Maximization of multivariable function $ M = \frac{a+1}{a^{2}+ 2a+2} + \frac{b+1}{b^{2}+ 2b+2} + \frac{c+1}{c^{2}+ 2c+2}$ subject to constraint This is purely out of curiosity. I have this set of a high school entrance Math exam in Vietnam (a special high school for gifted kids, the exam was held 3 days ago, maybe 4, taking into account the time zone). Here's one question that I've been stuck with:
With $a, b, c$ $\in \mathbb{R}^{+}$ such that $ab + bc + ca + abc =2$, find the max of
$ M = \frac{a+1}{a^{2}+ 2a+2} + \frac{b+1}{b^{2}+ 2b+2} + \frac{c+1}{c^{2}+ 2c+2}$
I'm just curious what kind(s) of techniques these junior high students can use, since as far as I remember when I was at that age, calculus and derivatives aren't taught until high school.

Here Laplace multipliers, derivatives and gradients do not exist. Only multiplying and checking if something simplifies.
In this case, symmetry for simplifying the problem into:
$$
\mathcal{M}: 3{x+1 \over x^2+2x+2}\\
st. x^3+3x^2=2
$$
This holds because every term on the function is a sum of independent terms. In here symmetry is not a false friend.
Which reduces to finding the positive roots of $x^3+3x^2-2=0$. We do not know to solve a cubic equation, so we only can guess to break the polynomial. Our first guess is $x=-1$. Broken:
$$
(x^3+x^2+2x^2+2x-2x-2)/(x+1)=x^2+2x-2 
$$
And the others two are given by, yes, we know how to solve that already:
$$
x=\frac 12 (-2\pm\sqrt{4+8})=-1\pm \sqrt{3}
$$
Hence the only positive solution is $x=\sqrt{3}-1=a=b=c$ and $M=3{\sqrt{3}\over 3+1-2\sqrt{3}+2\sqrt{3}-2+2}=3{\sqrt{3}\over 4}\sim 1.3$.
What if they are not equal?. Suppose $a=b=1,c=x$:
$$
\mathcal{M}: \frac45+{x+1 \over x^2+2x+2}\\
st. 3x=2
$$
then$x=2/3$ and $M=\frac45+{2/3+1 \over 4/9+4/3+2}=\frac45+{15 \over 34}\sim 1.2<1.3$
Yes, symmetry here helps, and the solution is a maximum.
