Let m be the smallest number among: $(x-y)^2, (y-z)^2, (z-x)^2$ Prove $m \le \frac{1}{2}(x^2+y^2+z^2)$

69 Views Asked by At

Let m be the smallest number among: $(x-y)^2, (y-z)^2, (z-x)^2$

Prove $m \le \frac{1}{2}(x^2+y^2+z^2)$

My attempts: $3m \le (x-y)^2+(y-z)^2+(z-x)^2$ so I tried to prove $(x-y)^2+(y-z)^2+(z-x)^2 \le \frac{3}{2}(x^2+y^2+z^2) \rightarrow 4(xy+yz+zx)\le x^2+y^2+z^2$ but it wrong

Can anyone help me with this problem? Thank you

1

There are 1 best solutions below

3
On BEST ANSWER

Wlog assume that $x\ge y \ge z $ , then $m=min\{(x-y)^2, (y-z)^2\} \le (x-y)(y-z)$

Note that

$$x^2+y^2+z^2-2(x-y)(y-z)=(x-y+z)^2+2y^2 \ge 0$$

Hence

$$x^2+y^2+z^2 \ge 2(x-y)(y-z) \ge 2m$$

Equality holds when $y=0, x=-z$