Can You Prove This Challenging Inequality for x Between 1.5 and 5?

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    2017
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The inequality $$2\sqrt{x+1}+\sqrt{2x-3}+\sqrt{15-3x}<2\sqrt{19}$$ holds true for the range $$\frac{3}{2}\le x \le 5$$. MarkFL provided a correct solution demonstrating this inequality through algebraic manipulation and analysis of the function's behavior within the specified interval. The discussion emphasizes the importance of verifying each component of the inequality to ensure its validity across the defined range.

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Here is this week's POTW:

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Suppose $$\frac{3}{2}\le x \le 5.$$ Prove that $$2\sqrt{x+1}+\sqrt{2x-3}+\sqrt{15-3x}<2\sqrt{19}$$.

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Suppose $$\frac{3}{2}\le x \le 5.$$ Prove that $$2\sqrt{x+1}+\sqrt{2x-3}+\sqrt{15-3x}<2\sqrt{19}$$.Congratulations to MarkFL for his correct solution:), which you can find below:
Let:

$$f(x)=2\sqrt{x+1}+\sqrt{2x-3}+\sqrt{15-3x}$$

Hence:

$$f'(x)=\frac{1}{\sqrt{x+1}}+\frac{1}{\sqrt{2x-3}}-\frac{3}{2\sqrt{15-3x}}$$

Equating the derivative to zero, and using a numeric root-finding technique, we obtain the critical value:

$$x\approx4.04879336468766$$

Now, we find:

$$f'(4)>0$$ and $$f'(4.1)<0$$

Next, we check the end-points of the domain:

$$f(1.5)\approx6.40265$$

$$f(5)\approx7.54473$$

Thus, by the first derivative test, we conclude:

$$f_{\max}\approx f(4.04879336468766)\approx8.440953705913998489<2\sqrt{19}\approx8.717797887081348$$

Alternate solution:
By the Cauchy–Schwarz inequality, we have

Suppose $$\frac{3}{2}\le x \le 5.$$ Prove that $$2\sqrt{x+1}+\sqrt{2x-3}+\sqrt{15-3x}<2\sqrt{19}$$.

$$\begin{align*}2\sqrt{x+1}+\sqrt{2x-3}+\sqrt{15-3x}&=\sqrt{x+1}+\sqrt{x+1}+\sqrt{2x-3}+\sqrt{15-3x}\\&\le \sqrt{1^2+1^2+1+1^2}\sqrt{\sqrt{x+1}^2+\sqrt{x+1}^2+\sqrt{2x-3}^2+\sqrt{15-3x}^2}\\&\le 2\sqrt{x+14}\\&\le 2\sqrt{19}\end{align*}$$

and equality holds if and only if $$\sqrt{x+1}=\sqrt{2x-3}=\sqrt{15-3x}$$ at $x=5$ but that is impossible.

Thus, we have proved that $$2\sqrt{x+1}+\sqrt{2x-3}+\sqrt{15-3x}<2\sqrt{19}$$.
 

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