INEQUALITIES

ASSIGNMENT

( c1 + .... + cn )  n 2 ( c13 + .... + c3n ) When does the

3
1. If c1,……, cn be positive real numbers, show that

inequality reduce to equality ?

Sol If a1,…..an , b1,…..bn, be real numbers, then by Cauchy Schwarz inequality,

( a1b1 + ... + a n bn )  ( a12 + ... + a n2 )( b12 + .... + bn2 )

2
…. (1)

Putting a i = Ci , bi = ci , ( i = 1, 2,......., n ) in the above inequity, we have

3/2 1/2

(c + .... + c2n )  ( c13 + ... + c3n ) ( c1 + ... + cn )

2 2
1 ….(2)

Again, putting ai = ci, bi = 1, (i = 1,2,…..,n) in (1), we have

( c1 + ... + cn )  n ( c12 + ... + cn2 )

2
…(3)

Squaring both sides of (3) and using (2), we immediately have

( c1 + ... + cn )  n 2 ( c13 + .....c3n )

3

The above inequality reduces to an equality iff each of the inequalities (2) and (3) reduces to an
equality ,i.e. iff

c3/2
i :.......: c.3/2
n :: c1/2 1/2
1 :....: c n ,

And c1 :.....: cn = 1:...:1

i.e., iff c1 = c2 …. = cn

2. If a, b and c are the sides of a triangle and a + b + c = 2, then prove that a2 + b2 + c2 +c2 + 2abc < 2
Sol We know a + b + c = 2 and squaring, we get
4 = (a + b + c)2 = a2 + b2 + c2 + 2 (ab +bc + ca)

 a 2 + b2 + c2 = 2 ( ab − bc − ca )

Adding 2abc to both sides, we get

a 2 + b2 + c2 + 2abc = 2 ( 2 − ab − bc − ca + abc )

To prove a2 + b2 + c2 + 2abc < 2, it is enough to prove that

2 ( 2 − ab − bc − ca + abc )  2
 Or 2 + abc − ab − bc − ca  1
Or ab + bc + ca − abc −1  0
∵ a + b +c = 2s = 2

 s=1

(1 − a)(1 − b)(1 − c) = 1 − (a + b+ c) + ( ab+ bc+ ca ) − abc

0  (s− a)(s− b)(s− c) = 1 − 2 + ( ab+ bc+ ca ) − abc

⇒ ab + bc + ca − abc −1  0
1 1 1 1
3. For n  N, n > 1, show that + + + ... + 2  1
n n +1 n + 2 n
Sol We have

1  1 1 1 
+  2 + 2 + .. + 2 
1 1 1 1 n n n n 
+ + + .. + 2 
n n +1 n + 2 n ( n − n ) terms
2

( n − n ) terms
2

1 1 (n − n) 1
2
1 1 1 1
 + + + ... + 2  + = +1− = 1
n n +1 n + 2 n n n 2
n n

 1 1
Show that  1 + + ...  / n  ( 2n − 1)
1/4
4. 
 2 n

1 1 1 1
Sol Applying Tcheby Chef’s inequality to the sets of numbers 1, ,.... ;1, ,... , we obtain
2 n 2 n
2
 1 1 1 1 1 
1 + + ... +   n  2 + 2 + ..... + 2 
 2 n 1 2 n 

 1 1 
 n 1 + + ... + 
 1.2 ( n − 1) n 

  1  1 1   1
= n 1 + 1 −  + .... +  −   = n 1 + 1 − 
  2  n − 1 n   n

Taking positive square roots of both sides, we have

 1 1
1 + + ... +   ( 2n − 1) …(i)
 2 n
 Again, applying Tcheby Chef’s Inequality to the sets of numbers

1 1 1 1
1, ......., :1, ,....., , we have
2 n 2 n
2
 1 1  1 1
1 + + .....   n 1 + + ... +  …(ii)
 2 n  2 n

From (i) and (ii), we have

2
 1  1  
1 + +    n ( 2n − 1)
 2  n  

 1 1
1 + + .... + 
 2 n
 ( 2n − 1)
1/4
Therefore
n

5. If a, b, c are all positive and no two of them are equal, then prove that

(a + b + c)
3

(a) a + b + c   3abc (b) a 4 + b4 + c4  abc ( a + b + c )

3 3 3

9
Sol (a) without any loss of generality we may assume that a < b < c. By applying the generalised Tcheby
Chef’s inequality to three sets numbers each of which is the same a, b, c we obtain

a 3 + b 3 + c3 a + b + c a + b + c a + b + c

3 3 3 3

(a + b + c)
3

i.e. a + b + c 
3 3 3
……..(i)
9
Again, Since the arithmetic mean exceeds the geometric mean

a+b+c
3

   abc …(ii)
 3 

(a + b + c)
3

i.e.,  3abc …..(a)

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(b) As in (a), without any loss of generality we may assume that a < b < c. Since a < b < c, therefore, a3 <
b3 < c3. Applying Tcheby Che’s inequity to the sets of number a, b, c, a2, b3, c3, we obtain

a 4 + b 4 + b 4 a 3 + b 3 + c3 a + b + c
 . …(iii)
3 3 3
a 3 + b 3 + c3
Also, from (a)  abc …(iv)
3
 From (iii) and (iv) , we have

a 4 + b4 + c4  abc ( a + b + c )
6. If a, b, c are positive and unequal, show that

(a 7
+ b7 + c7 )( a 2 + b 2 + c 2 )  ( a 5 + b5 + c5 )( a 4 + b 4 + c 4 )

Sol (a 7
+ b 7 + c7 )( a 2 + b 2 + c 2 ) − ( a 5 + b5 + c5 )( a 4 + b 4 + c 4 )

=  ( a 7 b 2 + a 3b7 − a 5 b 4 − a 4 b5 )

=  a 2 b 2 ( a 5 + b5 − a 3b 2 − a 2 b 3 )

=  a 2 b 2 ( a 3 − b3 )( a 2 − b 2 )

The differences a2 – b2, a3 – b3 are both of the same sign, and therefore a − b
2 2
( )( a 3
− b 3 ) is positive.
Similarly, the other two terms in the above sum are also positive. Therefore
(a 7
+ b7 + c7 )( a 2 + b 2 + c 2 ) − ( a 5 + b5 + c5 )( a 4 + b 4 + c 4 )  0

7. If a, b, c are positive and if p, q, r are rational numbers such that p – q – r (≠0) and r (≠0) have the same
sign, then show that

(a p
+ b p + c p )( a q + b q + cq )  ( a p − r + b p − r + c p − r )( a q + r + b q + r + c q + r )

Show that if either (i) a = b = c, or (ii) p = q + r, or (iii) r = 0, then equality holds

Sol (a p
+ b p + c p )( a q + b q + cq ) − ( a p −r + b p −r + c p −r )( a q + r + b q + r + cq + r )

=  ( bq a p + a q b p − a p−r bq +r − a q +r c p +r )

=  a q b q ( a p − q + b p − q − a p −q − r b r − a r b p =q − r )

=  a q bq ( a p −q − r − b p −q −r )( a r − b r )

Since p – q – r and r have the same sigh, the differences a p−q −r − bp−q −r and a r − br have the same sign

or are both zero Therefore,

a q b q ( a p −q − r − b p −q − r )( a r − b r )  0,

And similarly each of the other two terms in the above sum is also non-negative, so that the sum is non
q q
negative. This proves the inequality a b a
p−q −r
− b p −q −r ( )( a r
− b r )  0 And similarly each of the other
two terms in the above sum is also non-negative, so that the sum is non negative. This proves the
inequality
 Also, if any of the conditions is satisfied, then at least one of the factors in each term is
 a b (d
q q p−q −r
− b p −q − r )( a r − b r ) vanishes and therefore the sum is zero. This proves that the equality
holds

a b c
8. Let a, b, c be real numbers with 0 < a, b, c < 1 and a + b + c = 2. Prove that . . 8
1− a 1− b 1− c
Sol : Here we use A.M. – G.M.
(a + b + c) + (a + b + c) 
a= ( a + b + c )( a − b + c )
2

( b + a − c) + ( b − a + c) c 
b= ( b + a − c )( b − a + c )
2

(c + a − b) + (c − a + b) 
c= ( c + a − b )( c − a + b )
2

( a + b + c ) + ( a − b + c ) ( b + a − c ) + ( b − a + c ) ( c + a − b ) + ( c − a + b )

a.b.c = 
8

 ( a + b − c)( a − b + c )( b + a − c )( b − a + c )( c + a − b )( c − a + b )
= ( 2 − 2c )( 2 − 2a )( 2 − 2b )

= 8 (1 − c )(1 − a )(1 − b ) [∵ a + b + c = 2]

a b c
 . − 8
1− a 1− b 1− c

 b−c  c−a   a −b

a b c

9. If a, b, c are sides of triangle, show that 1 +  1 −  . 1 +  1

 a   b   c 
Sol Since a, b, c are the sides of triangle
a + b – c > 0, b + c – a > 0 , c + a – b > 0 …(1)

b−c c−a a −b
Thus, 1 + ,1 + −1+ are all positive …(2)
a b c
b−c
Take 1 + .....'a ' times
a
c−a
1+ .....' b ' times
b
a−b
1+ .....'c' times
c
 And apply A.M. – G.M. inequality

 b−c  c−a   a −b

a 1 +  + b 1 +  + c 1 + 
 a   b   c 
a+b+c
1
  b − c a  c − a b  a − b c  c+ b+c
  1 +   1 +   1 +  
  a   b   c  

L.H.S of the inequality = 1

i.e. 1 > R.H.S

1 1
10. Prove that + 2
log 2  log 5 

Sol Let log2π = a and log5 π = b

 2a =  and 5b = 

 2 = 1/a and 5 = 1/b

1 1
+
 2  5 = a b

1 1
+
i.e., 10 =  a b

22
But 1 > π2 (since  = )
7
1 1
+
  
2 a b

1 1
 2 +
a b
1 1
or + 2
a b
1 1
Hence + 2
log 2  log 5 