Prove that (a−c)(a−b)a3(a+c)(a+b)+(b−a)(b−c)b3(b+a)(b+c)+(c−b)(c−a)c3(c+b)(c+a)=abc for all admissible a, b, c such that a+b+c=0.
Solution — click to reveal
In view of a+b+c=0, we rewrite the left hand side of the required inequality in the form M=(a−c)(a−b)a3(a+c)(a+b)+(b−a)(b−c)b3(b+a)(b+c)+(c−b)(c−a)c3(c+b)(c+a)==(a−c)(a−b)a3(−b)(−c)+(b−a)(b−c)b3(−c)(−a)+(c−b)(c−a)c3(−a)(−b)==abc((a−c)(a−b)a2+(b−a)(b−c)b2+(c−b)(c−a)c2)=abcL. We have L=(a−c)(a−b)a2+(b−a)(b−c)b2+(c−b)(c−a)c2==(a−c)(b−a)(c−b)a2(b−c)+b2(c−a)+c2(a−b)=(a−c)(b−a)(c−b)N. Further, N=a2(b−c)+b2(c−a)+c2(a−b)=a2(b−c)+b2c−b2a+c2a−c2b==a2(b−c)+(b2c−c2b)−(b2a−c2a)=a2(b−c)+bc(b−c)−a(b+c)(b−c)==(b−c)(a2+bc−ab−ac)=(b−c)(a(a−b)−c(a−b))=(b−c)(a−b)(a−c)=(a−c)(b−a)(c−b). So L=1, hence M=abc, as required.