Prove $(x+y)(y^2+z^2)(z^3+x^3) < \frac92$ for $x+y+z=2$ $x,y,z \geqslant 0$ and $x+y+z=2$, Prove
$$(x+y)(y^2+z^2)(z^3+x^3) < \frac92$$
While numerical method can solve this problem, I am more interested in classical solutions. I tried this problem for the past few months, using all kinds of AM-GM and CS, but still cannot solve it. I hope someone can help me out with this one.

Let $f(x,y,z)=(x+y)(y^2+z^2)(z^3+x^3)$.
Assume that $y$ is largest of $x,y,z$. Then $$f(x,y,z)-f(x,z,y)=(y^2+z^2)(x + y) (x + z) (y - z) (x - y - z)\le0$$and therefore we may assume $x$ or $z$ is largest of $x, y, z$.
If $x$ is largest, then
$$f(x,y,z)-f(z,y,x)=(z^3+x^3)(z-x)(xy+xz-y^2+yz)\le0$$and therefore we may assume that $z$ is largest of $x,y,z$.
Now,$$f(0,x+y,z)-f(x,y,z)=(x+y)(((x+y)^2+z^2)z^3-(y^2+z^2)(z^3+x^3))\\=x (x+y)(-x^2 y^2 - x^2 z^2 + x z^3 + 2 y z^3)\ge0$$and we may assume that $x=0$.
Now it is just $y(y^2+(2-y)^2)(2-y)^3<\frac{9}{2}$, or$$2 y^6 - 16 y^5 + 52 y^4 - 88 y^3 + 80 y^2 - 32 y + 4.5>0$$which is true for all nonnegative $y$.
