Let
f(x1,x2,…,xn)=max{1+x1+x2+⋯+xkxk:k=1,2,…,n},
where x1≥0,x2≥0,…,xn≥0 and x1+x2+⋯+xn=1, and notice that
1+a1a1=1+a1+a2a2=⋯=1+a1+a2+⋯+anan
for a unique n-tuple (a1,a2,…,an) of non-negative real numbers which add up to 1,
namely, ak=2k/n−2(k−1)/n, k=1,2,…,n, in which case $f(a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_n) =
1 - 2^{-1/n}.Nowlet(x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_n) \neq (a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_n),wherethex_i$ are non-
negative real numbers which add up to 1. Since x1+x2+⋯+xn=a1+a2+⋯+an,
it follows that xk>ak for some index k. Let m=min{k:xk>ak}. Then xk≤ak,
k<m, so
f(x1,x2,…,xn)≥1+x1+x2+⋯+xmxm>1+a1+a2+⋯+amam=f(a1,a2,…,an).
Consequently, the required minimum is 1−2−1/n.