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Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Mathematical Reflections 2016, Issue 3 - Problem J373

Problem:
Let a,b,c be real numbers greater than -1. Prove that (a^2+b^2+2)(b^2+c^2+2)(c^2+a^2+2) \geq (a+1)^2(b+1)^2(c+1)^2.

Proposed by Adrian Andreescu, Dallas, TX, USA


Solution:
By the AM-GM Inequality, we have a^2+b^2+2=(a^2+1)+(b^2+1) \geq 2\sqrt{(a^2+1)(b^2+1)}. Likewise, b^2+c^2+2 \geq 2\sqrt{(b^2+1)(c^2+1)} and c^2+a^2+2 \geq 2\sqrt{(c^2+1)(a^2+1)}, so
(a^2+b^2+2)(b^2+c^2+2)(c^2+a^2+2) \geq 8(a^2+1)(b^2+1)(c^2+1). \qquad                  (1)
By the Cauchy-Schwarz Inequality, we have 2(a^2+1)=(1+1)(a^2+1) \geq (a+1)^2.
Likewise, 2(b^2+1) \geq (b+1)^2 and 2(c^2+1) \geq (c+1)^2, so
8(a^2+1)(b^2+1)(c^2+1) \geq (a+1)^2(b+1)^2(c+1)^2. \qquad                                (2)
By inequalities (1) and (2), we obtain the desired inequality.

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