Find the minimum value of x1+⋯+xnx13+⋯+xn3 where x1,x2,…,xn are distinct positive integers.
Solution
The minimum value 21n(n+1) is achieved by letting xk=k for 1≤k≤n. To prove the inequality, it suffices to prove that x13+⋯+xn3≥(x1+⋯+xn)2, since x1+⋯+xn≥1+2+⋯+n=n(n+1)/2. We may assume that x1<x2<⋯<xn. Let's prove the above inequality by induction on n. It is clear that the inequality holds when n=1. Let n>1, and assume x13+⋯+xn3≥(x1+⋯+xn)2. Now k=1∑nxk3−(k=1∑nxk)2=k=1∑n−1xk3−(k=1∑n−1xk)2+xn{xn2−xn−2k=1∑n−1xk}. The induction hypothesis implies that the first bracket on the right hand side of this equality is nonnegative. Next observe that xn≥n. As xk<xk+1, we have xk≤xk+1−1≤⋯≤xn−(n−k), when 1≤k<n. Thus the term inside the second bracket on the right hand side of this equality satisfies xn2−xn−2k=1∑n−1xk≥xn2−xn−2k=1∑n−1(xn−n+k)=xn2−xn−2k=1∑n−1xn+n(n−1)≥xn2−xn−2(n−1)xn+n(n−1)=(xn−n+1)(xn−n)≥0
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