1

Let a, b, c be nonnegative real numbers, no two of which are zero. Prove that

1 1 1 21
+ 2 + 2 ≥ .
b2 + bc + c 2 c + ca + a 2 a + ab + b 2 2 2 2
2( a + b + c ) + 5( ab + bc + ca)

(Vo Quoc Ba Can)

First solution. Denote

1 1 1 21
G ( a, b, c) = + 2 + 2 − .
b2 + bc + c 2 c + ca + a 2 a + ab + b 2 2 2 2
2( a + b + c ) + 5( ab + bc + ca)

Without loss of generality, assume that c = min{ a, b, c}. We have to prove that
 
a+b a+b
G ( a, b, c) ≥ G , , c ≥ 0.
2 2

Using the known result

1 1 4
+ 2 ≥ 2 ,
b2 + bc + c 2 c + ca + a 2 2c + c( a + b) + 2ab

it’s enough to check that

1 4 21
+ 2 −
a2 + ab + b 2 2
2c + 2ab + c( a + b) 2 ∑ a + 5 ∑ ab

4 8 84
≥ + − .
3( a + b)2 ( a + b)2 + 2c( a + b) + 4c2 8( a + b + c)2 + ( a + b)2 + 4c( a + b)
This inequality is equivalent to

12( a − b)2
[2c2 + 2ab + c( a + b)][( a + b)2 + 2c( a + b) + 4c2 ]

( a − b)2 63( a − b)2

≥ + ,
( a2 + ab + b2 )( a + b)2 (2 ∑ a2 + 5 ∑ ab)[8( a + b + c)2 + ( a + b)2 + 4c( a + b)]
true since

6( a2 + ab + b2 )( a + b)2 ≥ [2c2 + 2ab + c( a + b)][( a + b)2 + 2c( a + b) + 4c2 ];

2(2 ∑ a2 + 5 ∑ ab) ≥ 7[2c2 + 2ab + c( a + b)];

8( a + b + c)2 + ( a + b)2 + 4c( a + b) ≥ 7[( a + b)2 + 2c( a + b) + 4c2 ].

 
a+b a+b
Hence, we get G ( a, b, c) ≥ G , , c . Setting t = a+2 b , it suffices to prove that
2 2

G (t, t, c) ≥ 0,
2

which reduces to
2c(t − c)2 (8t + c)
≥ 0.
3t2 (9t2 + 10tc + 2c2 )(t2 + tc + c2 )
Equality holds for a = b = c, or a = b, c = 0, or any cyclic permutation. 

Second solution. Using the Cauchy−Schwarz Inequality, we get

1 (5a + b + c)2
∑ b2 + bc + c2 = ∑ (5a + b + c)2 (b2 + bc + c2 )
[∑(5a + b + c)]2 49( a + b + c)2
≥ = .
∑(5a + b + c)2 (b2 + bc + c2 ) ∑(5a + b + c)2 (b2 + bc + c2 )

Therefore, it suffices to show that

49( a + b + c)2 21
2 2 2
≥ 2 2 2
.
∑(5a + b + c) (b + bc + c ) 2( a + b + c ) + 5( ab + bc + ca)

Without loss of generality, assume that a + b + c = 1. Setting q = ab + bc + ca, r = abc, we can

rewrite the inequality above as

7 3
≥ .
32q2 + 5q + 2 − 48r 2+q

There are two cases to consider.

Case 1. 1 ≥ 4q. We have

7 3 7 3 8(1 − 4q)(1 + q)
− ≥ − = ≥ 0.
32q2 + 5q + 2 − 48r 2 + q 2
32q + 5q + 2 2 + q (32q2 + 5q + 2)(2 + q)

1 1 (4q − p2 )( p2 − q) (4q − 1)(1 − q)

Case 2. ≥ q ≥ . Using Schur’s Inequality, we get r ≥ = . It
3 4 6p 6
follows that
7 3 7 3
− ≥ −
32q2 + 5q + 2 − 48r 2 + q 2
32q + 5q + 2 − 8(4q − 1)(1 − q) 2 + q
7 3 16(4q − 1)(1 − 3q)
= − = ≥ 0.
64q2 − 35q + 10 2 + q (64q2 − 35q + 10)(2 + q)

The proof is completed.