1296k2 13608q + 13608k + 1296q2 864k2q 7128kq + 37098

B = 162kq2 486kq 3645q + 486q2 + 2187
C = 81q3

Consider two cases:

3 15 + 2k 153 + 36k + 4k2
If 0 q then B is non- negative, similarly to the previous one,
4(3 + k)
we can prove that
A 0, C 0, we

obtain f(r) 0
3 15 + 2k 153 + 36k + 4k2
If q 3 we have:
4(3 + k)


= B 2 4AC = 729(q3)2 16k2q3 + 96kq3 + 144q3 36k2q2 972q2 432kq2 + 324kq + 1944q 729

Hence we can find that kmax = 3 3 2 3, this is the desired value, the proof is complete.

Example 8: (Bach Ngoc Thanh Cong). Find the greatest constant k such that the following in-
equality holds for all a, b, c > 0:
a b c k(a2 + b2 + c2 )
+ + k+3
b c a ab + bc + ca

8
SOLUTION.
After multiplying the inequality by 2 we have:
! !
Xa Xb 2k(a2 + b2 + c2 ) Xb Xa
+ 2k + 6 +
cyc
b cyc
a ab + bc + ca cyc
a cyc b
P
a2(b + c)
sym 2(a2 + b2 + c2 ) (a b)(b c)(a c)
+ 2k 6
abc ab + bc + ca abc
We only need to prove in the case (a b)(b c)(a c) 0, whence the inequality can be rewritten
as: p
pq 3r 2k(p2 2q) p2q2 + 18pqr 27r2 4q3 4p3r
+ 2k 6
r q r
 2
f(r) = (pq 3r)q 2kr(p2 2q) + (2k 6)rq q2(p2 q2 + 18pqr 27r2 4q3 4p3 r) 0

Assume that p = 3, by expanding we obtain:

f(r) = 4 Ar2 + Br + C 0

where

A = 9k2 q2 54k2q + 81k2 27kq2 + 81kq + 27q2

B = 9kq3 27q3 + 27q2 27kq2
C = q5

Thus we can find that kmax = 1, this is the desired value.

Example 9: (Pham Sinh Tan). Find all real number k wuch that the following inequality holds
for any real numbers a, b, c:

(k + 1)3
a(a + kb)3 + b(b + kc)3 + c(c + ka)3 (a + b + c)4 ()
27

SOLUTION.
If p = 0 then
() (b2 + bc + c2 )2 (k 2)(k2 k + 1) 0

9
Hence the necessary condition is k 2.
Consider the case p 6= 0, without loss of generality, assume that p = 3. Observe that:
X X
6k a3b + 2k3 ab3
cyc cyc
X X  X X  X X  X X 
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
= 3k a b+ ab +k ab + a b + 3k a b ab + k ab a b
cyc cyc cyc cyc cyc cyc cyc cyc
X
3 3 2
= (k + 3k) a (b + c) + k(k 3)(a + b + c)(a b)(b c)(c a)
sym

Thus we have:
X X X X 2(k + 1)3
() 2 a4 + 6k a3 b + 2k3 ab3 + 6k2 b2 c2 (a + b + c)4
sym cyc cyc sym
27

X X X 2(k + 1)3
2 a4+(k3 +3k) a3 (b+c)+6k2 b2 c2 (a+b+c)4 k(k2 3)(a+b+c)(ab)(bc)(ac)
sym sym sym
27

We only need to consider the case RHS 0, then the inequality can be rewritten as:
2(k + 1)3 p4
2(p4 + 2q2 + 4pr 4p2q) + 3k(p2q 2q2 pr) + k3(p2 q 2q2 pr) + 6k2 (q2 2pr)
p 27
2
k(k 3)p p q + 18pqr 27r 4q 4p3r
2 2 2 3

Square two sides of the inequality, then replace p by 3, after expanding the inequality is rewritten
as:


f(r) = 4 Ar2 + Br + C 0

In which:

A = 63k6 + 54k5 27k4 + 126k3 + 135k2 108k + 144

B = 1872 918k + 99k3 756k2 + 27k5q2 + 48q2 864q 90kq2 + 51k3q2 + 27k2 q2 1080k4
+252k6 + 135k5 + 648kq 270k3q + 81qk2 90k4q2 + 648k4q + 3k6q2 135k6q 162k5q
C = 6084 1476kq2 492k3q2 + 486k2q2 + 2754kq + 675k3q + 405qk2 + 225k4q2 162k4q + 6k6q2
27k6q 81k5q 1404k 306k3 1323k2 + 135k4 + 9k6 + 54k5 5616q + 1608q2 + 27k5q3
12q4k 22q4k3 + 21q4 k2 + 15k4q4 + k6 q4 6k5q4 216k2q3 108k4q3 + 270q3k + 171q3k3
144q3 + 4q4

It is easy to prove that A is positive. We have:


= B 2 4AC = 81k2(q 3)2(k2 3)2 (3k6 18k5 + 45k4 66k3 + 63k2 36k + 12)q2 + (28k6
+78k5 174k4 + 326k3 372k2 + 276k 152)q + 84k6 72k5 + 279k4 168k3

+792k2 + 144k + 780

10
whence we can find that the necessary and sufficient condition is:

(16k4 5k3 + 30k2 14k 56) 0 0.9377079399 k 1.233289162

This ends the proof.

Example 10: (Bach Ngoc Thanh Cong-Nguyen Vu Tuan). Determine the greatest constant k such
that the following inequality holds for a, b, c 0:
a2 + b2 + c2 3abc
+k 2 1+k
ab + bc + ca ab + bc2 + ca2

SOLUTION.
The inequality is equivalent to:
 2 
a + b2 + c2
3kabc + 1 k (ab2 + bc2 + ca2) 0
ab + bc + ca
 2 X X   X X 
a + b2 + c2 a2 + b2 + c2
6kabc + 1k ab2 + a2b 1k a2 b ab2
ab + bc + ca cyc cyc
ab + bc + ca cyc cyc
 X  
a2 + b2 + c2 a2 + b2 + c2
1k a2(b + c) 1 k (a b)(b c)(c a)
ab + bc + ca sym
ab + bc + ca
Consider the case RHS 0, then the inequality can be rewritten as:
 2   p 
p 2q  p2 2q 
 
6kr + 1 k (pq 3r)  1k p2 q2 + 18pqr 27r2 4q3 4p3r
q  q 

2
2 2 2

f(r) = 6kqr + p2 (k + 3)q (pq 3r) p2 (k + 3)q p q + 18pqr 27r2 4q3 4r 0

Without loss of generality, suppose that p = 1. After expanding we have:

f(r) = Ar2 + Br + C

For:

A = 108q2k2 + 324q2k + 324q2 108qk 216q + 36

B = 36k2q3 180q3k 216q3 + 4q2k2 + 84q2k + 180q2 8qk 48q + 4
C = 4q3(qk + 3q 1)2

= 16(3q 1)2 (qk + 3q 1)2 (12k2q3 + 36q3k + 36q3 q2 k2 24q2k 36q2 + 2qk + 12q 1)

Now we can find that kmax = k0 0.8493557485, this is the desired value.
+) Similar inequality:
3(a2 + b2 + c2 ) 3abc
2
+k 2 1+k
(a + b + c) ab + bc2 + ca2

11
Example 11: (Bach Ngoc Thanh Cong - Nguyen Vu Tuan). Let a, b, c be positive real numbers. Find
the greatest constant k such tthat the following inequality holds:
3(a2 + b2 + c2 ) a3b + b3c + c3a
2
+k 2 2 1+k
(a + b + c) a b + b2 c2 + c2 a2

SOLUTION. WLOG, assume that p = 1. Similarly to those previous examples, after changing we
only need to prove that:
p
3(p2 2q) k(p2q 2q2 pr) kp p2q2 + 18pqr 27r2 4q3 3p3 r
2 + 2 2k
p2 q2 2pr q2 2pr
p
k(q 2q2 r) k q2 + 18qr 27r2 4q3 4r
2(3 6q) + 2 2k
q2 2r q2 2r
 2
2(3 6q)(q2 2r) + k(q 2q2 r) 2(k + 1)(q2 2r) k2 (q2 + 18qr 27r2 4q3 4r)
f(r) = 4(Ar2 + Br + C) 0

In which:

A = 144q2 + 36qk 96q + 9k2 12k + 16

B = 144q4 66q3 k + 96q3 6q2k2 + 34q2k 16q2 3qk2 4qk + k2
C = q3 (36q3 + 24q2k 24q2 + 4qk2 + 2k 14qk + 4q k2)

We have:

= k2(3q 1)2 (108q4 + 72q3 k 80q3 + 16q2 44q2k + 12q2k2 + 8qk k2)

Hence we can determine that kmax = k0 1.424183337.

+)Similar inequality:
3(a2 + b2 + c2 ) a2b2 + b2 c2 + c2 a2
+ k 1+k
(a + b + c)2 a3b + b3c + c3a

Example 12: (Bach Ngoc Thanh Cong). Determine the greatest constant k such that the following
inequality holds for all non-negative real numbers a, b, c:
a2 + b2 + c2 a2 b + b2 c + c2 a
+k 2 1+k
ab + bc + ca ab + bc2 + ca2

SOLUTION.
Assume that p = 1. After changing, we need to prove that:
h i2
(1 3q)2 (q 3r)2 1 (2k + 3)q q2 + 8qr 27r2 4q3 3p3r
f(r) = 4(Ar2 + Br + C) 0

12
For:

A = 27q2k2 + 81q2k + 81q2 27qk 54q + 9

B = 18q3k2 54q3k 54q3 + 4q2 k2 + 30q2k + 45q2 4qk 12q + 1
C = q3(4q2 k2 + 12q2k + 9q2 qk2 7qk 6q + k + 1)

Observe that:

= (3q 1)2(3q 1 + 2qk)2 (12q3k2 + 36q3 k + 36q3 4q2 k2 24q2k 36q2 + 4qk + 12q 1)

933 339 3
Thus we can find that kmax = k0 = + + 2.777562200
8 8 8
+) There are some similar inequalities:
a2 + b2 + c2 a3 b + b3 c + c3 a
+k 3 1+k
ab + bc + ca ab + bc3 + ca3
2 2 2
a +b +c a4 b + b4 c + c4 a
+k 4 1+k
ab + bc + ca ab + bc4 + ca4
2 2 2
a +b +c a b + b3c2 + c3a2
3 2
+k 2 3 1+k
ab + bc + ca a b + b2c3 + c2a3

Example 13: (Bach Ngoc Thanh Cong). Let a, b, c be non-negative real numbers, find the great-
est constant k such that the following inequality holds:
3(a2 + b2 + c2 ) a4b + b4c + c4a
+ k 1+k
(a + b + c)2 a3b2 + b3 c2 + c3 a2

SOLUTION. The inequality is equivalent to:

P P
3 a2 3 a2 X
X sym X 3 2 2 sym X X  Y
k a4(b+c)+
 P 2 1 k
a (b +c )
 P 2 1 k bc k a2 + bc
(ab)
sym sym sym sym sym cyc
sym sym

We only need to consider the case RHS 0. Without loss of generality, assume that p = 1, then
rewrite the inequality as:
 2
k(q 3q2 + 5qr r) + (2 6q k)(q2 qr 2r) (2q 6q2 k)2(q2 + 18qr 27r2 4q3 4r)
f(r) = 4(Ar2 + Br + C) 0

For:

A = 252q4 + 18kq3 132q3 + 9k2q2 + 114q2k + 40q2 + 3qk2 34qk 20q + 7k2 2k + 4
B = 180q5 30kq4 + 120q4 12k2q3 68kq3 20q3 + k2 q2 + 44q2 k 4qk2 6qk + k2
C = q3 (36q4 24q3 + 24q2k + 4q2 + 4qk2 14qk k2 + 2k)

13
We have:

= (3q1)2 (k2q+6q2 )2 (112q5+8kq484q4 +4k2q3 +60kq3+16q3 +3k2q2 44q2k+2qk2 +8qkk2 )

Hence we can find that kmax = k0 0.89985123

+) There are some inequalities with the similar form:
a2 + b2 + c2 a4 b + b4 c + c4 a
+k 2 3 1+k
ab + bc + ca a b + b2c3 + c2a3
2 2 2
a +b +c a2 b3 + b2c3 + c2a3
+k 4 1+k
ab + bc + ca a b + b4 c + c4 a
2 2 2
a +b +c a b + b3c2 + c3a2
3 2
+k 4 1+k
ab + bc + ca a b + b4 c + c4 a

a2 + b2 + c2 3(a2 + b2 + c2)
55 Notice that in four previous examples, you can replace by or vice
ab + bc + ca (a + b + c)2
versa, and you can do the new inequality similarly.

Example 14: (Bach Ngoc Thanh Cong). Let a, b, c 0, determine the greatest constant k such
that the following inequality holds:
a3 b3 c3
+ + + k(ab + bc + ca) (k + 1)(a2 + b2 + c2)
b c a

SOLUTION. Suppose that p = 1, similarly to the previous examples, we have:

f(r) = 4(Ar2 + Br + C) 0

In which:

A = 9q2 k2 + 27q2k + 27q2 6qk2 27q 18qk + k2 + 3k + 9

B = 9q3 k 18q3 + 6q2k + 19q2 qk 8q + 1
C = q5

Observe that:

= (3q 1)2 (q 1)2(4q3 k2 + 12q3k + 12q3 q2 k2 12q2k 16q2 + 2qk + 8q 1)

p3

1828 + 372 93 106 5
Thus we can find that kmax = k0 = p + 2.581412182
6 3 1828 + 372 93 3
3

Example 15: (Bach Ngoc Thanh Cong). Determine the greatest constant k such that the following
inequality holds for any non-negative real numbers a, b, c:
a4b + b4c + c4 a
3k + a2 + b2 + c2 (k + 1)(ab + bc + ca)
ab2 + bc2 + ca2

14
SOLUTION.
Suppose that p = 1, similarly, we have:

f(r) = 4(Ar2 + Br + C)

In which:

A = 108k2q2 + 81q2 108k2q + 108kq 54q + 63k2 36k + 9

B = 108k2q3 18kq3 54q3 + 100k2q2 69kq2 + 45q2 + 57k2q 43kq + 112q + 9k2 6k
C = q2 (4k2q3 12kq3 + 9q3 + 12k2q2 + 40kq2 6q2 3k2q 21kq + q + 3k)

We have:

= (3q1)2 )(3q+1+2kq3k)2 (48k2q3 +36q352k2 q2+48kq2 36q2+48k2q28kq+12q9k2 +6k1)

Hence kmax = k0 7.698078389

+) Similar inequality:

a4b + b4c + c4 a
3k + a2 + b2 + c2 (k + 1)(ab + bc + ca)
a2b + b2c + c2 a

Example 16: (Bach Ngoc Thanh Cong). Find the greatest constant k such that the following in-
equality holds for all a, b, c 0:
a3b + b3c + c3 a
3k + a2 + b2 + c2 (k + 1)(ab + bc + ca)
ab + bc + ca

SOLUTION.
Suppose that p = 1, then similarly, we have:

f(r) = 4(Ar2 + Br + C)

For:

A = 63k2
B = 12k2q2 + 9kq2 45qk2 3kq + 9k2
C = q2 (16k2q2 + 24kq2 + 9q2 3qk2 17kq 6q + 3k + 1)

Observe that:

= 27k2(3q 1)2 (16k2q2 + 24kq2 + 9q2 + 12qk2 + 2kq 3k2 )

15
Thus kmin = k0 0.3079785278
+) Similar inequality:
a2b + b2c + c2 a
3k + a2 + b2 + c2 (k + 1)(ab + bc + ca)
a+b+c

Example 17: (Vo Quoc Ba Can). Prove the following inequality for a, b, c 0:
 k
a b c a2 + b2 + c2 2
+ + 3 for k =
b c a ab + bc + ca 3

SOLUTION.
This inequality is not so hard, you can do it by this method yourself, now we consider some general
problems.
General problem 1: Find the greatest constant k such that the following inequality holds for any
non-negative real numbers a, b, c:
  23
a b c a2 + b2 + c2
+ + + k (3 + k)
b c a ab + bc + ca

Solution.
p
Assume that q = 1, then let t = 3
p2 2, similarly, we can rewrite the inequality as:

f(r) = 4(Ar2 + Br + C) 0

In which:

A = (k + 3)2 t4 (2k2 + 3k 9)t2 + (k2 3k + 9)

p h i
B = t3 + 2 t3 (k + 3)t2 + k 4
C = 1

We have:

= (t 1)2(t7 2t6k 4t6 + t5 k2 + 2t5k + 2t4k2 + 8t4 k 2t4 + t3k2 + 12t3 k + 8t3 2t2 k2 + 4t2k
4tk2 8tk 8t 2k2 4k 4)

Hence we can find that kmax = k0 0.3820494092, the general problem 1 is solved.
General problem 2: Let a, b, c > 0, determine the greatest constant k such that the following in-
equality holds:
 k
a b c a2 + b2 + c2
+ + 3
b c a ab + bc + ca

16
Solution.
Similarly, assume that q = 1, then let t = p2 2, we have:

f(r) = 4(Ar2 + Br + C)

For:

A = 9(t2k + tk + 1)

B = t + 2 t 3tk 4)
C = 1

General Problem 3: Let a, b, c be positive real numbers, find the necessary and sufficient relation
between k and t such that the following inequality holds:
 t
a b c a2 + b2 + c2
+ + + k (3 + k)
b c a ab + bc + ca

Example 17: (Bach Ngoc Thanh Cong). Determine the greatest constant k such that the following
inequality holds for any positive real numbers a, b, c:
r
a2 b2 c2 a2 + b2 + c2
+ + + k(a + b + c) (3 + 3k)
b c a 3

SOLUTION.
Similarly, assume that p = 1, then let t = 3 6q, rewrite the inequality as:

f(r) = Ar2 + Br + C 0

In which:

A = 1296(t2k2 + 2t2k + t2 2k2t tk + t + k2 k + 7)

B = 4(18t5k + 18t5 18t4k + 9t4 54t3k 54t3 + 54t2k + 216t2 405)
C = t8 12t6 + 54t4 108t2 + 81

Observe that:

0 = 972(t 1)2 (8t6k2 + 16t6 k t6 + 60t5k + 42t5 60t4k2 60t4k + 153t4 288t3k + 36t3
+144t2k2 279t2 + 324tk 270t 108k2 + 108k 81)

17
Hence we find that kmax = k0 4.356328100
+) General problem:
 t
a2 b2 c2 a2 + b2 + c2
+ + + k(a + b + c) (3 + 3k)
b c a 3

3 Propose problems:
There are some problems proved by this method:
Problem 1: (Pham Sinh Tan). Find the greatest constant k such that the following inequalty holds
for all a, b, c :

(k + 1)3 2
(a + b2 + c2 )2 a(a + kb)3 + b(b + kc)3 + c(c + ka)3
8

Problem 2: (Vo Quoc Ba Can). Let a, b, c be three potitive real numbers. Prove that:
8 2 1 4 
(a + b2 + c2 )2 a + b4 + c4 abc(a + b + c) a(a + b3 + b(b + c)3 + c(c + a)3
3 3
8 1  4 
(a + b + c)4 + a + b4 + c4 abc(a + b + c)
27 125

Problem 3: (Bach Ngoc Thanh Cong). Determine the greatest constant k such that the following
inequality holds for any non-negative real numbers a, b, c:
s
a2 + b2 + c2 3abc
+k 2 1+k
ab + bc + ca ab + bc2 + ca2

+) Note that this is a different form of the example 10, then you can realize that in the examples
 2 t  
a2 + b2 + c2 a + b2 + c2 3(a2 + b2 + c2)
10,11,12,13 you can replace by and of course, similarly to ,
ab + bc + ca ab + bc + ca (a + b + c)2
and you can do the new inequality your self, some are not so hard.
Problem 4:Let a, b, c be positive real numbers, determine the necessary and sufficient relation be-
tween k and t such that the following inequality holds:
 t
a b c 3(a2 + b2 + c2 )
+ + + k (3 + k)
b c a (a + b + c)2

18