Cauchy–Schwarz. For the two vectors u=(a3/2,b3/2,c3/2) and w=(a1/2,b1/2,c1/2),
⟨u,w⟩2≤∥u∥2∥w∥2.
Now ⟨u,w⟩=∑a3/2⋅a1/2=∑a2=a2+b2+c2, while ∥u∥2=∑a3 and ∥w∥2=∑a=a+b+c. Hence
(a2+b2+c2)2≤(a3+b3+c3)(a+b+c).
Equality. Equality in Cauchy–Schwarz holds iff u and w are proportional. For a,b,c>0, this means a3/2/a1/2=a is constant, i.e. a=b=c. (If some variables vanish, equality holds iff the nonzero ones are equal.)
Remark. The inequality is a special case of Hölder's inequality: for p=3/2 and q=3, applied to the products a3/2⋅a1/2. It is also the p=3, r=1 case of the power-mean inequality (3ar+br+cr)1/r≤(3as+bs+cs)1/s for r≤s.
Conclusion. (a3+b3+c3)(a+b+c)≥(a2+b2+c2)2, with equality iff a=b=c (for positive a,b,c).