Chapter 6: Inequalities

Inequalities: Any quantity a is said to be greater than another quantity b when a-b is
positive and is written as a>b. Similarly, any quantity a is said to be less than another
quantity b when a-b is negative and is written as a<b.
The statements a>b and a<b is called inequalities.
Arithmetic Mean (AM): The arithmetic mean of any n positive quantities is the nth part
of other sum.
Geometric Mean (AM): The geometric mean of any n positive quantities is the nth part
of their sum.
Harmonic Mean (AM): The harmonic mean of n numbers is the arithmetic mean of their
reciprocals.
If a1, a2, ……………………….an are n positive quantities,
a1 +a2 +… … … … … .+ an
then their Arithmetic Mean =
n
1
Geometric Mean ¿(a1 a2 … … … … … . an) n

1 1 1 1
Harmonic Mean ¿ n +( a + a +… … … a )
1 2 n

Theorem: The Arithmetic mean of two positive quantities is greater than their geometric
mean.
Proof: We know that the square of every real quantity is positive and so greater than 0. If
a and b are two positive numbers, then their (a-b)2 is positive.
…. i.e. (a−b)2 >0
Or, a 2−2 ab+b 2> 0
Or, a2 +b 2> 2 ab
a2 +b2
Or, >ab (1)
2
Let a 2=x∧b2 = y
Then, a=√ x and b=√ y
x+ y
From Equation (1), we get > √ xy
2
1
(x+ y)
i.e. >( xy) 2
2

Hence the theorem is proved.

Corollary: The inequality becomes an equality when the quantities are equal.
The above theorem can be generalized by extending it for n unequal positive quantities.

Example: If the sum of any two of the quantities x, y and z be greater than the third, show
that ¿
Solve: We know that Arithmetic Mean> Geometric Mean
1
( y + z−x )(z+ x− y)( x + y −z)
> {( y + z−x ) ( z + x− y ) ( x+ y−z ) }3 Or,
3
1
x+ y + z
>{( y + z−x ) ( z+ x− y )( x + y−z ) }3
3

x+ y+ z 3 (
Or, ( ) >{ y+ z−x )( z + x− y ) ( x+ y −z )
3

x+ y+ z 3
Or, ( ) >27 ( y + z−x ) ( z+ x− y )( x + y−z )
3

Example: Prove that (n !)2 >nn

Solve: n !=1,2,3 , …(n−1) n
2 2 2 2 2 2
(n !) =1 , 2 , 3 , …(n−1) n

By rearrangement of the factors, we have

(n !) =( 1. n ) , { 2. ( n−1 ) }{ 3. ( n−2 ) } … { n ( n−r +1 ) } … { n ( n−1 ) .2 } { n .1 } … … (A)
2

n−r
Now we know that n−r > where r is a positive integer. And 1<r <n
r

Or, nr −r 2 >n−r
Or, nr −r 2 +r >n
Or, r ( n−r +1)>n
Putting r =2,3 , … ,n−1 we get successively the following inequalities: 2(n−1)> n,
3( n−3)>n , … ,(n−1)2>n

Multiplying the above inequalities together, we get {2(n−1)}{3( n−3)}… . {( n−1)2}>nn−2

n−2
Hence, { 1. n } { 2 ( n−1 ) }{ 3 ( n−3 ) } . {(n−1) }{n .1}>n n2=nn . (B)

Combining (A) and (B), we get (n !)2 >nn .

b+c c+ a a+ b
Example: If a , b , c are positive integers prove that + + >6
a b c

Solve: We know that Arithmetic Mean> Geometric Mean

b+ c c +a a+b
+ +
a b c b+ c c+ a a+ b 13
>( + + )
3 a b c
1
b+c c+ a a+ b (b+ c)(c +a)(a+b) 3
Or, + + > 3{ } (I)
a b c abc
b+c c+ a a+b
Also, we have > √ bc , > √ ca, > √ ab
2 2 2
(b+ c)( c+ a)( a+b)
3
> √ a2 b2 c2 =abc
2

Or, (b+ c)( c+ a)( a+b)>8 abc

(b+ c)(c+ a)(a+b)
Or, >8
abc
1 1
( b+c )(c+ a)(a+ b) 3
Or, { } >(8) 3 =2(II )
abc

Combining (I) and (II), we get

1
b+c c+ a a+ b (b+ c)(c +a)(a+b) 3
+ + > 3{ } > 3.2
a b c abc
b+c c+ a a+ b
Or, + + >6
a b c
Example: If 2 s=a+ b+c , Prove that S3 >27(s−a)(s−b)( s−c)
Solve: Let s−a=x , s−b= y∧s−c=z
We know that Arithmetic Mean> Geometric Mean
1
x+ y + z
>( xyz) 3
3
1
s−a+ s−b+ s−c
Or, >{(s−a)( s−b)( s−c)}3
3
1
3 s−(a+b+ c)
Or, > {( s−a)( s−b)( s−c)}3
3
1
3 s−2 s
Or, >{(s−a)(s−b)(s−c )}3
3
1
s
Or, >{( s−a)( s−b)(s−c)}3
3

s3
Or, >( s−a)(s−b)(s−c )
27

Or, S3 >27( s−a)( s−b)( s−c)

Example: Prove that abcd >81(s−a)(s−b)(s−c)( s−d) if a+b+c+d=3s and all the factors
are positive.
Solve: Let s−a=x , s−b= y , s−c=z ∧s−d=t
Also given a+ b+c +d=3 s
Now y + z +t=s−b+s−c+ s−d=3 s−(b +c +d )
¿ a+ b+c +d−(b+ c+ d)=a

So, y + z +t=a
Similarly, z + x+ t=s−c + s−a+ s−d
¿ 3 s−(c +a+ d)
¿b

So, z + x+ t =b
 x + y +t =s−a+s−b+s−d=3 s−(a+b +d)

¿ a+ b+c +d−(a+ b+d )=c

So, x + y +t=c
x + y + z=s−a+ s−b+ s−c=3 s−(a+b +c)
¿ a+ b+c +d−(a+ b+c )=d

So, x + y + z=d
We also know that Arithmetic Mean> Geometric Mean
1
x+ y + z
>(xyz ) 3
3
1
or, x + y + z> 3(xyz )3
1
y+ z+t
>( xzt ) 3
3
1
or, y + z +t> 3( yzt)3
1
z+ x +t
>( zxr) 3
3
1
or, z + x+ t >3( zxt)3
1
x+ y +t
>( xyt) 3
3
1
or, x + y +t>3 (xyt) 3
1 1 1 1
Thus, d >3(xyz ) 3 , a> 3( yzt )3 , b> 3( zxt) 3 , c >3(xyt ) 3

Now multiplying the above four inequalities, we get

1
abcd >81( yzt . zxt . xyt . xyz )3
1
Or, abcd >81( x 3 y 3 z 3 ) 3

Or, abcd >81( xyzt )

Or, abcd >81( s−a)(s−b)(s−c)( s−d)
Example: Show that
1 1.3 .5 … … .(2 n−1) √ n+1 2
> > ∨
√ 2 n+1 2.4 .6 … …2 n 2 n 2 √ n+1
Solve: Since Arithmetic Mean> Geometric Mean
( 2n−1 ) +(2 n+1)
> √ (2 n−1)(2 n+1)
2
4n
Or, > √ (2n−1)( 2n+ 1)
2

Or, 2 n> √ (2 n−1)(2 n+1)

1 1
Or, 2n <
√(2 n−1)(2 n+1)
=√
2n−1 2 n−1 2 n−1
Or, <
2n √(2 n−1)(2n+1) √ 2n+1
2n−1 √ 2 n−1
Or, < (1)
2n √2 n+1
Replacing n byn−1 ,n−2 , n−3 , … .,3,2,1 ,in(1) successively we get
2n−3
2 n−2
<
√
2 n−3 2 n−5
,
2 n−1 2n−4
<
2 n−5
2 n−3 √ 5 5 3 3 1
,… < , < , <
6 7 4 5 2
1
3 √ √ √
Multiplying the above inequalities, we get
1 3 5 2n−5 2 n−3 2 n−1 1
. . … . . < ( A)
2 4 6 2 n−4 2 n−2 2 n √ (2 n+1 )
Again, since Arithmetic Mean> Geometric Mean
n+(n+1)
> √ n(n+ 1)
2

2n+ 1 √ n(n+1)
Or, >
2n n

2n+ 1 √ ( n+1 )
Or, > (2)
2n n
Replacing n by n−1 ,n−2 , … ,3,2,1∈(2) successively, we get
2n−1
> ,
√
n 2 n−3
2n−2 n−1 2 n−4
>
n−1
n−2
5
√
3 3
,………, > , >
4 2 2
2
1 √ √
Multiplying all these inequalities, we get
3 5 2n−3 2 n−1 2 n+1 √ n+1
. … . . > (B)
2 4 2 n−4 2 n−2 2n 2 n+1
Combining (A) and (B) we get,
1 1.3 .5 . …(2 n−1) √n+1
> >
√2 n+1 2.4 .6 ….2 n 2n+1

But
√ n+1 > 1
2 n+ 1 2 √n+ 1

1 1.3 .5 … .(2 n−1) 1

Hence > >
√2 n+1 2.4 .6 ….2 n 2 √ n+1

m m m
a +b a+b
Theorem: If a and b are positive and unequal quantities then >( ) ,except when
2 2
m lies between 0 and 1.
m
a+ b a−b
m
Proof: We can write a =( + )
2 2

a+ b m a−b m
¿( ) (1+ )
2 a+ b
Expanding by binomial theorem, we have

m
a =(
a+ b m
2
) 1+ m { ( )
a+b
+
2! a+b
+ ( ) 3! a+b( ) }
a−b m ( m−1 ) a−b 2 m ( m−1 ) ( m−2 ) a−b 3
+… ( A)

Similarly, we can write

{ ( )
a−b m ( m−1 ) a−b
( ) ( ) }
m ( m−1 ) ( m−2 ) a−b 3
m 2
m a+ b
b =( ) 1−m + − +… (B)
2 a+ b 2! a+ b 3! a+b

Adding (A) and (B) and then dividing by 2

We get
am +b m a+ b m
2
=(
2
) {1+m
2! a+ b( )
+
4! ( )
( m−1 ) a−b 2 m ( m−1 ) ( m−2 ) ( m−3 ) a−b 4
a+ b
+…}
 m
a +b
m
a+ b m ( m−1 ) a+b
m m−2
a+b
2
m ( m−1 ) (m−2)(m−3) a+ b m −4
a+b
4
Or, =( ) + ( ) ( )+ ( ) ( ) (C)
2 2 2! 2 2 4! 2 2
Now there are three cases:
Case I: If m is any positive integer or any negative quantity, all the terms on the right
am +b m a+b m
side of the above expression (C) are positive and hence >( )
2 2
Case II: If m lies between 0 and 1 i.e. 0<m<1. all the terms except the first on the
am +b m a+b m
right side of the above expression (C) is negative and hence <( )
2 2
1
Case III: If m>1, then put m= where n<1, then
n
¿ by case II

Or, ¿
Or, ¿
Hence the theorem is proved.
am +b m
Note 1: If m=0 the above inequality becomes an equality for =1 and ¿.
2

Note 2: If m=1 the above inequality becomes an equality for

am +b m a+ b
2
=
2
and ¿ ( )
m m
a +b m
Note 3: If a=b the above inequality becomes an equality for =a and
2
¿

Example: If x , y ∧z are positive quantities such that x + y + z=1 prove that

x y z 3
+ + ≥
2−x 2− y 2−z 5
1 1 1
Solve: If x + y + z=1, then + + > 9
x y z

am +b m +c m
We know that >¿
3
 1 1 1
+ +
So x y z > ¿
3
1 1 1
+ +
Or, x y z > ¿
3
1 1 1
+ +
Or, x y z >3
3
1 1 1
Or, + + >9
x y z

( ) ( )
−1 −1
2−x 2− y
Now + +¿ ¿
x y
x y z
Or, + + >9¿
2−x 2− y 2−z
x y z
Or, + + > 9{2¿
2−x 2− y 2−z
x y z −1 1 1 1
Or, + + > 9{2.9−3 } since + + > 9
2−x 2− y 2−z x y z
x y z 1
Or, + + > 9.
2−x 2− y 2−z 15
x y z 3
Or, + + >
2−x 2− y 2−z 5
1
In particular If x= y =z= then it becomes and equality.
3
x y z 3
Thus + + ≥ .
2−x 2− y 2−z 5

Example: If a , b∧c are positive unequal numbers, prove that

b4 + c 4 c 4 + a4 a4 + b4
+ + >3 abc
b+ c c+ a a+ b
m m m
a +b a+b
Solve: We know that >( )
2 2
 4 4
b +c
So, >¿
b+ c
4 4 1
Or, b +c > ¿
8

b4 + c 4 1
Or, > ¿
b+ c 8

c 4 +a 4
>¿
c +a
4 4 1
Or, c + a > ¿
8
4 4
c +a 1
Or, > ¿
c +a 8

a4 + b4
>¿
a+ b
4 4 1
Or, a +b > ¿
8
4 4
a +b 1
Or, > ¿
a+ b 8
Now we also know that Arithmetic Mean> Geometric Mean
b+c
> √ bc
2

Or, ¿
c+ a
> √ ca
2

Or, ¿
a+b
> √ ab
2

Or, ¿
Now Adding we have,
b4 + c 4 c 4 + a4 a4 + b4
+ + >¿
b+ c c+ a a+ b
And ¿
 4 4 4 4 4 4
b +c c +a a +b
+ + >¿ (A)
b+ c c+ a a+ b
Again, we also know that Arithmetic Mean> Geometric Mean
¿¿

¿ abc
¿ (B)
b4 + c 4 c 4 + a4 a4 + b4
Therefore, from (A) & (B) we have, + + >3 abc
b+ c c+ a a+ b

Example: If a , b∧c are positive unequal quantities, prove that

2 2 2 2 2 2
b +c c +a a + b
+ + > a+b+ c
b+c c +a a+ b

am +b m a+b m
Solve: We know that >( )
2 2
b2 +c 2
>¿
2
2 2
b +c b+c
Or, >( )
b+c 2
2 2
c +a
>¿
2

c 2+ a2 c+ a
Or, >( )
c+ a 2

a2 +b2
>¿
2

a2 +b2 a+ b
Or, >( )
a+b 2
Adding the above three inequalities, we have
2 2 2 2 2 2
b +c c +a a + b b+ c c +a a+b b+ c+ c+ a+a+ b 2(a+ b+c )
+ + > + + = = =a+b+ c
b+c c +a a+ b 2 2 2 2 2
2 2 2 2 2 2
b +c c +a a + b
Thus, + + > a+b+ c
b+c c +a a+ b
Example: If x <1, prove that ¿ and hence deduce that
a a b b >¿
Solve: Let P=¿. Now taking log on both sides, we have
logP=log ⁡{¿

¿ ( 1+ x ) log ( 1+ x ) + ( 1−x ) log (1−x )

¿ xlog ( 1+ x )−log ( 1−x )+ log ( 1+ x ) +log ( 1−x )

(
¿ 2 x x+
x 3 x5
3 5
+ +… −2 ) (
x2 x4 x6
+ + +…
2 4 6 )
¿ 2 ¿)

¿ 2 ¿)

Hence log P is positive and therefore P>1

That is ¿
z
In the above inequality put x= where u>z.
u

Then we have ¿
Or, ¿
Or, ¿
Or, ¿ ¿
Or, ¿
a+b
Again, Put u+ z=a∧u−z=b , u=
2

Thus, a a b b >¿

Example: If a , b∧c are positive unequal numbers, prove that

a4 + b4 b4 + c 4 c 4 + a4 2 2 2
2 2
+ 2 2 + 2 2 ≥ a + b +c
a +b b +c c +a
 m m m
a +b a+b
Solve: By theorem we know that, >( )
2 2
4 4
a +b
=¿ ¿ ¿
2
a4 + b4 a2 +b2
Or, > (1)
a 2 + b2 2
4 4
b +c
Similarly, =¿ ¿ ¿
2
4 4 2 2
b +c b +c
Or, > (2)
2
b +c
2
2

c 4 +a 4
Again, =¿ ¿ ¿
2

c 4 +a 4 c 2 +a 2
Or, > (3)
c 2 +a 2 2

Now Adding (1),(2)&(3), we get

a4 + b4 b4 + c 4 c 4 + a4 a2 +b2 b2+ c 2 c 2+ a2 2 ( a + b +c ) 2 2 2
2 2 2
+ + > + + = =a +b + c
a 2+ b2 b 2+ c2 c 2+ a2 2 2 2 2
4 4 4 4 4 4
a +b b +c c +a 2 2 2
Thus, 2 2
+ 2 2 + 2 2 >a +b + c
a +b b +c c +a
If the quantities a , b∧c are equal, then the inequality becomes an equality.
4 4 4 4 4 4
a +b b +c c +a 2 2 2
Therefore, 2 2
+ 2 2 + 2 2 ≥ a + b +c .
a +b b +c c +a

Cauchy’s Inequality: If a1, a2,….,an and b1,b2,…..,bn are any two sets of real numbers, then
2 2 2 2 2 2
(a 1 b 1+ a2 b 2+ … .+an bn )≤ (a1 +a2 +…+ an )( b1 + b2 + …+b n ) the sign of equality holds only
a1 a2 a
when = =…= n
b1 b2 bn

Proof: Let A=a12 +a22 +…+ an2

B=a1 b 1+ a2 b2 +… .+a n b n and

C=b12 +b 22 +…+ bn2

Then for all values of x, we have

¿¿
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
¿ a1 +a 2 + …+ an +2 x (a 1 b1 + a2 b 2+ … .+ an bn ¿+ x ¿ (b1 +b2 +…+ bn )

¿ A+2 xB+ x C ≥ 0 , since the left-hand side is the sum of squares.

2

If A+2 xB+ x 2 C=0,all the terms on the left-hand side must be individually equal to zero
and therefore, a 1+¿ xb =0 ,a + xb =0 ¿,…., a n + xb n=0 that is,
1 2 2

a1 a2 an
= =…= =−x
b1 b2 bn

Now the roots of the quadratic equation C x 2 +2 Bx+ A=0 will be equal if its discriminant
is equal to zero that is, ¿
2
¿ , B = AC
2 2 2 2 2 2
So, ( a 1 b 1+ a2 b2+ … .+an bn ) =(a1 + a2 +…+ an )(b 1 + b2 + …+bn )
Again, the expression

C x 2 +2 Bx+ A=C x 2+ ( 2B
C
x+
A
C )
( )
2 2
2 B B B A
¿ C x +2. x . + − +
C C2 C2 C

( )
¿ C x+
B 2 AC −B 2
C
+
C

Which is positive if AC−B2 >0∧C> 0 [C is the sum of the squares which is always
positive]
Hence C x 2 +2 Bx+ A >0 If AC−B2 >0 , that is AC > B2.
Thus C x 2 +2 Bx+ A ≥ 0 if B2 ≤ AC
2 2 2 2 2 2
Therefore, ( a 1 b 1+ a2 b2+ … .+an bn ) =( a1 + a2 +…+ an )(b 1 + b2 + …+bn )
That is, ¿