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How can we show that the assumption $a,b,c>0$ and $a+b+c=1$ implies

$\sqrt{ab+c}+\sqrt{bc+a}+\sqrt{ca+b} \ge 1+ \sqrt{ab}+\sqrt{bc}+\sqrt{ca}~?$

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    @joriki : looked like a typo got edited out.2011-07-30

1 Answers 1

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First we claim that $\sqrt{ab+c} \geq \sqrt{ab}+c$.

Proof of the claim: $\begin{eqnarray*} \sqrt{ab}+c &=& \sqrt{ab + 2c\sqrt{ab} + c^2} \\ &\leq& \sqrt{ab + (a+b) c + c^2} \\ &=& \sqrt{ab + c(a+b+c)} = \sqrt{ab+c}. \end{eqnarray*} $

The only inequality used here is the AM-GM inequality: $\sqrt{ab} \leq \frac{a+b}{2}$. $\Box$

Now, the full inequality follows easily from the claim. By symmetry, we also have $\sqrt{bc+a} \geq \sqrt{bc}+a$ and $\sqrt{ac+b}\geq \sqrt{ac}+b$. Adding all three inequalities, we get the result.

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    @Sabyasachi Glad to help!2011-07-30