<s>[INST] Real numbers $a$ and $b$ satisfy $a^3+b^3-6ab=-11$. Prove that $-\frac{7}{3}
Real numbers $a$ and $b$ satisfy $a^3+b^3-6ab=-11$. Prove that $$-\frac{7}{3}<a+b<-2$$
I have shown that $a+b<-2$. My approach: $-3=8-11=a^3+b^3-6ab+2^3=\frac{1}{2}(a+b+2)((a-b)^2+(a-2)^2+(b-2)^2)$. From this we must have that $a+b<-2$.
Please give some idea/hint for the other part.
 [/INST] Showing that $a+b > - \frac73$:
$$(a-2)^2+(b-2)^2+(a-b)^2\geq(a-2)^2+(b-2)^2 \geq\frac{(a+b)^2}{2}-4(a+b)+8$$
Now using the previous result $a + b < -2$ we get:
$$\frac{(a+b)^2}{2}-4(a+b)+8> 18$$
From OP's equation in the question, this gives
$$a+b=-\frac{6}{(a-2)^2+(b-2)^2+(a-b)^2}-2>-\frac{6}{18} -2 = -\frac{7}{3}. \qquad \Box$$
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