Algebra 2.
5 AwesomeMath Summer Program 2024
Other Inequalities
1 Problem Set 13
Note: Now that we are covering multiple techniques at once, some problems in here might
be solved with normalization or Rearrangement, or maybe AM-GM or Cauchy-Bunyakovsky-
Schwarz, or they might be solved by a clever application of the squaring inequality. It’s your
job to figure out which one to use. If you’re stuck on a problem, try listing out all the
techniques you’ve learned and see which one might be the easiest to apply to your problem.
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It’s entirely possible to try all the wrong methods before doing the right one.
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Problem 1: Twenty cubical blocks are arranged as shown. First, 10 are arranged in a triangular
pattern; then a layer of 6, arranged in a triangular pattern, is centered on the 10; then a layer of
3, arranged in a triangular pattern, is centered on the 6; and finally one block is centered on top
of the third layer. The blocks in the bottom layer are numbered 1 through 10 in some order. Each
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block in layers 2,3 and 4 is assigned the number which is the sum of numbers assigned to the three
blocks on which it rests. Find the smallest possible number which could be assigned to the top
block.
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Problem 2: Let xi , yi (i = 1, 2, . . . , n) be real numbers such that
x1 ≥ x2 ≥ · · · ≥ xn and y1 ≥ y2 ≥ · · · ≥ yn .
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Prove that, if z1 , z2 , · · · , zn is any permutation of y1 , y2 , · · · , yn , then
n
X n
X
(xi − yi )2 ≤ (xi − zi )2 .
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i=1 i=1
Problem 3: Show that
(x + y)(x3 + y 3 ) 9
1≤ 2 2 2
≤
(x + y ) 8
holds for all positive real numbers x, y.
Problem 4: Let a, b, c ≥ 0 be such that a + b + c = 1. Prove that
a2 + b2 + c2 ≥ 4(ab + bc + ca) − 1.
Problem 5: If a, b, c are positive real numbers such that abc = 1, Prove that
ab+c bc+a ca+b ≤ 1.
1
Algebra 2.5 AwesomeMath Summer Program 2024
Problem 6: Prove that the roots of
x5 + ax4 + bx3 + cx2 + dx + e = 0
cannot all be real if 2a2 < 5b.
Problem 7: (a) Show that if x and y are positive real numbers, then
(x + y)5 ≥ 12xy(x3 + y 3 ).
(b) Prove that the constant 12 is the best possible. In other words, prove that for any K > 12
there exist positive real numbers x and y such that
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(x + y)5 < Kxy(x3 + y 3 ).
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Problem 8: Prove that if a, b, and c are positive real numbers, then
aa bb cc ≥ (abc)(a+b+c)/3
Problem 9: Let a, b, c be the side lengths of a right angled triangle with c > a, b. Show that
1
+
3<
1
+
1
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c3 − a3 − b3
c(c − a)(c − b)
≥
√
≤ 2 + 2.
Problem 10: Prove that for all positive real numbers a, b, c the following inequality takes place
27
.
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b(a + b) c(b + c) a(c + a) 2(a + b + c)2
Problem 11: Let α, β, γ be the angles of a triangle opposite to its sides with lengths a, b, c respec-
tively. Prove the inequality
1 1 1 1 1 1 a b c
a + +b + +c + ≥2 + +
β γ γ α α β α β γ
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Problem 12: Let a, b, c be positive real numbers. Prove that
a3 + 3b3 b3 + 3c3 c3 + 3a3 2
+ + ≥ (a2 + b2 + c2 ).
5a + b 5b + c 5c + a 3
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Problem 13: Show that for positive reals a, b, c, d we have
ab + ac + ad + bc + bd + cd 3 abc + abd + acd + bcd 2
≥
6 4
Problem 14: Let a, b, c be positive real numbers. Prove that
a3 b3 c3 3
2
+ 2
+ 2
≥ .
c(a + bc) a(b + ca) b(c + ab) 2
Problem 15: Let {ak } (k = 1, 2, 3, . . . , n, . . . ) be a sequence of distinct positive integers. Prove
that for all natural numbers n,
n n
X ak X 1
≥ .
k2 k
k=1 k=1
2
Algebra 2.5 AwesomeMath Summer Program 2024
Problem 16: Prove that the inequality
√
x+y 2 2
≤p
x2 − xy + y 2 x2 + y 2
holds for all real numbers x and y, not both equal to 0.
Problem 17: Let a1 , a2 , . . . , an be positive real numbers and n ≥ 1. Show that
1 1 1 1 1 1
n + ··· + ≥ + ··· + n+ + ··· + .
a1 an 1 + a1 1 + an a1 an
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When does equality hold?
Problem 18: Let a, b, c be positive reals such that a + b + c = 3. Prove that
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a2 b2 c2 3
√3
+ √
3
+ √
3
≥
a + bc b + ca c + ab 2
and determine when equality holds.
and find when equality occurs.
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Problem 19: Let x, y, and z be non-negative real numbers satisfying x + y + z = 1. Show that
x2 y + y 2 z + z 2 x ≤
4
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Problem 20: Let a, b, and c be positive numbers satisfying abc = 1. Show that
a3 b3 c3 1 1 1
3
+ 3
+ 3
≥ 1 and 3 + 3 + 3 ≤ 1.
a +2 b +2 c +2 a +2 b +2 c +2
Problem 21: Prove that
√ √ tan 1◦ + tan 2◦ + · · · + tan 44◦
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44
tan 1◦ · tan 2◦ · · · · · tan 44◦ < 2 − 1 < .
44
Problem 22: Let a, b, c be positive real numbers. Prove that
a b c a+b+c
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1+ 1+ 1+ ≥2 1+ √ 3
.
b c a abc
Problem 23: Let a, b, c be positive real numbers such that abc = 1. Show that
1 1 1
√ + √ + √ > 2.
a c + 1 b a + 1 c b2 + 1
2 2
Problem 24: Let P be a given (non-degenerate) polyhedron. Prove that there is a constant
c(P ) > 0 with the following property: If a collection of n balls whose volumes sum to V contains
the entire surface of P , then n > c(P )/V 2 .
Problem 25: Suppose a, b, c are the sides of a triangle. Prove that
a2 (b + c − a) + b2 (c + a − b) + c2 (a + b − c) ≤ 3abc.
