IMO/KKK/Geometric Inequality/1

Geometric Inequalities
Notation and Basic Facts
a, b, and c are the sides of ABC opposite to A, B, and C respectively.
[ABC] = area of ABC
1
s = semi-perimeter = (a + b + c)
2
r = inradius
R = circumradius
a
b
c
Sine Rule:
=
=
= 2R
sin A sin B sin C
B
Cosine Rule:
a2 = b2 + c2 2bc cos A
[ABC] =

O
a

1
1
1
abc
ab sin C = bc sin A = ac sin B =
2
2
2
4R

= s(s a )(s b)(s c)

=

(Heron's Formula)

ar br cr
+ + = sr
2 2 2

Example 1
Isoperimetric Theorem for Triangle
Among all triangles with a fixed perimeter, the equilateral triangle has the largest area.
Proof:
Using the Heron's Formula and the AM-GM inequality
3

(s a ) + (s b) + (s c)
[ABC] = s(s a )(s b)(s c) s
=
3

with equality holds if and only if s a = s b = s c, i.e a = b = c.

s2
s
s =
3
3 3

Example 2
[IMO 1961]
Let a, b, c be the sides of a triangle, and T its area. Prove:
a2 + b2 + c2 4 3 T.
In what case does equality hold?
1st solution:
Denote the perimeter of the triangle by p, i.e p = a + b + c, by the isoperimetric theorem for triangle, we have
2

3
p
T
with equality holds if and only if a = b = c
------ (1)
3
4

The Cauchy-Schwarz inequality gives
p2 = (a + b + c)2 3(a2 + b2 + c2) with equality holds if and only if a = b = c.
It follows from (1) and (2) that

a +b +c
3
2

which is equivalent to a2 + b2 + c2 4 3 T

----- (2)

3
4

with equality holds if and only if a = b = c.

2nd solution:
c 3
. Any triangle with side c will have an altitude perpendicular
2
c
c
c 3
x and
+ x . Here x and y are the deviations from an
to c of length
+ y. It splits c into parts
2
2
2
equilateral triangle. Then we have
An equilateral triangle with side c has altitude

c
c
c
c

3 + c 2 2 3c y +
a2 + b2 + c2 4 3 T = x + + x + 2 y +
3 = 2x2 + 2y2 0.
2
2
2
2

We have equality if and only if x = y = 0, i.e. when the triangle is equilateral.

IMO/KKK/Geometric Inequality/2
Example 3
[IMO 1964]
Suppose a, b, c are the sides of a triangle. Prove that
a2(b + c a) + b2(c + a b) + c2(a + b c) 3abc.
Solution:
Let x = b + c a, y = c + a b, and z = a + b c, then x, y, z > 0.
By the AM-GM inequality,
x+y
y+z
z+x
xy ,
yz ,
zx
and
2
2
2
x+y y+z z+x

xyz
Hence
2
2
2
which , on substitution, yields
abc (b + c a)(c + a b)(a + b c).
The result follows by recognizing that
(b + c a)(c + a b)(a + b c) = a2(b + c a) + b2(c + a b) + c2(a + b c) 2abc.

Example 4
[IMO 1983]
Let a, b and c be the lengths of the sides of a triangle. Prove that
a2b(a b) + b2c(b c) + c2a(c a) 0.
Determine when equality occurs.
Solution:
Let x = b + c a, y = c + a b, and z = a + b c, then x, y, z > 0 .
The given inequality is equivalent to
xy3 + yz3 + zx3 xyz(x + y + z)
----- (1)
To prove (1), we use the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality again,
(xy3 + yz3 + zx3)(z + x + y) ( y xyz + z xyz + x xyz ) 2 = xyz( x + y + z) 2
Equality holds if and only if (xy3, yz3, zx3) = k(z, x, y). i.e x = y = z.

Example 5
(Erds-Mordell Inequality)
If P is a point inside triangle ABC and Pa, Pb, Pc are the length of the perpendicular from P to sides a, b, and c
respectively, then
PA + PB + PC 2(Pa + Pb + Pc).
Equality holds if and only if ABC is equilateral and P is the centre.
A

E
F

Pb

Pc
P
Pa

Solution:
DE = Pa + Pb + 2Pa Pb cos C = (Pa sin B + Pb sin A ) 2 + (Pa cos B Pb cos A) 2 Pa sin B + Pb sin A
2

P sin B + Pb sin A
DE
,
a
sin C
sin C
P sin B + Pb sin C
P sin A + Pa sin C
Similarly, PA c
,
PB c
sin A
sin B
Pa sin B + Pb sin A Pc sin B + Pb sin C Pc sin A + Pa sin C
+
+
PA + PB + PC
sin C
sin A
sin B

PC =

sin C sin B
sin C sin A
sin B sin A
+
+
+
= Pa
+ Pb
+ Pc
2(Pa + Pb + Pc )
sin B sin C
sin A sin C
sin A sin B
1
(because x + 2 for x > 0 with equality holds if and only if x = 1)
x
Equality holds if and only if A = B = C and Pa = Pb = Pc. i.e. ABC is equilateral and P is the centre of it.

IMO/KKK/Geometric Inequality/3
Example 6
(Ptolemy's Theorem)
For any point D on the plane of triangle ABC, we have
ABCD + BCAD ACBD.
Equality holds if and only if A, B, C, D in this order lie on a circle.
Solution:
For any four points z1, z2, z3, z4 in the plane, we have the identity
(z2 z1)(z4 z3) + (z3 z2)(z4 z1) = (z3 z1)(z4 z2).
The triangle inequality implies
| z2 z1 | | z4 z3 | + | z3 z2 || z4 z1| | z3 z1 | | z4 z2 |
with equality holds if and only if
(z2 z1)(z4 z3) and (z3 z2)(z4 z1) have the same direction
(z2 z1)(z4 z3) and (z2 z3)(z4 z1) in opposite direction
(z z 1 )( z 4 z 3 )
=
arg 2
(z 2 z 3 )(z 4 z 1 )
(z 2 z 1 )
(z z 3 )
+ arg 4
=
(z 4 z 1 )
(z 2 z 3 )

arg

z1, z2, z3, z4 are either collinear or concyclic.

Example 7
(Fermat's Point)
Given ABC, find a point P on the plane of ABC such that PA + PB + PC is least.
Solution:
A

Case (i)
Each angle in ABC is less than 120o.
We rotate APB about B 60o counterclockwise.
A'

A
P

P'

C
D

Then BPP is equilateral, and so PA + PB + PC = AP + PP + PC AC

To make PA + PB + PC minimum, we choose P such that A, P, P and C is collinear.
In this case, APB = APB = 180o BPP = 120o
BPC = 180o PPB = 120o
and hence APC = 360o APB BPC = 120o.
To construct such a point P, we erect an equilateral triangle BCD on the side BC.
The point P is the intersecting point of the line AD with the circumcircle of BCD. (Can you see why?)
Case (ii) One of the angles of ABC, say B, is greater than or equal to 120o.
In this case, we rotate APB about B to APB counterclockwise such that A, B and C are collinear.
A

P'
P
A'

ABC 120o PBP 60o PP PB

Hence
PA + PB + PC AP + PP + PC AC = AB + BC = AB + BC
It follows that PA + PB + PC is minimum when P = B.

IMO/KKK/Geometric Inequality/4
Example 8
For each point P inside a triangle ABC, let D, E and F be the points of intersection of the lines AP, BP, and CP
with the sides opposite to A, B, and C respectively. Determine P in such a way that the area of triangle DEF is as
large as possible.
A

Solution:

b-y
z

y
P

c-z

a-x

First, we have [DEF] = [ABC] [BDF] [DCE] [EAF]

With the notations in the figure,
[ABD]/[ABC] = x/a
[ABD] = x[ABC]/a
and [BDF]/[ABD] = (c z)/c
[BDF] = (c z)[ABD]/c
(c z ) x
Hence, we have [BDF] =
[ABC] .
ac
(a x ) y
( b y) z
[DCE ] =
[ABC]
and
[EAF] =
[ABC] .
Similarly, we have
ba
bc
x (c z ) y ( a x ) z ( b y )

Therefore, [DEF] = [ABC] 1

= [ABC](1 u(1 w) v(1 u) w(1 v)),
ac
ba
cb

where
u =x/a, v = y/b, w = z/c.
Now, let F = 1 u(1 w) v(1 u) w(1 v) = (1 u)(1 v)(1 w) + uvw.
a x cz by
1 1 1

= 1 1 1 1 = 1 (1 u)(1 v)(1 w) = uvw

By Ceva's Theorem,
x
z
y
u v w
It follows that F = 2(1 u)(1 v)(1 w) = 2uvw
3

1
1
1
F2 = 4u(1 u)v(1 v)w(1 w) 4 =
F
4
16
4

1
with equality holds if and only if u = v = w = .
2
1
In conclusion, max[DEF] = [ABC] and is reached if and only if P is the centroid of ABC.
4

Example 9
[IMO 1981]
P is a point inside a given triangle ABC. D, E, F are the feet of the perpendiculars from P to the lines BC, CA,
AB respectively. Find all P for which
BC CA AB
+
+
PD PE PF
is least.
Solution:
A

E
c
F

b
y

z
P
x

Using the notations in the figure, 2[ABC] = ax + by + cz ---- (1)

a b c
We wish to minimize
+ +
subject to constraint (1).
x y z

IMO/KKK/Geometric Inequality/5

Using the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality,

a b c
a b c
(a + b + c)2 (ax + by + cz) + + = 2[ABC] + + .
x
y
z

x y z

a b c (a + b + c) 2
+ +
.
2[ABC]
x y z
The equality holds if and only if (a/x, b/y, c/z) = k(ax, by, cz), i.e. x = y = z.
Thus the minimum value occurs when P is the incentre of the triangle.
hence

Example 10
[IMO 1991]
Given a triangle ABC, let I be the centre of its inscribed circle. The internal bisectors of the angles A, B, C meet
the opposite sides in A, B, C respectively. Prove that
1
AI BI CI
8
.

4 AA BB CC 27
A

C'
B'
I

A'

Solution:
Each inequality holds more generally. Suppose that cevians AA, BB, CC are concurrent at P which is interior
to ABC. Then
AP BP CP
8

AA BB CC 27
Moreover, if P is interior to the medial triangle of ABC (formed by joining the midpoints of the sides) then
AP BP CP
1
>
AA BB CC 4
Proof of the first inequality:
Let [XYZ] denote the area of triangle XYZ. Note that for an arbitrary point P interior to ABC,
PA [PBC]
PB [APC]
PC [ABP]
=
,
=
,
=
AA [ABC]
BB [ABC]
CC [ABC]
[PBC] [ABC] [PBC] [ABP] + [APC]
AP AA PA
=
= 1
=
=
, etc.
Thus

AA
AA
[ABC]
[ABC]
[ABC]
from which we obtain
AP
BP CP
+
+
=2
----- (*)
AA BB CC
3

AP BP CP
8
2
=
.

AA BB CC 3
27
Proof of the second inequality:
Clearly, P is interior to the medial triangle of ABC if and only if
AP 1
BP 1
CP 1
>
,
> ,.
> .
AA 2
BB 2
CC 2
Suppose that P is interior to the medial triangle and write
AP 1 + x
BP 1 + y
CP 1 + z
=
,
=
,.
,
=
AA
2
BB
2
CC
2
where x, y, z > 0. Note that (*) implies x + y + z = 1.
Thus (1 + x)(1 + y)(1 + z) = 1 + (x + y + z) + (xy + xy + yz) + xyz > 2
1
AP BP CP
1
and so
= {(1 + x )(1 + y)(1 + y)} >
4
AA BB CC 8

The AM-GM inequality

To complete the solution of the original problem, we need to show that

for P = I, i.e. the incentre is indeed interior to the medial triangle.

B'

C'
P

AP 1
>
AA 2

A'

BP 1 CP 1
> ,.
holds
>
BB 2 CC 2

IMO/KKK/Geometric Inequality/6
1
ar
[IBC]
AI
IA
IA
b+c
b+c
1
a
= 1
=
>
=
(since a < b + c)
=
= 2 =

Now
AA
AA a + b + c 2(b + c) 2
AA [ABC]
sr
a+b+c
In the same way,

BI
1
CI
1
> ,.
> . The proof is then completed.
BB 2
CC 2

Example 11
[IMO 1991]
Let ABC be a triangle and P an interior point of ABC. Show that at least one of the angles PAB, PBC,
PCA is less than or equal to 30o.
1st Solution:

P
z

Using the result of IMO 1961 question 2 (see Example 2), we have
a2 + b2 + c2 4 3 [ABC]
----- (*)
With the notation in the above figure, assume on the contrary that , , are all greater than 30o, it follows that
each is less than 150o. Thus for each angle the cosine is less than
Now, by cosine rule, y2 = c2 + x2 2cx cos
z2 = a2 + y2 2ay cos
x2 = b2 + z2 2bz cos

3 / 2 and the sine is greater than 1/2.

a2 + b2 + c2 = 2(cx cos + ay cos + bz cos ) < 3 (cx + ay + bz)

1
1
[ABC] = (cx sin + ay sin + bz sin ) > (cx + ay + bz)
2
4

from which we obtain

On the other hand,

a2 + b2 + c2 < 4 3 [ABC]

Combining the two inequality, we get

which contradicts the inequality (*)

Second solution:
A

R
S
P

Assume on the contrary that , , are all greater than 30o, it follows that each is less than 150o.
This leads to
PA = PS/sin < 2PS,
PB = PQ/sin < 2PQ,
and
PC = PR/sin < 2PR.
Then
PA + PB + PC < 2(PS + PQ + PR)
which violates the Erds-Mordell inequality.

IMO/KKK/Geometric Inequality/7

Example 12 [IMO 1995]

Let ABCDEF be a convex hexagon with
AB = BC = CD,
DE = EF = FA,
and
BCD = EFA = 60o.
Let G and H be two points in the interior of the hexagon such that AGB = DHE = 120o. Prove that
AG + GB + GH + DH + HE CF.
Soln:
X

F
A

F
A

G
G
E

D
D

C
Y

As in the figure, we draw equilateral triangles ABX and DEY such that ABCDEF is congruent to DBXAEY.
Since the corresponding sides and angles are equal, CF = XY.
Now AXB + AGB = 180o = DYE + DHE.
So ABXG and DHEY are cyclic quadrilaterals.
By Ptolemy's theorem, ABXG = AXGB + XBAG, which implies XG = AG + GB.
Similarly, HY = DH + HE.
Therefore, AG + GB + GH + DH + HE = XG + GH + HY XY = CF.