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Algebra Difficulty 5.7 AIME, harder Prove it Singapore

Let a1,a2,,ana_1, a_2, \dots, a_n be positive numbers and AA their arithmetic mean. Prove that
An11ni=1na1a^ian,where a^i denotes the term ai is omitted. A^{n-1} \geq \frac{1}{n} \sum_{i=1}^{n} a_1 \cdots \hat{a}_i \cdots a_n, \quad \text{where } \hat{a}_i \text{ denotes the term } a_i \text{ is omitted.}

Solution

We use induction on nn. When n=2n=2, it is an equality. Assume a1a2ana_1 \le a_2 \le \dots \le a_n. Then a1Aana_1 \le A \le a_n. Let Ao=(a1++an1)/(n1)A_o = (a_1 + \dots + a_{n-1})/(n-1). Then A=Ao+(anAo)/nA = A_o + (a_n - A_o)/n and a1AoAn1ana_1 \le A_o \le A_{n-1} \le a_n. Since anAo0a_n - A_o \ge 0, we use binomial expansion:
An1=(Ao+anAon)n1Aon1+(n1)Aon2(anAon)=n1nAon2an+1nAon1. A^{n-1} = \left(A_o + \frac{a_n - A_o}{n}\right)^{n-1} \ge A_o^{n-1} + (n-1)A_o^{n-2} \left(\frac{a_n - A_o}{n}\right) = \frac{n-1}{n} A_o^{n-2} a_n + \frac{1}{n} A_o^{n-1}.
By induction hypothesis, Aon21n1i=1n1aia^ian1A_o^{n-2} \ge \frac{1}{n-1} \sum_{i=1}^{n-1} a_i \cdots \hat{a}_i \cdots a_{n-1}.
By AMGMAM \ge GM, Aon1a1a2an1A_o^{n-1} \ge a_1 a_2 \cdots a_{n-1}.
Therefore, An11ni=1n1aia^ian1an+1na1a2an1=1ni=1naia^ianA^{n-1} \ge \frac{1}{n} \sum_{i=1}^{n-1} a_i \cdots \hat{a}_i \cdots a_{n-1} a_n + \frac{1}{n} a_1 a_2 \cdots a_{n-1} = \frac{1}{n} \sum_{i=1}^{n} a_i \cdots \hat{a}_i \cdots a_n.

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