8

More generally and more precisely, we have the following known result: if F (X)
is a concave function of X = (x1 , x2 , . . . , xn ) and G(y) is a convex decreasing
function of y where y is a real variable and the domain of G contains the range of
F , then G{F (X)} is a convex function of X.
4. If a, b, c are sides of a given triangle of perimeter p, determine the maximum
values of
(i) (a − b)2 + (b − c)2 + (c − a)2 ,
(ii) |a − b| + |b − c| + |c − a|,
(iii) |a − b||b − c| + |b − c||c − a| + |c − a||a − b|.
Solution. (i) (a − b)2 + (b − c)2 + (c − a)2 = 2( a2 − bc) ≤ kp2 .
P P

Let c = 0, so that k ≥ 1/2. We now show that k = 1/2 suffices. Here,

X X 1
2( a2 − bc) ≤ (a + b + c)2
2

reduces to
2bc + 2ca + 2ab − a2 − b2 − c2 ≥ 0.
√ √ √
The LHS is 16 times the square of the area of a triangle of sides a, b, c or
√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
( a + b + c)( a + b − c)( a − b + c)(− a + b + c).

There is equality iff the triangle is degenerate with one side 0.

(ii) |a − b| + |b − c| + |c − a| ≤ kp.
Letting c = 0, k ≥ 1. To show that k = 1 suffices, assume that a ≥ b ≥ c, so that

|a − b| + |b − c| + |c − a| = 2a − 2c ≤ a + b + c

and there is equality iff c = 0.

(iii) |a − b| |b − c| + |b − c| |c − a| + |c − a| |a − b| ≤ kp2 .
Letting c = 0, k ≥ 1/4. To show that k = 1/4 suffices, let a = y + z, b = z + x,
c = x + y where z ≥ y ≥ x ≥ 0. Our inequality then becomes

|x − y| |z − y| + |y − z| |z − x| + |z − x| |x − y| ≤ (x + y + z)2

or
x2 − y 2 + z 2 + yz − 3zx + xy ≤ x2 + y 2 + z 2 + 2yz + 2zx + 2xy

or
2y 2 + 5zx + 1xy + 1yz ≥ 0.

There is equality iff x = y = 0 or equivalently, a = b, and c = 0.