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Exercise 1324Algebra › InequalitiesOlympiadAdded 5 Nov 2026

The product of the sines of a triangle

#Jensen#concavity#logarithm#triangle

Statement

Let A,B,CA,B,C be the angles of a triangle. Prove that
sin⁡Asin⁡Bsin⁡C≤338.\sin A\sin B\sin C\le\frac{3\sqrt3}8.

Hint

Take logarithms and show that ln⁡sin⁡\ln\sin is concave on (0,π)(0,\pi).

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Solution

Concavity. On (0,π)(0,\pi) the function g=ln⁡sin⁡g=\ln\sin has g′=cot⁡g'=\cot and g′′=−1sin⁡2<0g''=-\dfrac1{\sin^2}<0, so gg is strictly concave.

Jensen. For the three angles with equal weights,
g(A)+g(B)+g(C)3≤g ⁣(A+B+C3)=g ⁣(π3)=ln⁡32.\frac{g(A)+g(B)+g(C)}3\le g\!\left(\frac{A+B+C}3\right)=g\!\left(\frac\pi3\right)=\ln\frac{\sqrt3}2.
Hence ln⁡(sin⁡Asin⁡Bsin⁡C)≤3ln⁡32\ln(\sin A\sin B\sin C)\le3\ln\frac{\sqrt3}2, i.e.
sin⁡Asin⁡Bsin⁡C≤(32)3=338.\sin A\sin B\sin C\le\left(\frac{\sqrt3}2\right)^3=\frac{3\sqrt3}8.

Equality. By strict concavity, iff A=B=C=π3A=B=C=\frac\pi3.

Remark. The same method gives sin⁡A2sin⁡B2sin⁡C2≤18\sin\frac A2\sin\frac B2\sin\frac C2\le\frac18.

Lesson. A product under a fixed-sum constraint is a sum after taking logarithms: check the concavity of ln⁡f\ln f and use Jensen.