If $a>0, b>0$, prove that $\frac{a}{\sqrt{b}}+\frac{b}{\sqrt{a}} \geq \sqrt{a} + \sqrt{b}$

Question

If $a>0, b>0$, prove that

$$ \frac{a}{\sqrt{b}}+\frac{b}{\sqrt{a}} \geq \sqrt{a} + \sqrt{b}. $$

I tried to multiply both sides by $\sqrt{ab}$ , but I only got this:

$$\sqrt{b}\geq\sqrt{a}.$$

I think it does not help at all. Could give me some hints, please.

Answer 1

Hint: Try to find $a$ and $b$ sucht that

$$ \frac{a}{\sqrt{b}}+\frac{b}{\sqrt{a}}<\sqrt{a}+\sqrt{b}.$$

OBS: This is not possible, then you prove your inequality.

Answer 2

The inequality is equivalent to $$ \frac{(\sqrt{a} - \sqrt{b})^2 (\sqrt{a} + \sqrt{b})}{\sqrt{a} \sqrt{b}} \ge 0 $$

Answer 3

Hint:   for $\,a,b \gt 0\,$, $\,a \le b \iff \dfrac{1}{a} \ge \dfrac{1}{b} \iff \dfrac{1}{\sqrt{a}} \ge \dfrac{1}{\sqrt{b}}\,$, so $\,\left(a-b\right)\left(\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{a}}-\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{b}}\right) \le 0\,$.

Or, use the rearrangement inequality directly.

Answer 4

Upon squaing both sides and taking common denominator, we get $$\frac{a}{\sqrt{b}}+\frac{b} {\sqrt{a}}\ge\sqrt{a}+\sqrt{b} $$

$$\iff a^3 +b^3 \ge ab ( a+b)$$ $$ \iff a^2-ab + b^2 \ge ab$$ $$ (a-b)^2\ge 0$$

Answer 5

You can simply take the difference between left and right sides of the inequality $$ \frac{a}{\sqrt{b}}+\frac{b}{\sqrt{a}}-(\sqrt{a}+\sqrt{b})= \frac{a-b}{\sqrt{b}}+\frac{b-a}{\sqrt{a}}= (a-b)\left(\frac{1}{\sqrt{b}}-\frac{1}{\sqrt{a}}\right)= \frac{(a-b)(\sqrt{a}-\sqrt{b})}{\sqrt{ab}}\geq 0 $$

Answer 6

Let $x=\sqrt{a}$ and $y=\sqrt{b}$, then

\begin{align} \frac{a}{\sqrt{b}}+\frac{b}{\sqrt{a}} &= \frac{x^2}{y}+\frac{y^2}{x }\\ &= \frac{x^3+y^3}{xy} \\ &= \frac{(x+y)(x^2-xy+y^2)}{xy} \\ &= \frac{(x+y)[(x-y)^2+xy]}{xy} \\ & \ge \frac{(x+y)xy}{xy} \\ &= x+y \\ &= \sqrt{a}+\sqrt{b} \end{align}

Answer 7

You can multiply by $\sqrt{ab}$: $$\sqrt{ab}\cdot \left(\frac{a}{\sqrt{b}}+\frac{b}{\sqrt{a}}\right) \geq \sqrt{ab}\cdot \left(\sqrt{a} + \sqrt{b}\right) \Rightarrow \\ a\sqrt{a}+b\sqrt{b}\ge a\sqrt{b}+b\sqrt{a} \Rightarrow \\ \sqrt{b}(b-a)\ge \sqrt{a}(b-a).$$ However, you can not divide by $b-a$, because you do not know if it is positive or negative (it effects the inequality sign). Instead, you can move the RHS to LHS: $$\sqrt{b}(b-a)- \sqrt{a}(b-a)\ge 0 \Rightarrow \\ (b-a)(\sqrt{b}-\sqrt{a})\ge 0.$$ Now consider two cases: 1) $b\ge a$; 2) $b<a$. Can you finish?