Gaussian Curvature

An Interesting Property Of Quadratic Polynomial

Do Xuan Trong
Aritra12
 CONTENTS I

Contents

Contents I
0.1 Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

1 An Interesting Property Of Quadratic Polynomial 2

1.1 Lemmas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.2 Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.3 The pqr method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.4 Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
 Acknowledgements 1

0.1 Acknowledgements

Another article from Team GC.This article is on "An Interesting Property Of Quadratic Poly-
nomial" is intended for inequalities and it has been authored by Do Xuan Trong and some
modification & edition by Aritra12 We are also thankful to the several users on AoPS who
posted problems and solution. No handout can be all perfect so if you see any problem or
typos don’t forget to gmail at gaussiancurvature360@gmail.com
 Acknowledgements CHAPTER 1. AN INTERESTING PROPERTY OF QUADRATIC
POLYNOMIAL 2

Chapter 1

An Interesting Property Of
Quadratic Polynomial

• Some important Lemmas

• Related Examples

• pqr method

• Related Problems & Hints

 Lemmas 3

1.1 Lemmas

(Lemma 1)
Consider quadratic polynomial f (x) = x2 + bx + c where b, c are real numbers. Then
f (x) ≥ 0 holds for all x ≥ 0 if and only if b2 ≤ 4c, or b2 > 4c and b, c ≥ 0.

Proof. If b2 ≤ 4c then the inequality is trivial. If b2 > 4c, then f (x) must have two real
roots x1 < x2 such that
x1 + x2 = −b, x1 x2 = c.
So f (x) ≥ 0, ∀x ≥ 0 if and only if x1 < x2 ≤ 0 and then b, c ≥ 0, as desired.

(Lemma 2)
Consider quadratic polynomial f (x) = ax2 + bx + c where a, b, c are real numbers and a > 0.
Then f (x) ≥ 0 holds for all x ≥ 0 if and only if b2 ≤ 4ac, or b2 > 4ac and b, c ≥ 0.

b c


Proof. It’s corollary of lemma 1 if we replace (b, c) → a, a .

(Lemma 3)
Consider quadratic polynomial f (x) = ax2 − bx + c where a, b, c are real numbers and a > 0.
Let p ≤ q be real numbers, then f (x) ≥ 0 holds for all x ∈ [p; q] if and only if b2 ≤ 4ac, or
 
2 2
b > 4ac,
 b > 4ac,

ap2 − bp + c ≥ 0, or aq2 − bq + c ≥ 0,
 
b ≤ 2ap b ≥ 2aq
 
 Examples 4

1.2 Examples

Example 1.2.1 (Vasile Cirtoaje). Let a, b, c be real numbers such that abc ≥ 0. Prove that

a2 + b2 + c2 + 2abc + 4 ≥ 2 (a + b + c) + ab + bc + ca.

Proof. We can assume that (b − 1) (c − 1) ≥ 0. The inequality is

f (a) = a2 + (2bc − b − c − 2) + b2 − bc + c2 − 2 (b + c) + 4 ≥ 0.

We have

∆a = (2bc − b − c − 2)2 − 4 b2 − bc + c2 − 2 (b + c) + 4
 

= 4 (bc − 3) (b − 1) (c − 1) − 3 (b − c)2 .

If ∆a ≤ 0 then the inequality is proved. If ∆a > 0 then bc > 3 and a ≥ 0 as abc ≥ 0.

Applying the first lemma, we need to prove

2bc − b − c − 2 ≥ 0, b2 − bc + c2 − 2 (b + c) + 4 ≥ 0.

Indeed
2
(b + c)2

2 2 b+c
b − bc + c − 2 (b + c) + 4 ≥ − 2 (b + c) + 4 = −2 ≥ 0.
4 2

Assume 2bc − b − c − 2 < 0, then since ∆a > 0 we get

 
b + c
q
b+c+2−2bc > 2 b2 − bc + c2 − 2 (b + c) + 4 ≥ 2 − 2 =⇒ 2bc < 6 ⇐⇒ bc < 3,
2

which contradicts. Hence 2bc − b − c − 2 ≥ 0, as desired.

√
Example 1.2.2 (Vasile Cirtoaje). Let a, b, c ≥ 0 and 0 ≤ k ≤ 2. Prove that

a2 + b2 + c2 + kabc + 2k + 3 ≥ (k + 2) (a + b + c) .
n √ o
Proof. The inequality is linear function of k. So it’s enough to prove when k ∈ 0; 2 .
If k = 0, it becomes
(a − 1)2 + (b − 1)2 + (c − 1)2 ≥ 0.
√
Let’s see the case k = 2. It can be written as
 √ √  √  √ 
f (a) = a2 + bc 2 − 2 − 2 + b2 + c2 + 2 2 + 3 − 2 + 2 (b + c) ≥ 0.

Suppose (b − 1) (c − 1) ≥ 0 and consider the case ∆a > 0 (for example, b = c = 2), which
 Examples 5

is  √ √ 2 h √  √  i
bc 2 − 2 − 2 > 4 b2 + c2 + 2 2 + 3 − 2 + 2 (b + c) .

We have
√  √  (b + c)2 √  √ 
b2 + c2 + 2 2 + 3 − 2 + 2 (b + c) ≥ + 2 2 + 3 − 2 + 2 (b + c)
2
2
b+c √

= √ − 2 − 1 ≥ 0.
2
√ √ √ √
and the rest is bc 2 − 2 − 2 ≥ 0. Assume bc 2 − 2 − 2 < 0, then
s 2
√ √ √ √  √
r  b + c
2 + 2 − bc 2 > 2 b2 + c2 + 2 2 + 3 − 2 + 2 (b + c) ≥ 2 √ − 2−1
2
√
 
b+c
≥2 2+1− √ .
2
This leads to √ √ √ √
2 (b + c) ≥ 2bc + 2 ⇔ 2 (b − 1) (c − 1) < 0,
√ √
which is a contradiction. Hence bc 2 − 2 − 2 ≥ 0, as desired.

Example 1.2.3 (Tran Nam Dung). Find the smallest real number k such that
h i
abc + 2 + k (a − 1)2 + (b − 1)2 + (c − 1)2 ≥ a + b + c

holds for all a, b, c ≥ 0.

Proof [Hint]. Choose c = 0 and a = b = 1 + √12 to get k ≥ √1 .

2

Example 1.2.4. Let a, b, c > 0. Prove that

 
1 1 1 1
(a + b + c − 3) + + − 3 + abc + ≥ 2.
a b c abc

Proof. Multiply both sides by abc and write it as

f (a) = b2 c2 + b + c − 3bc a2 + b2 + 10bc + c2 − 3 (bc + 1) (b + c) a+bc (b + c)−3bc+1 ≥ 0.

 

By the AM - GM inequality
√ √ √ 2 √ 
b2 c2 + b + c − 3bc ≥ b2 c2 + 2 bc − 3bc = bc bc − 1 bc + 2 ≥ 0,

√ √ 2  √ 
bc (b + c) − 3bc + 1 ≥ 2bc bc − 3bc + 1 = bc − 1 2 bc + 1 ≥ 0.
Examples 6

Notice that b2 c2 + b + c − 3bc = 0 ⇔ b = c = 1 and then inequality becomes equality.

Otherwise, we calculate
2
∆a = b2 + 10bc + c2 − 3 (bc + 1) (b + c) − 4 b2 c2 + b + c − 3bc [bc (b + c) − 3bc + 1]


= (b − 1)2 (c − 1)2 b2 + 14bc + c2 − 4 (bc + 1) (b + c) .

 

In the case ∆a > 0 we get

b2 + 14bc + c2 > 4 (bc + 1) (b + c) ,

and because (bc + 1) (b + c) ≥ 4bc (it’s just AM - GM), we obtain

b2 + 10bc + c2 > 3 (bc + 1) (b + c) ,

this is what we want.

 The pqr method 7

1.3 The pqr method

This method has become quite popular. The idea is that when solving three-variable inequal-
ities, we set p = a + b + c, q = ab + bc + ca and r = abc. The following result is important.
q q
2


2 3 2

3
p 9q − 2p − 2 (p − 3q) p 9q − 2p + 2 (p2 − 3q)
≤r≤ .
27 27
This follows from
(a − b)2 (b − c)2 (c − a)2 = p2 q2 − 4q3 + 18pq − 4p3 r − 27r2 ≥ 0

Let’s see its application in the following problem.

Example 1.3.1 (Do Xuan Trong). Let a, b, c be real numbers and no two of which are equal.
Prove that
1 1 1 4 (ab + bc + ca)
+ + ≥ .
(a − b)2 (b − c)2 (c − a)2 a2 b2 + b2 c2 + c2 a2

Proof. If ab + bc + ca ≤ 0 then the inequality is clear. If ab + bc + ca > 0, let p =

a + b + c = 1, q = ab + bc + ca and r = abc. We have a2 b2 + b2 c2 + c2 a2 = q2 − 2r and
2
2
a2 + b2 + c2 − ab − bc − ca

1 1 1 1 1 1
+ + = + + =
(a − b)2 (b − c)2 (c − a)2 a−b b−c c−a (a − b)2 (b − c)2 (c − a)2
(1 − 3q)2
= 2 .
q − 4q3 + (18q − 4) r − 27r2
The inequality is
(1 − 3q)2 4q
2 3 2
≥ 2 ,
q − 4q + (18q − 4) r − 27r q − 2r
which is
f (r) = 108qr2 − 2 (9q − 1) (5q − 1) r + q2 (5q − 1)2 ≥ 0.
Since 108q > 0, we calculte
∆0r = (9q − 1)2 (5q − 1)2 − 108q3 (5q − 1)2
= (5q − 1)2 (3q − 1)2 (1 − 12q) .
1 1
If q ≥ 12 ,
we have Q.E.D. If q < 12 , since
q q
3
9q − 2 − 2 (1 − 3q) 9q − 2 + 2 (1 − 3q)3
= r1 ≤ r ≤ r2 = ,
27 27
and the lemma 3, we will show

 f (r2 ) ≥ 0,
(
f (r2 ) ≥ 0,
⇔
 q 
3
2 (9q − 1) (5q − 1) ≥ 2 · 108q · r2 (9q − 1) (5q − 1) ≥ 4q 9q − 2 + 2 (1 − 3q)
 The pqr method 8

The condition f (r2 ) ≥ 0 is equivalent to prove f (r) ≥ 0 when two numbers are equal,
and this is true. The second condition is equivalent to
√
265 − 3
q< ,
128
√
265−3 1
this is true because 128 > 12 .

Example 1.3.2. Let x, y and z be positive numbers such that x3 + y3 + z3 + xyz = 4 Prove that:
x2 + y2 y2 + z2 z2 + x2
+ + ≥3
x+y y+z z+x

Proof. Write inequality as

r
x2 + y2 y2 + z2 z2 + x2 3 3 3
3 x + y + z + xyz
+ + >3
x+y y+z z+x 4

Suppose p = x + y + z = 3, q = xy + yz + zx = 3 − 3t 2 (0 6 t < 1) and r = abc inequality

become r
2p2 q − 4pr − 2q2 3
3 p − 3pq + 4r
>3
pq − r 4
equivalent to r
36 − 12r − 18t 2 t 2 + 1


3 27 2
> 3 r + t
9 (1 − t 2 ) − r 4
Or
r
6 1 − t2 4 − t2


3 27 2
4− > r + t
9 (1 − t 2 ) − r 4
Because r 6 (1 + 2t)(1 − t)2 , so

6 1 − t2 4 − t2 6 1 − t2 4 − t2





3t 2 + t + 2
4− > 4 − =
9 (1 − t 2 ) − r 9 (1 − t 2 ) − (1 + 2t)(1 − t)2 t +2

and
27 2 27 15
r+ t 6 (1 + 2t)(1 − t)2 + t 2 = 2t 3 + t 2 + 1
4 4 4
Therefore we need to show that
r
3t 2 + t + 2 3 15
> 2t 3 + t 2 + 1
t +2 4
Which is true because
3 
4t 2 + 5t + 6 (5t − 2)2t 2
 2 

3t + t + 2 3 15 2
− 2t + t + 1 = >0
t +2 4 4(t + 2)3
 The pqr method 9

Example 1.3.3 (Do Xuan Trong). Let a, b, c ≥ 0. Prove that

√ a4 + b4 + c4 3abc a2 + b2 + c2


2 2 (a − b) (b − c) (c − a) ≤ − .
a+b+c (a + b + c)2

Proof. Let p = a + b + c = 1, q = ab + bc + ca and r = abc. Because the right hand

side is non-negative, we consider the case a ≤ b ≤ c. Hence
q
(a − b) (b − c) (c − a) = q2 − 4q3 + (18q − 4) r − 27r2 .

We have

a4 + b4 + c4 3abc a2 + b2 + c2


− 2
= 2q2 − 4q + 1 + (6q + 1) r.
a+b+c (a + b + c)

So the inequality becomes

2
2q2 − 4q + 1 + (6q + 1) r ≥ 8 q2 − 4q3 + (18q − 4) r − 27r2 ,
 

2
⇔ f (r) = 36q2 + 12q + 217 r2 + 2 12q3 − 22q2 − 70q + 17 r + 2q2 + 4q − 1 ≥ 0.

We see

2
2
∆0r = 12q3 − 22q2 − 70q + 17 − 36q2 + 12q + 217 2q2 + 4q − 1

= −8 (3q − 1)2 16q3 + 48q2 + 28q − 9

In the cases 16q3 + 48q2 + 28q − 9 < 0 we have (using calculator) q < 0.226683. But
then 12q3 − 22q2 − 70q + 17 > 0 (because this is q < 0.22849 (note that 0 < q < 3)). So
the inequality is proved.

This result is equivalent to

3 a2 + b2 + c2 abc √ 


4 4 4
≥ 2 2 a3 b + b3 c + c3 a − ab3 − bc3 − ca3  .

a +b +c −
a+b+c
This is stronger than the problem made by Pham Kim Hung
√ 
a4 + b4 + c4 − abc (a + b + c) ≥ 2 2 a3 b + b3 c + c3 a − ab3 − bc3 − ca3  .


We can use that result to prove (also created by me)

a4 + b4 b4 + c4 c4 + a4 √
+ + ≥ a3 + b3 + c3 + 2 2 (a − b) (b − c) (c − a) .
a+b b+c c+a
 Problems 10

1.4 Problems

Problem 1.4.1 (Do Xuan Trong). Let a, b, c ≥ 0. Prove that

a2 + b2 b2 + c2 c2 + a2 4 |(a − b) (b − c) (c − a)|
+ + ≥ a+b+c+ .
a+b b+c c+a a2 + b2 + c2

Hint. Make a lemma the same as example 7.

Problem 1.4.2. Let a, b, c > 0. Prove that

(a + b + c − 3) (ab + bc + ca − 3) ≥ 3 (abc − 1) (a + b + c − ab − bc − ca) .

Hint. Check the cases c = 0 and b = c.

Problem 1.4.3 (Do Xuan Trong). Let a, b, c ≥ 0. Prove that

14abc + 3 a2 b2 + b2 c2 + c2 a2 − 8 (ab + bc + ca) + 2 (a + b + c) + 1 ≥ 0.

Hint. Check the cases c = 0 and b = c.