16 Chapter 1.

The basic Inequalities -

As a matter of fact, the AM-GM inequality is the most famous and wide-applied
theorem. It is also indispensable in proving inequalities. Consider its strong applica-
tions through the following famous inequalities.

Proposition 1 (Nesbitt's inequality). (a). Prove that for all non-negative real num-
bers a, b, c,
abc 3
--+--+-->-.
b+c c+a a+b - 2
(b). Prove that for all non-negative real numbers a, b, c, d,
abc d
- - +-- + -- + -
b+c c+d d+a
- > 2.
a+b-
PROOF. (a) . Consider the following expressions
abc
S=--+--+---
b+c c+a a+b'
b c a
M=--+--+-- .
b+c c+a a+b'
cab
N=--+--+-- .
b+c c+a a+b'
We have of course M + N = 3. According to AM-GM, we get
a+b b+c c+a
M+S=--+--+-->3 '
b+c c+a a+b-
N+S= a+c+a+b + b+c >3-
b+c c+a a+b - ,
3
Therefore M + N + 2S 23, and 2S 2 3, or S 2 2
(b). Consider the following expressions
abc d
S=--+--+--+-- .
b+c c+d d+a a+b'
b c d a
M=--+--+--+-- .
b+c c+d d+a a+b'
c dab
N=--+--+--+-_·
b+c c+d d+a a+b'
We have M + N = 4. According to AM-GM, we get
M+S a+b b+c c+d d+a
= b+c + c+d + d+a + a+b 24;
N+S_a+c b+d a+c b+d
-b+c+c+d+d+a+a+b
a+c a+c b+d b+d
=b+c+a+d+c+d+a+b
> 4(a + c) + 4(b + d) =4 .
-a+b+c+d a+b+c+d '