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Exercise 1734Algebra › InequalitiesOlympiadAdded 3 Nov 2026

Nesbitt's inequality

#Nesbitt#inequality#fractions

Statement

Let a,b,c>0a,b,c>0. Prove that
ab+c+bc+a+ca+b≥32.\frac{a}{b+c}+\frac{b}{c+a}+\frac{c}{a+b}\ge\frac32.

Hint

Use the substitution x=b+cx=b+c, y=c+ay=c+a, z=a+bz=a+b, then a=(y+z−x)/2a=(y+z-x)/2 etc., and apply AM-HM or Cauchy-Schwarz.

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Solution

Substitution. Let x=b+cx=b+c, y=c+ay=c+a, z=a+bz=a+b. Then a=(y+z−x)/2a=(y+z-x)/2, b=(z+x−y)/2b=(z+x-y)/2, c=(x+y−z)/2c=(x+y-z)/2, and
ab+c=y+z−x2x=12(yx+zx−1).\frac{a}{b+c}=\frac{y+z-x}{2x}=\frac12\left(\frac{y}{x}+\frac{z}{x}-1\right).
Summing cyclically:
S=12[(yx+zx+zy+xy+xz+yz)−3].S=\frac12\left[\left(\frac{y}{x}+\frac{z}{x}+\frac{z}{y}+\frac{x}{y}+\frac{x}{z}+\frac{y}{z}\right)-3\right].

AM-GM. By AM-GM, yx+xy≥2\frac{y}{x}+\frac{x}{y}\ge2 and similarly for the other pairs. So the sum in brackets is ≥6\ge6.

Conclusion. S≥12(6−3)=32S\ge\frac12(6-3)=\frac32. Equality iff x=y=zx=y=z, i.e. a=b=ca=b=c.