IMO Training 2006 − 2007

Phase 1 (Level 2): Inequalities (II)

2006/07/25

In this class we are mainly concerned with techniques of proving inequalities. Some commonly
used techniques include:

y Equating degrees

y Reducing the number of variables

y Observing equality cases

y Making suitable substitutions

1. If x, y are real numbers greater than 2 . Show that x 4 − x3 y + x 2 y 2 − xy 3 + y 4 > x 2 + y 2 .

2. If x, y are positive real numbers such that x3 + y 3 = x − y , show that x 2 + 4 y 2 < 1 .

100abc
3. Let a, b, c be positive real numbers. Prove that (a + b) 2 + (a + b + 4c) 2 ≥ .
a+b+c

a2 b2
4. Let a, b be real numbers greater than 1. Determine the smallest possible value of + .
b −1 a −1

5. Let K (a, b, c) denote the area of a triangle with side lengths a, b and c. Show that

K ( x, y, z ) + K ( x ', y ', z ') ≤ K ( x + x ', y + y ', z + z ') .

1
6. Let a, b, c be positive real numbers such that abc = 1 . Prove that
⎛ 1 ⎞⎛ 1 ⎞⎛ 1⎞
⎜ a −1 + ⎟ ⎜ b −1+ ⎟ ⎜ c −1+ ⎟ ≤ 1.
⎝ b ⎠⎝ c ⎠⎝ a⎠

7. Let a, b and c be the lengths of the sides of a triangle. Prove that

a 2b(a − b) + b 2 c(b − c) + c 2 a(c − a) ≥ 0 .

8. Show that for positive real numbers a, b, c not less than 1, a − 1 + b − 1 + c − 1 ≤ c(ab + 1) .

9. Let a, b, c be positive real numbers such that abc = 1. Prove that

1 1 1 3
+ 3 + 3 ≥ .
a (b + c) b (c + a) c (a + b) 2
3

10. Prove that, for positive real numbers a, b and c,

1 1 1 1
+ 3 3 + 3 ≤ .
a + b + abc b + c + abc c + a + abc abc
3 3 3

a b c
11. Let a, b, c be positive real numbers. Show that + + ≥ 1.
a 2 + 8bc b 2 + 8ca c 2 + 8ab