Titu’s Lemma

Pankaj Agarwal

Senior Lecturer, FIIT-JEE, Delhi, India

E-mail: [email protected]

Introduction

In 2001, the well known Mathematical Olympiad expert Titu Andrescu delivered a lecture
on a special case of Cauchy-Schwarz inequality (that inequality is actually Bergstrom’s
inequality) that could be effectively used in solving many inequality problems asked in
various Mathematics Olympiads.

The technique was so useful in solving problems, that students often referred to it as
Titu’s Lemma and soon it just got the popular name ”Titu’s Lemma”. In fact using Titu’s
Lemma even some old IMO inequality problems (like that of IMO 1995, IMO Shortlist 1996,
etc), USAMO, and many other Mathematical Olympiads worldwide could be easily solved.

Titu’s Lemma

If a and b are real numbers, and x and y are positive real numbers, then
a2 b2 (a + b)2
+ ≥ .
x y x+y

Proof. We have
a2 b2 (a + b)2 a2 y(x + y) + b2 x(x + y) − xy(a2 + b2 + 2ab)
+ − =
x y x+y xy(x + y)
(ay − bx) 2
= ≥ 0.
xy(x + y)
This proves the Lemma.

a b
Note: The equality occurs when = .
x y
The Lemma can be generalized to any finite number of variables. For example
a2 b2 c2 (a + b)2 c2 {(a + b) + c}2
+ + ≥ + ≥ ,
x y z x+y z (x + y) + z
 Olympiad

where a, b, c are real numbers and x, y, z are positive real numbers. Here the equality occurs
a b c
when = = .
x y z
This lemma is quite important in Maths Olympiads. To see how to apply this lemma,
let us have a look at some direct questions first.

Solved Example

Example 1. Let x, y, z be positive real numbers. Prove that

y 2 + z 2 z 2 + x2 x2 + y 2
+ + ≥ 2(x + y + z).
x y z

(RMO, 2014)

Solution. We have
y 2 + z 2 z 2 + x2 x2 + y 2 y 2 z 2 x2
  2
x2 y 2
 
z
+ + = + + + + +
x y z x y z x y z
(y + z + x)2 (z + x + y) 2
≥ +
x+y+z x+y+z
= 2(x + y + z).

Example 2. Let x, y, z be positive real numbers satisfying x + y + z = 1. Prove that

xy(x + y)2 + yz(y + z)2 + zx(z + x)2 ≥ 4xyz.

(Assam Maths Olympiad, 2014)

(x+y)2 (y+z)2 (z+x)2

Solution. We have to prove that z + x + y ≥ 4.
(x+y)2 (y+z)2 (z+x)2 (x+y+y+z+z+x)2
Now, z + x + y ≥ z+x+y . 
1 1 4 16 64
Example 3. For a, b, c, d positive real numbers, prove that a + b + c + d ≥ a+b+c+d .

(South Africa, 1995)

12 12 22 42 (1+1+2+4)2
Solution. We have a + b + c + d ≥ a+b+c+d . 

Example 4. Let a, b, c be positive real numbers such that a2 + b2 + c2 = 3. Prove that

1 1 1 3
+ + ≥ .
1 + ab 1 + bc 1 + ca 2

(Belarus, 1999)

Solution. We have
12 12 12 9
+ + ≥ .
1 + ab 1 + bc 1 + ca 3 + ab + bc + ca
Since ab + bc + ca ≤ a2 + b2 + c2 , so we will get the required result. 

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a2 b2 c2 (a + b + c)2
Note: + + ≥ implies ab + bc + ca ≤ a2 + b2 + c2 .
1 1 1 1+1+1
x2 y2
Example 5. For any real number x, y > 1 prove that + ≥ 8.
y−1 x−1

(Russia, 1992)

Solution. We have

x2 y2 (x + y)2
+ ≥
y−1 x−1 (y − 1) + (x − 1)
{(x + y − 2) + 2}2
=
x+y−2
4
= {(x + y − 2) + }+4
(x + y − 2)
s
4
≥ 2 (x + y − 2) +4
(x + y − 2)
= 8.

Example 6. If the positive real number a, b, c satisfy a2 + b2 + c2 = 3, prove that

a2 b2 c2 (a + b + c)2
+ + ≥ .
2 + b + c2 2 + c + a2 2 + a + b2 12

(Baltic Way, 2008)

Solution. We have

a2 b2 c2 (a + b + c)2
+ + ≥
2 + b + c2 2 + c + a2 2 + a + b2 6 + (a + b + c) + (a2 + b2 + c2 )
(a + b + c)2
= .
9 + (a + b + c)

a2 b2 c2
So, now we need to prove that a + b + c ≤ 3. Which is implied by + + ≥
1 1 1
(a + b + c)2
. 
1+1+1
a2 b2 c2 3
Example 7. Prove that the inequality + + ≥
(a + b)(a + c) (b + c)(b + a) (c + a)(c + b) 4
holds for all positive real number a, b, c.

(Croatia, 2004)

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Solution. We have
a2 b2 c2
+ +
(a + b)(a + c) (b + c)(b + a) (c + a)(c + b)
a2 b2 c2
= 2 + 2 + 2
a + (ab + bc + ca) b + (ab + bc + ca) c + (ab + bc + ca)
(a + b + c)2
≥ 2
a + b2 + c2 + 3(ab + bc + ca)
(a + b + c)2
=
(a + b + c)2 + (ab + bc + ca)
1
= ab+bc+ca
.
1 + (a+b+c)2
ab + bc + ca 1
So, we just need to prove that 2
≤ , which follows from ab + bc + ca ≤
(a + b + c) 3
a2 + b2 + c2 . 
Example 8. Let a, b, c be some positive numbers. Prove that
a b c 3
+ + ≥ .
b+c c+a a+b 2
(Moscow, 1963; RMO, 1990)

Solution. We have
a b c a2 b2 c2
+ + = + +
b+c c+a a+b ab + ac bc + ba ca + cb
(a + b + c)2
≥
2(ab + bc + ca)
3(ab + bc + ca)
≥ , since (a + b + c)2 ≥ 3(ab + bc + ca)
2(ab + bc + ca)
3
= .
2


Note: This inequality is also called Nesbitt’s inequality.

Example 9. If a and b are positive and a + b = 1, prove that
1 2 1 2 25
   
a+ + b+ ≥ .
a b 2

(INMO, 1988)

Solution.

2
1 2 1 2 a + a1 + b + 1b
   
a+ + b+ ≥
a b 1+1
1 2


1 + ab
=
2
25
≥ ,
2
1
since a + b = 1 implies ab ≤ 4 . 

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Example 10. Prove that, for all positive real numbers a, b, c

1 1 1 1
+ 3 + 3 ≤ .
a3 3 3 3
+ b + abc b + c + abc c + a + abc abc

(USAMO, 1997)

Solution. We have to prove that

abc abc abc

+ 3 + 3 ≤ 1.
a3 + b + abc b + c + abc c + a3 + abc
3 3

Now
abc abc abc 1 1 1
+ 3 + 3 = 2 + +
a3 3 3 3
    
+ b + abc b + c + abc c + a + abc a
+ b2
+ 1 b2
+ c2
+ 1 c2
+ a2
bc ca ca ab ab bc + 1
1 1 1
≤ (a+b)2
+ (b+c)2
+ (c+a)2
c(b+a) +1 a(c+b) +1 b(a+c) +1
c a b
= + +
a+b+c a+b+c a+b+c
= 1.

Example 11. If a, b, c are Positive real numbers and a + b + c = 1, prove that

7 + 2b 7 + 2c 7 + 2a 69
+ + ≥ .
1+a 1+b 1+c 4

(Azerbaijan JBMO TST, 2015)

Solution. We have
   
7 + 2b 7 + 2c 7 + 2a 1 1 1 1+b 1+c 1+a
+ + =5 + + +2 + +
1+a 1+b 1+c 1+a 1+b 1+c 1+a 1+b 1+c
r
(1 + 1 + 1)2 1+b 1+c 1+a
≥5 +63 . .
3+a+b+c 1+a 1+b 1+c
45
= +6
3+1
69
= .
4


Example 12. Determine the minimum value of the expression:

a+1 b+1 c+1

+ + ,
a(a + 2) b(b + 2) c(c + 2)

for positive real numbers a, b, c such that a + b + c ≤ 3.

(Bosnia & Herzegovina TST, 2015)

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Solution. We have
 
a+1 b+1 c+1 1 a+a+2 b+b+2 c+c+2
+ + = + +
a(a + 2) b(b + 2) c(c + 2) 2 a(a + 2) b(b + 2) c(c + 2)
   
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
= + + + + +
2 a b c a+2 b+2 c+2
1 (1 + 1 + 1)2 (1 + 1 + 1)2
 
≥ +
2 a+b+c a+b+c+6
 
9 1 1
≥ + , since a + b + c ≤ 3
2 3 3+6
= 2.

Example 13. For all positive real numbers a, b, c satisfying a + b + c = 1, prove that

a4 + 5b4 b4 + 5c4 c4 + 5a4

+ + ≥ 1 − ab − bc − ca.
a(a + 2b) b(b + 2c) c(c + 2a)

(Turkey JBMO TST, 2013)

Solution. We have

a4 + 5b4 b4 + 5c4 c4 + 5a4

+ +
a(a + 2b) b(b + 2c) c(c + 2a)
a4 b4 c4 b4 c4 a4
   
= 2 + + +5 2 + +
a + 2ab b2 + 2bc c2 + 2ca a + 2ab b2 + 2bc c2 + 2ca
(a2 + b2 + c2 )2 (a2 + b2 + c2 )2
≥ 2 + 5
a + b2 + c2 + 2(ab + bc + ca) a2 + b2 + c2 + 2(ab + bc + ca)
(a2 + b2 + c2 )2
=6
(a + b + c)2
a2 b2 c2 (a + b + c)2
≥ 2(a2 + b2 + c2 ), since + + ≥
1 1 1 1+1+1
2 2 2 2
 
= 1 − (a + b + c) − 2(a + b + c )
= 1 − (ab + bc + ca) − (ab + bc + ca) − (a2 + b2 + c2 )
 

≥ 1 − ab − bc − ca, since a2 + b2 + c2 ≥ ab + bc + ca.

Example 14. For all real numbers a, prove that 3(a4 + a2 + 1) ≥ (a2 + a + 1)2 .

(Kosovo, 2013)

Solution. We have
a4 a2 1 (a2 + a + 1)2
+ + ≥ .
1 1 1 1+1+1


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Example 15. Let x, y, z > 0. Show that:

x3 y3 z3 3
3 2
+ 3 2
+ 3 2
≥ .
z +x y x +y z y +z x 2

(Romania JBMO TST, 2015)

Solution. Let x3 = a, y 3 = b, z 3 = c. Then we get

x3 y3 z3 a b c
3 2
+ 3 2
+ 3 2
= √3 2
+ √3 2
+ √
3
z +x y x +y z y +z x c + a b a + b c b + c2 a
a b c
≥ a+a+b
+ b+b+c
+ c+c+a
c+ 3 a+ 3 b+ 3
 
a b c
=3 + +
3c + 2a + b 3a + 2b + c 3b + 2c + a
a2 b2 c2
 
=3 + +
3ca + 2a2 + ab 3ab + 2b2 + bc 3bc + 2c2 + ca
(a + b + c)2
≥3
2(a2 + b2 + c2 ) + 4(ab + bc + ca)
3
= .
2


Exercise

Exercise 16. Let a, b, c be positive real numbers such that abc = 1. Prove that

ab bc ca
+ + ≤ 1.
a5 + b5 + ab b5 + c5 + bc c5 + a5 + ca

(IMO shortlist, 1996)

Exercise 17. If a, b, c are three positive real numbers, prove that

a2 + 1 b2 + 1 c2 + 1
+ + ≥ 3.
b+c c+a a+b

(RMO, 2006)
Exercise 18. Given real numbers a, b, c, d, e ≥ 1, prove that

a2 b2 c2 d2 e2
+ + + + ≥ 20.
c−1 d−1 e−1 a−1 b−1

(RMO, 2012)

(Hint: see solved Example 5.)

Exercise 19. Let a, b, c be positive real numbers such that abc = 1. Prove that

1 1 1 3
+ 3 + 3 ≥ .
a3 (b + c) b (c + a) c (a + b) 2

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(IMO, 1995)
 2
1
1 a
(Hint: 3 = , etc.)
a (b + c) ab + ac
1 + x2 1 + y2 1 + z2
Exercise 20. Prove that + + ≥ 2, for any real numbers
1 + y + z2 1 + z + x2 1 + x + y2
x, y, z ≥ 1.

(JMBO, 2003)

1 + x2 1 + z2 2(z 2 + 1)
(Hint: x ≤ , so ≤ etc. Then put 1 + x2 = a etc. to
2 1 + x + y2 2(1 + y 2 ) + 1 + x2
use Titu’s Lemma.)
Exercise 21. Let a, b, c, d be positive real numbers with a + b + c + d = 1. Prove that
a2 b2 c2 d2 1
+ + + ≥ .
a+b b+c c+d d+a 2

(Ireland, 1999)
Exercise 22. Let w, x, y, z be positive real numbers, prove that

w x y z 2
+ + + ≥ .
x + 2y + 3z y + 2z + 3w z + 2w + 3x w + 2x + 3y 3

(Moldova, 2007)
Exercise 23. Let a1 , a2 , · · · an and b1 , b2 , · · · bn be positive numbers with a1 +a2 +· · ·+an =
b1 + b2 + · · · + bn . Prove that

a21 a22 a2n 1

+ + ··· + ≥ (a1 + a2 + · · · + an ).
a1 + b1 a2 + b2 an + bn 2

(ADMO, 1991)
Exercise 24. Let x0 > x1 > x2 > · · · > xn be real numbers. Prove that
1 1 1
x0 + + + ··· + ≥ xn + 2n.
x0 − x1 x1 − x2 xn−1 − xn

(St. Petersburg, 1999)

(Hint: (x0 − x1 ) + (x1 − x2 ) + · · · + (xn−1 − xn ) = x0 − xn .)

Exercise 25. Prove that if a1 , a2 , · · · an are positive numbers whose sum is 1, then
a1 a2 an n
+ + ··· + ≥ .
2 − a1 2 − a2 2 − an 2n − 1

(Balkan, 1984)

12
 
ai
(Hint: = −1 + 2 .)
2 − ai 2 − ai

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