Problem: Let n≥2 be some fixed positive integer and suppose that a1,a2,…,an are positive real numbers satisfying a1+a2+⋯+an=2n−1. Find the minimum possible value of 1a1+1+a1a2+1+a1+a2a3+⋯+1+a1+a2+⋯+an−1an.
Solution
Solution: We claim the the minimum possible value of this expression is n. Observe that by AM-GM, we have that 1a1+1+a1a2+⋯+1+a1+a2+⋯+an−1an=11+a1+1+a11+a1+a2+⋯+1+a1+a2+⋯+an−11+a1+a2+⋯+an−n≥n⋅n11+a1⋅1+a11+a1+a2⋯1+a1+a2+⋯+an−11+a1+a2+⋯+an−n=n⋅n1+a1+a2+⋯+an−n=2n−n=n. Furthermore, equality is achieved when ak=2k−1 for each 1≤k≤n.
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Source: MathNet,
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