# [Polynomials] Showing the Motzkin Polynomial is Non-Negative using the AM-GM Inequality

Let's take a look at the Motzkin polynomial $P(x,y) = x^4y^2+x^2y^4 +1-3x^2y^2.$ How can we show that this polynomial satisfies $$P(x,y) \geq 0$$ on $$\mathbb{R^2}$$?

We can look to the arithmetic mean-geometric mean (AM-GM) inequality to show this. The AM-GM inequality states that the arithmetic mean of a list of non-negative real numbers is greater than or equal to the geometric mean of the same list. Applying this inequality to the list of numbers $$x^2y^4, x^4y^2, 1$$, we can compute the arithmetic mean $\frac{x^2y^4 + x^4y^2 +1}{3},$ and the geometric mean $\sqrt[3]{(x^2y^4)(x^4y^2)\cdot 1} = \sqrt[3]{x^6y^6} = x^2y^2.$

Hence the inequality gives $\frac{x^2y^4 + x^4y^2 +1}{3} \geq x^2y^2$ Multiplying both sides by 3 and rearranging, $x^2y^4 + x^4y^2 +1 - 3x^2y^2 \geq 0$ as required.

We see that the AM-GM inequality provides a simple yet effective way to show whether polynomials over a real field are non-negative (or non-positive). You can also try showing that the polynomial $Q(x,y) = 2x^4+5y^4-x^2y^2+2x^3y$ over a real field, is non-negative as an exercise.

Note by Tasha Kim
11 months, 2 weeks ago

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