INEQUALITIES

1. State and prove weierstrass inequality.

2. State and prove Cauchy inequality.

3. Prove that A.M. > G.M.

4. Prove that a) 1.3.5...........(2n −1)  n n

b) 2 n n!= 2.4.6......................2n  (n + 1) n

5. If n be a positive integer greater than 2, show that 2 n  n 2 n −1

6. If a , b, c are unequal and positive quantities then

 (a + b + c )
bc ca ab 1
+ +
b+c c+a a+b 2

7. If x, y, z are unequal and positive quantities then show that

x+ y+z 3
( )  ( x + y − z )( z + x − y )( y + z − x)
3

8. If x, y , z are all positive numbers, then show that

x +y
2
y + z 2 z2 + x2
2 2
+ + x+ y+ z
x+ y y+z z+x

9. If a,b,c are all positive numbers, then show that

b4 + c4 c4 + a4 a4 + b4
+ 2 + 2  a2 + b2 + c2
b +c
2 2
c +a 2
a +b 2

2 2 2 9
10. If a , b, c are positive quantities then + + 
a+b b+c c+a a+b+c
 INEQUALITIES

Definition: Any quantity a is said to be greater than another quantity b

when a-b is positive and is written a>b. Similarly, Any quantity a is said to
be less than another quantity b when a-b is negative and is written a<b.
The statements a>b and a<b are called inequalities.

Weierstrass inequalities: If u1,u2,u3,………………..,un be positive then

i) (1+u1) (1+u2) …………….(1+un) > (1+u1+u2+……….+un).

ii) If u1,u2,u3,………………..,un be all positive and each less than 1,

then
(1-u1) (1-u2) …………….(1-un) > (1-u1-u2-……….-un).

iii) (1+u1) (1+u2) …………….(1+un) < 1/ (1-u1-u2-……….-un).

when∑ur<1

iv) (1-u1) (1-u2) …………….(1-un) <1/ (1+u1+u2+……….+un).

Proof: i) (1+u1) (1+u2)=1+u1+u2+u1u2>1+u1+u2

Again (1+u1) (1+u2) (1+u3)>1+u1+u2+u3

And so on.

Hence (1+u1) (1+u2) …………….(1+un) > (1+u1+u2+……….+un).

Or ∏(1+ur) >1+∑ur .

ii) (1-u1) (1-u2)>1-u1-u2+u1u2>1-u1-u2

Again (1-u1) (1-u2) (1-u3)>1-u1-u2-u3

And so on.

Hence (1-u1) (1-u2) …………….(1-un) > (1-u1-u2-……….-un).

 Or ∏(1-ur) >1-∑ur .
iii) Consider (1+u1)(1-u1)=1-u12<1

(1+u1)<1/(1-u1)

similarly (1+u2)<1/(1-u2)

1+un)<1/(1-un)

Multiplying all these inequalities,we get

(1+u1) (1+u2) …………….(1+un) < 1/ (1-u1)(1-u2)……….(1-un)……..(A)

But we know (1-u1) (1-u2) …………….(1-un) > (1-u1-u2-……….-un).

Or 1/(1-u1) (1-u2) …………….(1-un) <1/ (1-u1-u2-……….-un)………..(B)

Combining (A) and (B) we get

(1+u1) (1+u2) …………….(1+un) < 1/(1-u1-u2-……….-un) .

iv) Consider (1+u1)(1-u1)=1-u12<1

(1-u1)<1/(1+u1)

similarly (1-u2)<1/(1+u2)

1-un)<1/(1+un)

Multiplying all these inequalities,we get

(1-u1) (1-u2) …………….(1-un) < 1/ (1+u1)(1+u2)……….(1+un)……..(A)

But we know (1+u1) (1+u2) …………….(1+un) > (1+u1+u2+……….+un).

Or
1/(1+u1) (1+u2) …………….(1+un) <(1+u1+u2+……….+un)………..(B)

Combining (A) and (B) we get

(1-u1) (1-u2) …………….(1-un) < 1/(1+u1+u2+……….+un) .

(Proved)
# State and prove Cauchy inequality.

Statement: If a1 , a2 , a3 ................an and b1 , b2 , b3 ................bn are any two sets

of real numbers then
(a1 + a2 + a3 + ................ + an )
2 2 2 2

(b1 + b2 + b3 + ................ + bn )  (a1b1 + a2 b2 + .............. + an bn ) 2

2 2 2 2

The sign of equality holds only when a1 = a2 = ............. = an

b1 b2 bn
Proof: Let A= a12 + a2 2 + a3 2 + ................ + an 2
B= a1b1 + a2b2 + .............. + anbn
C= b12 + b2 2 + b32 + ................ + bn 2
Then for all values of x, we have

(a1 + xb1 ) 2 + (a 2 + xb2 ) 2 + .............. + (a n + xbn ) 2

= (a12 + a2 2 + a3 2 + ................ + an 2 ) + 2 x(a1b1 + a2b2 + .............. + an bn ) +
x 2 (b1 + b2 + b3 + ................ + bn )
2 2 2 2

= A + 2 xB + Cx 2  0 , since the left hand side is the sum of squares.

If Cx 2 + 2 Bx + A = 0 , all the terms or the left hand side must be

individually equal to zero and therefore a1 + xb1 =0, a2 + xb2
=0,…………………, an + xbn = 0
a1 a2 a
i.e = = ............. = n = − x .
b1 b2 bn
Now the roots of the quadratic equation A + 2 xB + Cx 2 = 0 will be
equal if its discriminant is equal to zero.
i.e (2B) 2 − 4CA = 0 or B 2 = AC
(a1b1 + a 2 b2 + .............. + a n bn ) 2 = (a1 + a2 + a3 + ................ + an )
2 2 2 2

(b1 + b2 + b3 + ................ + bn )
2 2 2 2

Again the expression

B A
Cx 2 + 2 Bx + A = C ( x 2 + 2 x+ )
C C
B B 2 B2 A
= C{( x) + 2.x + ( ) − 2 + )}
2

C C C C
 B 2 AC − B 2
= C{( x +
) + }
C C2
B AC − B 2
= C(x + ) 2 +
C C
Which is positive if AC − B 2 >0 i.e AC  B 2

Thus Cx 2 + 2 Bx + A  0 if AC  B 2

(a1 + a2 + a3 + ................ + an )
2 2 2 2
Therefore
(b1 + b2 + b3 + ................ + bn )  (a1b1 + a2 b2 + .............. + an bn ) 2
2 2 2 2

n n n
i.e( a r )(  br )  ( a r br ) 2 .(Proved)
2 2

r =1 r =1 r =1

Theorem:

The arithmetic mean of two unequal positive quantities is greater

than their geometric mean.
i.e A.M>G.M
Proof: We know that the square of every real quantity is positive
and so greater than zero.
( a − b) 2  0
Or, a 2 − 2ab + b 2  0
Or, a 2 + b 2  2ab
a2 + b2
Or,  ab
2
Let a2 = x a = x
b 2 = y b = y
x+ y 1
  xy = ( xy) 2
2
Hence A.M>G.M (Proved)

N.B.
a1 + a2 + ............. + an
Arithmetic Mean:
n
 The arithmetic mean of any n positive quantities is the nth part of their
sum.
1
Geometric Mean: (a1a2 ................an ) n
The geometric mean of any n positive quantities is the nth root of
their product.

# Prove that i) 1.3.5...........(2n −1)  n n

Proof: We know that A.M>G.M

1 + 3 + 5 + ...................( 2n − 1) 1
  {1.3.5.....................(2n − 1)} n
n
2
Or, n  {1.3.5...........(2n − 1)} n
1

n2 n
Or, ( )  1.3.5...........(2n − 1)
n

Or, n n  1.3.5...........(2n − 1)

1.3.5...........(2n − 1)  n n

#Prove that 2 n!= 2.4.6......................2n  (n + 1)

n n

Prove:
We know that A.M>G.M

2 + 4 + 6 + ................... + 2n 1
  {2.4.6.....................2n} n
n
2(1 + 2 + 3 + ................... + n) 1
Or,   {2 n (1.2.3.....................n} n
n
 2n(n + 1) 1
Or,   2(n!} n
2n

1
Or, n + 1  2( n!) n

 (n + 1) n  2 n n! (Proved)

#If n be a positive integer greater than 2, show that 2 n  n 2 n −1

Proof:
We know that A.M>G.M

1 + 2 + 2 2 + ............... + 2 n−1 1
 (1.2.2 2..................2 n −1 ) n
n

2n − 1 1
Or 1.  {21+ 2+3+.......... .......... .......( n−1) } n
(2 − 1)n

( n −1) n
2n −1 1
Or,  {2 2
} n
n

n −1
2n − 1
Or, 2 2
n

Or, 2 n − 1  n 2 n −1

 2 n  1 + n 2 n −1 (Proved).
# Ifa , b, c are unequal and positive quantities then
 (a + b + c )
bc ca ab 1
+ +
b+c c+a a+b 2

Proof:

We know that A.M>G.M

b+c
 bc
2
or , b + c  2 bc
or , (b + c) 2  4bc
b+c bc
or , 
4 b+c
bc b+c
or ,  ................(i )
b+c 4

ca c+a
Similarly  ................(ii )
c+a 4

ab a+b
 ................(iii )
a+b 4

Adding (i),(ii) and (iii),we get

2(a + b + c) 1
 (b + c + c + a + a + b ) =
bc ca ab 1
+ + = (a + b + c)
b+c c+a a+b 4 4 2 (Proved.)

# If x, y, z are unequal and positive quantities then show that

x+ y+z 3
( )  ( x + y − z )( z + x − y )( y + z − x)
3

Proof:

We know that A.M>G.M

( x + y − z ) + ( z + x − y ) + ( y + z − x) 1
 {( x + y − z )( z + x − y )( y + z − x)} 3
3
 x+ y+z 1
Or,  {( x + y − z )( z + x − y )( y + z − x)} 3
3
x+ y+z 3
Or, ( )  ( x + y − z )( z + x − y )( y + z − x)
3
 ( x + y + z ) 3  27( x + y − z )( z + x − y)( y + z − x)

Art: If a and b are positive and unequal quantities then

am + bm a+b m
( )
2 2
except when m lies between 0 and 1.

# If x, y , z are all positive numbers, then show that

x +y
2
y + z 2 z2 + x2
2 2
+ + x+ y+ z
x+ y y+z z+x

am + bm a+b m
Proof: We know that ( )
2 2

x2 + y2 x+ y 2
 ( )
2 2
x2 + y2 x + y
 ..................(i)
Or, x + y 2
y2 + z2 y + z
Similarly  ..................(ii )
y+z 2

z2 + x2 z + x
 ..................(iii )
z+x 2

Adding (i),(ii) and (iii),we get

x2 + y2 y2 + z 2 z 2 + x2 x + y y + z z + x
+ +  + +
x+ y y+z z+x 2 2 2

x2 + y2 y2 + z 2 z2 + x2
Or, + + x+ y+ z
x+ y y+z z+x (Proved).
# If a,b,c are all positive numbers, then show that
b4 + c4 c4 + a4 a4 + b4
+ 2 + 2  a2 + b2 + c2
b +c
2 2
c +a 2
a +b 2

Proof:
am + bm a+b m
We know that ( )
2 2

b 4 + c 4 (b 2 ) 2 + (c 2 ) 2 b2 + c2 2
 = ( )
2 2 2
b4 + c4 b2 + c2
 ...................(i)
Or, b 2 + c 2 2
c4 + a4 c2 + a2
Similarly  ...................(ii )
c2 + a2 2

a4 + b4 a2 + b2
 ...................(iii )
a2 + b2 2

Adding (i),(ii) and (iii),we get

b4 + c4 c4 + a4 a4 + b4
+ +  a2 + b2 + c2
b2 + c2 c2 + a2 a2 + b2 (Proved).

2 2 2 9
#If a , b, c are positive quantities then + + 
a+b b+c c+a a+b+c

Proof:
am + bm + cm a+b+c m
We know that ( )
3 3
−1
(a + b) + (b + c) −1 + (c + a) −1 a + b + b + c + c + a −1
or ( )
3 3
1 1 1
+ +
2(a + b + c −1
or a + b b + c c + a  { }
3 3
1 1 1 3
or , + +  3.
a+b b+c c+a 2(a + b + c)
2 2 2 9
or , + +  .
a + b b + c c + a (a + b + c)
(proved)