Prove $a^2 + b^2 + c^2 + ab + bc +ca \ge 6$ given $a+b+c = 3$ for $a,b,c$ non-negative real. I want to solve this problem using only the AM-GM inequality. Can someone give me the softest possible hint? Thanks.
Useless fact: from equality we can conclude $abc \le 1$.
Attempt 1:
Adding $(ab + bc + ca)$ to both sides of inequality and using the equality leaves me to prove: $ab + bc + ca \le 3$.
Final edit: I found a easy way to prove above.
$18 = 2(a+b+c)^2 = (a^2 + b^2) + (b^2 + c^2) + (c^2 + a^2) + 4ab + 4bc + 4ca \ge 6(ab + bc + ca) \implies ab + bc + ca \le 3$
(please let me know if there is a mistake in above).
Attempt 2: multiplying both sides of inequality by $2$, we get:
$(a+b)^2 + (b+c)^2 + (c+a)^2 \ge 12$. By substituting $x = a+b, y = b+c, z = c+a$ and using $x+y+z = 6$ we will need to show:
$x^2 + y^2 + z^2 \ge 12$. This doesnt seem trivial either based on am-gm.
Edit: This becomes trivial by C-S.
$(a+b).1 + (b+c).1 + (c+a).1 = 6 \Rightarrow \sqrt{((a+b)^2 + (b+c)^2 + (c+a)^2)(1 + 1 + 1)} \ge 6 \implies (a+b)^2 + (b+c)^2 + (c+a)^2 \ge 12$
Attempt 3:
$x = 1-t-u$, $y = 1+t-u$, $z = 1 + 2u$
$(1-u-t)^2 + (1-u+t)^2 + (1+2u)^2 + (1-u-t)(1-u+t) + (1+t-u)(1+2u) + (1-t-u)(1+2u)$
$ = 2(1-u)^2 + 2t^2 + (1 + 2u)^2 + (1-u)^2 - t^2 + 2(1+2u)$
expanding we get:
$ = 3(1 + u^2 -2u) + t^2 + 1 + 4u^2 + 4u + 2 + 4u = 6 + 7u^2 + t^2 + 2u\ge 6$.
Yes, this works.. (not using am-gm or any such thing).

Second approach : using only AM-GM
The second approach (which is correct thus far) does work out using only AM-GM. It works using CS quite clearly, but it comes out through AM-GM as well, although you have to sum a few instances of the two variable AM-GM.
We want to prove that $x^2+y^2+z^2 \geq 12$ for $x+y+z =6$ (Note : this itself was a hint in the comments!).  Apply AM-GM to $\frac{x^2}{x^2+y^2+z^2}$ and $\frac 13$, this gives you some inequality, which I'll hide :

$\frac{x}{\sqrt{3(x^2+y^2+z^2)}}\leq \frac{x^2}{2(x^2+y^2+z^2)} + \frac 16$.

Derive similar inequalities using AM-GM for $y,z$, and add them up and rearrange to get the result.

(I wanted to provide a summary of the third approach, but I guess I'll avoid it since it's technical)
