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Exercise 1011Algebra › InequalitiesHigh schoolAdded 3 Nov 2026

AM-GM for three numbers

#AM-GM#three variables#inequality

Statement

Let a,b,c≥0a,b,c\ge0. Prove that
abc3≤a+b+c3.\sqrt[3]{abc}\le\frac{a+b+c}{3}.

Hint

Use the identity a3+b3+c3−3abc=(a+b+c)(a2+b2+c2−ab−bc−ca)a^3+b^3+c^3-3abc=(a+b+c)(a^2+b^2+c^2-ab-bc-ca), or apply AM-GM twice with a clever choice of auxiliary terms.

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Solution

Identity. We use the factorization
x3+y3+z3−3xyz=(x+y+z)(x2+y2+z2−xy−yz−zx).x^3+y^3+z^3-3xyz=(x+y+z)(x^2+y^2+z^2-xy-yz-zx).
The second factor equals 12[(x−y)2+(y−z)2+(z−x)2]≥0\frac12[(x-y)^2+(y-z)^2+(z-x)^2]\ge0, so
x3+y3+z3≥3xyz,x^3+y^3+z^3\ge3xyz,
with equality iff x=y=zx=y=z.

Substitution. Set x=a3x=\sqrt[3]{a}, y=b3y=\sqrt[3]{b}, z=c3z=\sqrt[3]{c}. Then x3=ax^3=a etc., so
a+b+c≥3abc3,a+b+c\ge3\sqrt[3]{abc},
i.e. abc3≤a+b+c3\sqrt[3]{abc}\le\frac{a+b+c}{3}.

Equality case. Equality holds iff x=y=zx=y=z, i.e. a=b=ca=b=c.