In mathematics, the inequality of arithmetic and geometric means, or more briefly 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; and further, that the two means are equal if and only if every number in the list is the same.
Read more about Inequality Of Arithmetic And Geometric Means: Background, The Inequality, Geometric Interpretation, Example Application, Proofs of The AM–GM Inequality
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