MathLabs

Problem 6

Let a,b,ca,b,c be the side lengths of a triangle. Prove that a2b(a−b)+b2c(b−c)+c2a(c−a)≥0a^2b(a-b)+b^2c(b-c)+c^2a(c-a)\ge0. Determine when equality occurs.
Step 5 of 5: Equality case
yxyzz=zxyzx=xxyzy⟺x=y=z⟺a=b=c\frac{y\sqrt{xyz}}{z}=\frac{z\sqrt{xyz}}{x}=\frac{x\sqrt{xyz}}{y}\Longleftrightarrow x=y=z\Longleftrightarrow a=b=c
Detailed analysis

Equality in Cauchy-Schwarz requires u1/v1=u2/v2=u3/v3u_1/v_1=u_2/v_2=u_3/v_3, namely y/z=z/x=x/yy/z=z/x=x/y. Since x,y,z>0x,y,z>0, this is equivalent to x=y=zx=y=z, which gives a=b=ca=b=c. Conversely an equilateral triangle makes every difference vanish, so equality occurs exactly for equilateral triangles.