TITLE: Showing that $ \left( \frac{a+2b}{a+2c}\right)^3+\left( \frac{b+2c}{b+2a}\right)^3+\left( \frac{c+2a}{c+2b}\right)^3 \geq3 $
QUESTION [7 upvotes]: I would like to show that:
$$ \left( \frac{a+2b}{a+2c}\right)^3+\left( \frac{b+2c}{b+2a}\right)^3+\left( \frac{c+2a}{c+2b}\right)^3 \geq3 $$
Using AM-GM inequality:
$$ \left( \frac{a+2b}{a+2c}\right)^3+\left( \frac{b+2c}{b+2a}\right)^3+\left( \frac{c+2a}{c+2b}\right)^3 \geq3\frac{(a+2b)(b+2c)(c+2a)}{(a+2c)(b+2a)(c+2b)} $$
It suffices to show that:
$$ \frac{(a+2b)(b+2c)(c+2a)}{(a+2c)(b+2a)(c+2b)} \geq1 $$
$$ \Longleftrightarrow ab^2+bc^2+ca^2-(a^2b+b^2c+c^2a)\geq0$$
$$ \Longleftrightarrow x+y+z\geq \frac{1}{x}+\frac{1}{y}+\frac{1}{z}$$
$$ xyz=1$$
($x=\frac{a}{b}$, $y=\frac{b}{c}$, $z=\frac{c}{a}$)
How can I prove this last inequality?
Is there any simpler proof?

REPLY [3 votes]: Or maybe just do it by Holder's Inequality?
$$\left(\sum_{cyc} \left(\frac{a+2b}{a+2c} \right)^3 \right) \left(\sum_{cyc}(a+2b)(a+2c)\right)\left(\sum_{cyc}(a+2c)\right)^2 \ge \left(\sum_{cyc}(a+2b)\right)^4$$
As $\displaystyle \sum_{cyc}(a+2c) = 3(a+b+c) = \sum_{cyc}(a+2b)$, and $$\displaystyle \sum_{cyc}(a+2b)(a+2c) = a^2 + b^2 + c^2 + 8(ab + bc + ca) = (a+b+c)^2 + 6(ab+bc+ca) \le 3(a+b+c)^2$$ because $3(ab + bc+ca) \le (a+b+c)^2$, hence we have that $$\sum_{cyc} \left(\frac{a+2b}{a+2c} \right)^3 \ge 3$$ which finishes the proof.