On a Certain Inequality

Raitis Ozols, University of Latvia, rozolsq@inbox.lv Elementary algebra forms the basis for mathematical analysis and calculus. Inequalities are especially important here. A lot of them were invented and proved as convenient tools for investigating the classical problems of continuous mathematics. On the other side, inequalities themselves can provide stimulus for serious research already on highschool level. John Littlewood has said in his famous book [1] that some classical inequalities still today could turn into new important theorems if given to great mathematician in the moment of inspiration. So there is no wonder that most famous of them have a lot of proofs; e.g., the inequality between arithmetic and geometric means has 50 of them (see [2]). The Cauchy-Schwartz inequality is an another example (see [3]). The methods of inequality proving are also of the main topics in the preparation of students to mathematical competitions. There are many teaching aids developed for this. The main methods usually considered are as follows: 2 0) a) identical transformations (often to the form x k b) strengthening of the inequality, c) mathematical induction, d) derivative and integral, e) interpretations, f) applications of other inequalities (Cauchy, Cauchy-Schwartz, Jensen, etc.). Many books on special methods have been published, e.g., [4]. In this paper we consider a proof of a double inequality L(a, b) M0,5(a, b) P(a, b) for ba positive a and b. Here L(a, b) = (a b) and L(a, a) = a is the logarithmic mean, ln b ln a a+ b ba is the square root mean and P(a, b) = (a b) and M 0 , 5 ( a, b ) = 2 4 arctan b / a P(a, a) = a is the Seiffert mean. The proof can be of interest because it starts from the obvious inequality ( x 1) 2 < 0 < ( x 1) 2 for x 1 and follows on in a straightforward manner, using only substitutions, identical transformations and (once only) integration. It must be noticed that double inequalities containing means of such a different nature as here are usually proved applying essentially different approaches to each side. So teachers and students can get new insight and stimulus for their further activities. Literature 1. Littlewood J. E., A Mathematicians Miscellany. London, Cambridge University Press, 1957. 2. Hardy G. H., Littlewood J. E., Polya G., Inequalities. London, Cambridge University Press, 1951. 3. Steele J. M., The Cauchy-Schwarz Master Class. MAA, 2004. 4. Tran Phuong. Diamonds in Mathematical Inequalities. Hanoi, Hanoi Publishing House, 2007. 5. Sndor J., On certain inequalities for means, III. Birkhuser Basel, Archiv der Mathematik, Volume 76, Number 1 / January, 2001.
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