The nonnegative real numbers a and b satisfy a+b=1. Prove that 21≤a2+b2a3+b3≤1. When do we have equality in the right inequality and when in the left inequality?
Solution
a2+b2a3+b3=(a+b)a2+b2a2−ab+b2=1−a2+b2ab. From this the right inequality is evident with equality for ab=0, i.e. for a=0, b=1 and for a=1, b=0.
The left inequality is equivalent to 21≤1−a2+b2ab⟺a2+b2ab≤21⟺2ab≤a2+b2⟺0≤(a−b)2. This inequality is obvious with equality for a=21. In this case also b=21.
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