<s>[INST] Can any cyclic polynomial in $a, b, c$ be expressed in terms of $a^2b+b^2c+c^2a$, $a+b+c$, $ab+bc+ca$ and $abc$? Problem. Let $f(a,b,c)$ be a cyclic polynomial in $a, b, c$. 
Can $f$ always be expressed as $g(a+b+c, ab+bc+ca, abc, a^2b+b^2c + c^2a)$ for some polynomial $g(p, q, r, Q)$?
Motivation: If we want to prove $g(a+b+c, ab+bc+ca, abc, a^2b+b^2c + c^2a)\ge 0$, and $g(p, q, r, Q)$ is non-increasing with $Q$,
by using the known inequality $a^2b + b^2c + c^2a \le \frac{4}{27}(a+b+c)^3 - abc$(see How to prove this inequality? $a^{2}+b^{2}+c^{2}\leq 3$),
sometimes, we may prove $g(a+b+c, ab+bc+ca, abc, \frac{4}{27}(a+b+c)^3 - abc)\ge 0$. 
As a result, we deal with a symmetric inequality rather than the original cyclic inequality.
Is it known? Is it easily to prove?
Let us see some examples. Denote $p = a+b+c, q = ab+bc+ca, r = abc$ and $Q = a^2b+b^2c+c^2a$.
1) $ab^2 + bc^2 + ca^2 = (a+b+c)(a^2+b^2+c^2) - a^3-b^3-c^3 - (a^2b+b^2c+c^2a)$
2) From the known identity $a^3b+b^3c+c^3a +(ab+bc+ca)^2 = (a+b+c)(a^2b+b^2c+c^2a+abc)$, we have
$a^3b+b^3c+c^3a = p(Q + r) - q^2$.
3) $a^3b^2+b^3c^2+c^3a^2 = Qq - r(p^2-2q) - rq$.
4) $(a^2+b)(b^2+c)(c^2+a) = \cdots$
Any comments and solutions are welcome.
 [/INST] Four years ago, I also encountered this problem. I can't prove but I can write $$f(a+b+c,\,ab+bc+ca,abc,a^2b+b^2c+c^2a) \to F(p,q,r,Q)$$
by my pqr tool run on Maple.

Similar to $a^3b+b^3c+c^3a,\,(a-b)(b-c)(c-a), \ldots$ The appropriate time (after my book is published) I will publish all the source code. Please forgive me.
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