Prove (a+b+c)(ab+ac+bc) ≧ 9abc where a,b,c are positive. The inequality is symmetric in a,b, and c, so without loss of generality, we can suppose a≦b≦c Then there exist non-negative numbers p, q, such that b = a+p and c = a+p+q Substitute those in the left side of the inequality: [a+(a+p)+(a+p+q)][a(a+p)+a(a+p+q)+(a+p)(a+p+q)] If you multiply that all the way out and collect terms (whew!), you will get this: 9a³+18a²p+9a²q+11ap²+11apq+2aq²+2p³+3p²q+pq² Make the same substitutions in the right side of the inequality: 9a(a+p)(a+p+q) If you multiply that all the way out and collect terms (not quite as tedious) you will get this: 9a³+18a²p+9a²q+9ap²+9apq So the inequality we are to prove becomes 9a³+18a²p+9a²q+11ap²+11apq+2aq²+2p³+3p²q+pq² ≧ 9a³+18a²p+9a²q+9ap²+9apq For contradiction assume the inequality can be <, that is, assume that for some non-negative p and q, this holds: 9a³+18a²p+9a²q+11ap²+11apq+2aq²+2p³+3p²q+pq² < 9a³+18a²p+9a²q+9ap²+9apq Subtracting the right side from the left: 2ap²+2apq+2aq²+2p³+3p²q+pq² < 0 Since all the terms on the left are non-negative, this is clearly false, so < can never hold, thus we have reached a contradiction. ≧ always holds and the original inequality is proved true. QED Edwin