Chapter

Cauchy-Schwarz

The module teaches the standard form, Engel form, fractional sums, cyclic denominators, and preliminary estimates before Cauchy.
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Theory

Key idea

Cauchy-Schwarz can replace a sum of fractions by one global fraction. In olympiad problems, the main task is choosing numerators and denominators so that the denominator sum becomes simple.

Basic facts

Standard form: \((a_1^2+\cdots+a_n^2)(b_1^2+\cdots+b_n^2)\ge(a_1b_1+\cdots+a_nb_n)^2\). Engel form: for \(q_i>0\), \[\frac{x_1^2}{q_1}+\cdots+\frac{x_n^2}{q_n}\ge\frac{(x_1+\cdots+x_n)^2}{q_1+\cdots+q_n}.\]

When to use this method

Use it for sums such as \(\frac{x^2}{A}+\frac{y^2}{B}+\frac{z^2}{C}\), fractions with cyclic denominators, reciprocal estimates, and problems where the sum of denominators is controlled by the condition.

How to recognise the method

If a numerator is a square or can be made into a square, try Engel form. If the numerator is not a square, rewrite \(\frac{a}{b}\) as \(\frac{(\sqrt{a})^2}{b}\), or multiply the fraction into a useful form.

Typical mistakes

Do not forget positivity of denominators. A common mistake is applying Cauchy with the wrong numerators and getting a useless denominator sum. Another mistake is losing the equality case.

Mini-checklist

1. Are all denominators positive? 2. Which numerators give the needed sum? 3. Does the denominator sum simplify? 4. Is a preliminary denominator estimate needed? 5. Is equality compatible with the condition?

Examples

Example 1. Standard form

Problem. Prove \((a^2+b^2)(c^2+d^2)\ge(ac+bd)^2\).

Solution.

This is Cauchy for vectors \((a,b)\) and \((c,d)\). After expansion, the difference is \((ad-bc)^2\ge0\).

Example 2. Engel form

Problem. Prove \(\frac{x^2}{a}+\frac{y^2}{b}\ge\frac{(x+y)^2}{a+b}\) for \(a,b>0\).

Solution.

This is Engel form: \(\sum\frac{x_i^2}{q_i}\ge\frac{(\sum x_i)^2}{\sum q_i}\).

Example 3. Nesbitt

Problem. For \(a,b,c>0\), prove \(\frac{a}{b+c}+\frac{b}{c+a}+\frac{c}{a+b}\ge\frac32\).

Solution.

Write \(a=\frac{a^2}{a}\): \(\sum\frac{a}{b+c}=\sum\frac{a^2}{a(b+c)}\ge\frac{(a+b+c)^2}{2(ab+bc+ca)}\ge\frac32\).

Example 4. Denominator sum

Problem. Prove \(\sum\frac{x^2}{x+y}\ge\frac{x+y+z}{2}\).

Solution.

By Cauchy, \(\sum\frac{x^2}{x+y}\ge\frac{(x+y+z)^2}{2(x+y+z)}=\frac{x+y+z}{2}\).

Example 5. Reciprocals

Problem. If \(a+b+c=1\), prove \(\frac1a+\frac1b+\frac1c\ge9\).

Solution.

By Cauchy, \((1+1+1)^2\le(a+b+c)\left(\frac1a+\frac1b+\frac1c\right)\). Since \(a+b+c=1\), the result follows.

Example 6. Creating a square

Problem. Prove \(\frac{x}{x+y}+\frac{y}{y+z}+\frac{z}{z+x}\ge\frac{(\sqrt{x}+\sqrt{y}+\sqrt{z})^2}{2(x+y+z)}\).

Solution.

Write the numerators as \((\sqrt{x})^2\), \((\sqrt{y})^2\), \((\sqrt{z})^2\), then apply Cauchy.

Example 7. Preliminary estimate

Problem. For \(t,u>0\), estimate \(\frac{t^3}{t^2+u}\) from below using \(t\) and \(\sqrt{u}\).

Solution.

\(\frac{t^3}{t^2+u}=t-\frac{tu}{t^2+u}\ge t-\frac{tu}{2t\sqrt{u}}=t-\frac{\sqrt{u}}{2}\).

Example 8. Mixed step

Problem. If \(a+b+c=3\), prove \(ab+bc+ca\le3\).

Solution.

\((a+b+c)^2\ge3(ab+bc+ca)\), since this is equivalent to \(\frac12((a-b)^2+(b-c)^2+(c-a)^2)\ge0\).

Problems

Problems

#3.1
#3.1

Two pairs

Cauchy Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★☆☆☆

Prove that \((a^2+b^2)(c^2+d^2)\ge(ac+bd)^2\).

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M03-P001
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Cauchy
Grade: Grade 9, Grade 10
#3.2
#3.2

Two fractions

Cauchy Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★☆☆☆

For \(p,q>0\), prove \(\frac{x^2}{p}+\frac{y^2}{q}\ge\frac{(x+y)^2}{p+q}\).

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M03-P002
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Cauchy
Grade: Grade 9, Grade 10
#3.3
#3.3

Sum of reciprocals

Cauchy Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★☆☆

If \(a,b,c>0\) and \(a+b+c=12\), prove \(\frac1a+\frac1b+\frac1c\ge\frac34\).

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M03-P003
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Cauchy
Grade: Grade 9, Grade 10
#3.4
#3.4

Nesbitt

Cauchy Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★☆☆

Prove for \(a,b,c>0\): \[\frac{a}{b+c}+\frac{b}{c+a}+\frac{c}{a+b}\ge\frac32.\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M03-P004
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Cauchy
Grade: Grade 9, Grade 10
#3.5
#3.5

Cyclic denominators

Cyclic Sum Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★☆☆

Prove for \(x,y,z>0\): \[\frac{x^2}{x+y}+\frac{y^2}{y+z}+\frac{z^2}{z+x}\ge\frac{x+y+z}{2}.\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M03-P005
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Cyclic Sum
Grade: Grade 9, Grade 10
#3.6
#3.6

Three quadratic denominators

Bounds Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★★☆

Let \(x,y,z>0\). Prove \[\frac{x^2}{x^2+xy+y^2}+\frac{y^2}{y^2+yz+z^2}+\frac{z^2}{z^2+zx+x^2}\ge\frac12.\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M03-P006
Difficulty: Level 4 of 5
Tag: Bounds
Grade: Grade 9, Grade 10
#3.7
#3.7

Fractions with ones

Fractions Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★★☆

Let \(x_1,\ldots,x_n>0\). Prove \[\frac1{1+x_1}+\cdots+\frac1{1+x_n}\ge\frac{n^2}{n+x_1+\cdots+x_n}.\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M03-P007
Difficulty: Level 4 of 5
Tag: Fractions
Grade: Grade 9, Grade 10
#3.8
#3.8

Fixed denominator sum

Equality Case Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★★☆

Let \(a,b,c>0\), \(a+b+c=6\). Find the minimum of \(\frac{4}{a}+\frac{9}{b}+\frac{16}{c}\).

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M03-P008
Difficulty: Level 4 of 5
Tag: Equality Case
Grade: Grade 9, Grade 10
#3.9
#3.9

Sum with a parameter

Normalisation Grade 10 Grade 11 ★★★★★

Let \(a,b,c>0\). Prove \[\frac{a^2}{a+2b}+\frac{b^2}{b+2c}+\frac{c^2}{c+2a}\ge\frac{a+b+c}{3}.\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M03-P009
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Normalisation
Grade: Grade 10, Grade 11
#3.10
#3.10

Homogeneous fractional sum

Homogeneous Grade 10 Grade 11 ★★★★★

Prove for \(a,b,c>0\): \[\frac{a^2}{a^2+ab+b^2}+\frac{b^2}{b^2+bc+c^2}+\frac{c^2}{c^2+ca+a^2}\ge\frac12.\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M03-P010
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Homogeneous
Grade: Grade 10, Grade 11
#3.11
#3.11

Squares over sums

Bounds Grade 10 Grade 11 ★★★★★

Prove for \(a,b,c>0\): \[\frac{a^2}{b+2c}+\frac{b^2}{c+2a}+\frac{c^2}{a+2b}\ge\frac{a+b+c}{3}.\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M03-P011
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Bounds
Grade: Grade 10, Grade 11
#3.12
#3.12

Minimum of a fractional sum

Equality Case Grade 10 Grade 11 ★★★★★

Let \(x,y,z>0\) and \(x+y+z=10\). Find the minimum of \(\frac{1}{x}+\frac{4}{y}+\frac{9}{z}\).

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M03-P012
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Equality Case
Grade: Grade 10, Grade 11
#3.13
#3.13

Product and sum

Normalisation Grade 10 Grade 11 ★★★★★

Let \(a,b,c>0\) and \(abc=1\). Prove \[\frac{a^2}{a^2+ab+b^2}+\frac{b^2}{b^2+bc+c^2}+\frac{c^2}{c^2+ca+a^2}\ge\frac12.\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M03-P013
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Normalisation
Grade: Grade 10, Grade 11
#3.14
#3.14

Mixed denominators

Cyclic Sum Grade 10 Grade 11 ★★★★★

Prove for \(a,b,c>0\): \[\frac{a^2}{a+b+c}+\frac{b^2}{a+2b+c}+\frac{c^2}{a+b+3c}\ge\frac{(a+b+c)^2}{3a+4b+5c}.\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M03-P014
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Cyclic Sum
Grade: Grade 10, Grade 11
#3.15
#3.15

Sum of roots

Rms Am Grade 10 Grade 11 ★★★★★

Let \(u,v,w>0\) and \(u+v+w=6\). Prove \[\sqrt{u+v}+\sqrt{v+w}+\sqrt{w+u}\le6.\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M03-P015
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Rms Am
Grade: Grade 10, Grade 11
#3.16
#3.16

A fraction with a cube

Bounds Grade 10 Grade 11 ★★★★★

Let \(a,b,c,d>0\), \(a+b+c+d=10\). Prove \[\sum_{\mathrm{cyc}}\frac{a^3}{a^2+b+c}\ge 5-\frac12(\sqrt{a+b}+\sqrt{b+c}+\sqrt{c+d}+\sqrt{d+a}).\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M03-P016
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Bounds
Grade: Grade 10, Grade 11
#3.17
#3.17

Four cubic fractions

Rms Am Grade 10 Grade 11 ★★★★★

Let \(a,b,c,d>0\) and \(a+b+c+d=8\). Prove \[\frac{a^3}{a^2+b+c}+\frac{b^3}{b^2+c+d}+\frac{c^3}{c^2+d+a}+\frac{d^3}{d^2+a+b}\ge4.\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M03-P017
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Rms Am
Grade: Grade 10, Grade 11
Source: Inspired by regional olympiad method · 2022 · Grade 11 · Problem 10
#3.18
#3.18

Cyclic fourth powers

AM-GM Grade 10 Grade 11 ★★★★★

Let \(a,b,c>0\), \(a+b+c=3\). Prove \[\frac{a}{b^4+2b}+\frac{b}{c^4+2c}+\frac{c}{a^4+2a}\ge1.\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M03-P018
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: AM-GM
Grade: Grade 10, Grade 11
Source: Inspired by regional olympiad method · 2026 · Grade 11 · Problem 10
#3.19
#3.19

Quadratic substitution

Substitution Grade 10 Grade 11 ★★★★★

Let \(x,y,z>0\). Prove \[\frac{x^4}{x^2+xy+y^2}+\frac{y^4}{y^2+yz+z^2}+\frac{z^4}{z^2+zx+x^2}\ge\frac{x^2+y^2+z^2}{3}.\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M03-P019
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Substitution
Grade: Grade 10, Grade 11
#3.20
#3.20

Four parts in the denominator

Bounds Grade 10 Grade 11 ★★★★★

Prove for \(a,b,c>0\): \[\frac{a^2}{2a+b+c}+\frac{b^2}{2b+c+a}+\frac{c^2}{2c+a+b}\ge\frac{a+b+c}{4}.\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M03-P020
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Bounds
Grade: Grade 10, Grade 11

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