IMO 1961 · Problem 2

Let \(a,b,c\) be the sides of a triangle, and \(T\) its area. Prove: \(a^2+b^2+c^2 \ge 4\sqrt{3}T\). In what case does equality hold?

Official text of the problem. Official problem paper (PDF)

Answer

Proof problem. Equality holds if and only if the triangle is equilateral: \(a=b=c\).

Solution

Label the vertices so that \(BC=a\), \(CA=b\), and \(AB=c\). Choose coordinates \[ B=(0,0),\qquad C=(a,0),\qquad A=(x,h), \] where \(a>0\), \(h>0\), and \(x\) is any real number. Allowing arbitrary \(x\) also covers triangles whose altitude meets an extension of \(BC\).

The distance and area formulas give \[ c^2=x^2+h^2,\qquad b^2=(a-x)^2+h^2,\qquad T=\frac{ah}{2}. \] Consequently, \[ \begin{aligned} a^2+b^2+c^2-4\sqrt3\,T &=a^2+(a-x)^2+x^2+2h^2-2\sqrt3\,ah\\ &=2\left(x-\frac a2\right)^2 +2\left(h-\frac{\sqrt3\,a}{2}\right)^2\\ &\ge0. \end{aligned} \] This proves the inequality.

Equality holds precisely when both squares vanish, namely when \[ x=\frac a2,\qquad h=\frac{\sqrt3\,a}{2}. \] The distance formulas then give \(b^2=c^2=a^2\), hence \(a=b=c\). Conversely, if \(a=b=c\), those same formulas imply these values of \(x\) and \(h\), so equality holds.

If degenerate triangles with positive side lengths are admitted, then \(T=0\) and \(a^2+b^2+c^2>0\), so the inequality is strict.

The solution was checked against John Scholes' IMO solution archive (Kalva).