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Exercise 1741Algebra › InequalitiesOlympiadAdded 3 Nov 2026

Sum of square roots

#square roots#Cauchy-Schwarz#inequalities

Statement

Let a,b,c≥0a,b,c\ge0. Prove that
a+b+c≤3(a+b+c).\sqrt{a}+\sqrt{b}+\sqrt{c}\le\sqrt{3(a+b+c)}.

Hint

Apply Cauchy-Schwarz to (1,1,1)(1,1,1) and (a,b,c)(\sqrt{a},\sqrt{b},\sqrt{c}).

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Solution

Cauchy-Schwarz.
(a+b+c)2≤(12+12+12)(a+b+c)=3(a+b+c).(\sqrt{a}+\sqrt{b}+\sqrt{c})^2\le(1^2+1^2+1^2)(a+b+c)=3(a+b+c).

Conclusion. Taking square roots gives the result, with equality iff a=b=ca=b=c.

General form. For nn terms, ∑ai≤n∑ai\sum\sqrt{a_i}\le\sqrt{n\sum a_i}.