CHAPTER III

ON THE PROOF PROOF OF THE POWER MEAN-IDENTRIC MEAN INEQUALITY

This chapter presents the discussions and proof of the power mean-identric mean

inequality.

1
𝑎𝑝 +𝑏 𝑝 𝑝
Lemma 3.1 Let 0 < 𝑎 < 𝑏 and 𝑝 ≠ 0. Define the power mean 𝑀𝑝 (𝑎, 𝑏) = ( ) . Then
2

𝑀𝑝 (𝑎, 𝑏) = 𝑀𝑝 (𝑏, 𝑎).

Proof:

Assume that 0 < 𝑎 < 𝑏 and 𝑝 ≠ 0. Then

1
𝑎𝑝 + 𝑏 𝑝 𝑝
𝑀𝑝 (𝑎, 𝑏) = ( ) .
2

Thus
1
𝑏 𝑝 + 𝑎𝑝 𝑝
(𝑏,
𝑀𝑝 𝑎) = ( )
2
1
𝑎𝑝 + 𝑏 𝑝 𝑝
𝑀𝑝 (𝑏, 𝑎) = ( ) (Theorem 2.2(i))
2

Hence, 𝑀𝑝 (𝑎, 𝑏) = 𝑀𝑝(𝑏, 𝑎).■