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Determine the minimum possible value of the sum a2b+b4c+c8a,
where a,b  and c are positive real numbers.

 Aug 4, 2019
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There are a couple ways to do this. We'll do it formally first, by setting the gradient to 0f=a2b+b4c+c8af=(12bc8a2, 14ca2b2, 18ab4c2)f=012b=c8a214c=a2b218a=b4c2

 

The only solution with no negative values is b=2a, c=2aThis results in f=34 but more importantly it results in   each of the terms contributing equally to the sumf=a4a+2a8a+2a8a=14+14+14

 

You can use that symmetry principle to come up with the answer in a simpler wayJust find the relationship between the variables that makes each term of what you're trying to   find the extrema of contribute the same amountHere you'd say that a2b=b4c=c8aand solve for b and c in terms of a as we did above

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 Aug 4, 2019

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