Minimum Quadratic Sum 7
Let $ x, $ $ y, $ and $ z $ be positive real numbers such that $ xy + xz + yz = 1 $. Find the minimum value of $ 10x^2 + 10y^2 + z^2 $.
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Solution
Suppose equality occurs when $ (x,y,z) = (x_0,y_0,z_0) $. To find and prove the minimum value, it looks like we're going to have to put together some inequalities like
\[x^2 + y^2 \ge 2xy.\]Remembering that equality occurs when $ x = x_0 $ and $ y = y_0, $ or $ \frac{x}{x_0} = \frac{y}{y_0} = 1, $ we form the inequality
\[\frac{x^2}{x_0^2} + \frac{y^2}{y_0^2} \ge \frac{2xy}{x_0 y_0}.\]Then
\[\frac{y_0}{2x_0} \cdot x^2 + \frac{x_0}{2y_0} \cdot y^2 \ge xy.\]Similarly,
\begin{align*}
\frac{z_0}{2x_0} \cdot x^2 + \frac{x_0}{2z_0} \cdot z^2 \ge xz, \\
\frac{z_0}{2y_0} \cdot y^2 + \frac{y_0}{2z_0} \cdot z^2 \ge xz.\end{align*}Adding these, we get
\[\frac{y_0 + z_0}{2x_0} \cdot x^2 + \frac{x_0 + z_0}{2y_0} \cdot y^2 + \frac{x_0 + y_0}{2z_0} \cdot z^2 \ge xy + xz + yz.\]We want to maximize $ 10x^2 + 10y^2 + z^2, $ so we want $ x_0, $ $ y_0, $ and $ z_0 $ to satisfy
\[\frac{y_0 + z_0}{x_0} : \frac{x_0 + z_0}{y_0} : \frac{x_0 + y_0}{z_0} = 10:10:1.\]Let
\begin{align*}
y_0 + z_0 &= 10kx_0, \\
x_0 + z_0 &= 10ky_0, \\
x_0 + y_0 &= kz_0.\end{align*}Then
\begin{align*}
x_0 + y_0 + z_0 &= (10k + 1) x_0, \\
x_0 + y_0 + z_0 &= (10k + 1) y_0, \\
x_0 + y_0 + z_0 &= (k + 1) z_0.\end{align*}Let $ t = x_0 + y_0 + z_0 $. Then $ x_0 = \frac{t}{10k + 1}, $ $ y_0 = \frac{t}{10k + 1}, $ and $ z_0 = \frac{t}{k + 1}, $ so
\[\frac{t}{10k + 1} + \frac{t}{10k + 1} + \frac{t}{k + 1} = t.\]Hence,
\[\frac{1}{10k + 1} + \frac{1}{10k + 1} + \frac{1}{k + 1} = 1.\]This simplifies to $ 10k^2 - k - 2 = 0, $ which factors as $ (2k - 1)(5k + 2) = 0 $. Since $ k $ is positive, $ k = \frac{1}{2} $.
Then $ x_0 = \frac{t}{6}, $ $ y_0 = \frac{t}{6}, $ and $ z_0 = \frac{2t}{3} $. Substituting into $ xy + xz + yz = 1, $ we get
\[\frac{t^2}{36} + \frac{t^2}{9} + \frac{t^2}{9} = 1.\]Solving, we find $ t = 2, $ and the minimum value of $ 10x^2 + 10y^2 + z^2 $ is
\[10 \cdot \frac{t^2}{36} + 10 \cdot \frac{t^2}{36} + \frac{4t^2}{9} = t^2 = \boxed{4}.\]