Professional Documents
Culture Documents
INEQUALITIES
UNIT 3
GEOMETRIC INEQUALITIES
As before we will first study some classical geometric inequalities. After that we will illustrate
the concepts by examples.
Although this is not a topic in geometry, some basic knowledge in geometry is essential in
order for us to study geometric inequalities.
1
(a + b + c)
2
b
c
C
a
Page 1 of 7
Mathematical Database
a 2 = b 2 + c 2 2bc cos A
b 2 = c 2 + a 2 2ca cos B
c 2 = a 2 + b 2 2ab cos C
Theorem 1.2. (Area of Triangle)
The area of ABC can be expressed in the following ways.
1
1
1
ab sin C = bc sin A = ac sin B
2
2
2
abc
[ ABC ] =
4R
[ ABC ] = s ( s a )( s b)( s c)
(Heron's Fornula)
[ ABC ] =
[ ABC ] =
1
1
1
ar + br + cr = sr
2
2
2
E
G
Many geometric inequalities can be interpreted in an algebraic context and proved by one of
the Big Three the AM-GM inequality, the Cauchy Schwarz inequality and the rearrangement
inequality. However, it is useful to learn a few more inequalities which are more geometrical in
nature.
Page 2 of 7
Mathematical Database
A
a+b >c
b+c>a
c+a>b
E
F
PA + PB + PC 2( PD + PE + PF ) .
Equality holds if and only if ABC is equilateral.
AB CD + AD BC AC BD .
Equality holds if and only if ABCD is cyclic.
D
3. Worked Examples
Page 3 of 7
Mathematical Database
Example 3.1.
A wire of length p is bent to form a triangle. What is the maximum possible area of the triangle?
Solution.
As usual, let p = 2s . By the AM-GM inequality,
[ ABC ] = s( s a )( s b)( s c)
( s a ) + ( s b) + ( s c )
s
3 2
s
9
3 2
3 2
s or
p , when the triangle is equilateral.
9
36
Example 3.2.
(IMO 1961) Let a, b, c be the sides of a triangle, and T its area. Prove
a 2 + b 2 + c 2 4 3T .
In what case does equality hold?
Solution.
By the previous example and the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality,
3 a + b + c 2
4 3T 4 3
3
4
1
= (a + b + c) 2
3
1
(a 2 + b 2 + c 2 )(12 + 12 + 12 )
3
= a 2 + b2 + c2
In both applications of inequalities, equality holds if and only if the triangle is equilateral.
Example 3.3.
Page 4 of 7
Mathematical Database
(IMO 1991) Let ABC be a triangle and P an interior point of ABC. Show that at least one of the
angles PAB, PBC, PCA is less than or equal to 30.
Solution.
A
E
F
PF
PD
PE
PA + PB + PC =
+
+
sin PAB sin PBC sin PCA
PF
PD
PE
<
+
+
sin 30 sin 30 sin 30
= 2( PD + PE + PF )
Example 3.4.
Let ABC be a triangle, a, b, c denote the lengths of the sides opposite A, B, C respectively; ma , mb ,
mc denote the lengths of the medians from A, B, C respectively. Show that
3
(a + b + c) < ma + mb + mc < a + b + c .
4
Solution.
A
2
2
ma + mb > c .
3
3
Similarly,
2
2
mb + mc > a
3
3
2
2
mc + ma > b
3
3
Mathematical Database
i.e.
ma + mb + mc >
3
(a + b + c) .
4
4. Exercises
1.
Many different solutions exist for Example 3.2. Try to figure out another solution.
2.
3.
(IMO 1981) P is a point inside a given triangle ABC. D, E, F are the feet of the perpendiculars
from P to the lines BC, CA, AB respectively. Find all P for which
BC CA AB
+
+
PD PE PF
is least.
4.
(IMO 1991) Given a triangle ABC, let I be the centre of its inscribed circle. The internal
bisectors of the angles A, B, C meet the opposite sides at A, B, C, respectively. Prove that
Page 6 of 7
Mathematical Database
1
AI BI CI
8
.
4 AA ' BB ' CC ' 27
5.
6.
(IMO 1996) Let ABCDEF be a convex hexagon such that AB is parallel to ED, BC is parallel
to FE and CD is parallel to AF. Let RA , RC , RE denote the circumradii of triangles FAB, BCD,
DEF respectively, and let p denote the perimeter of the hexagon. Prove that
RA + RC + RE
p
.
2
Page 7 of 7