AlgebraDifficulty 7.9National Olympiad, round 2Prove itMiddle European Mathematical Olympiad (MEMO)
Problem: Let n⩾2 be an integer and x1,x2,…,xn be real numbers satisfying (a) xj>−1 for j=1,2,…,n and (b) x1+x2+⋯+xn=n. Prove the inequality j=1∑n1+xj1⩾j=1∑n1+xj2xj and determine when equality holds.
Solutions — 4
Solution 1
Solution: We have to prove j=1∑n1+xj1−j=1∑n1+xj2xj=j=1∑n(1+xj)(1+xj2)1−xj⩾0 We use the supporting line method and consider the function f defined by f(x)=(1+x)(1+x2)1−x for all x>−1. The tangent line of f at x=1 is given by y=41−x. We claim that f(x)=(1+x)(1+x2)1−x⩾41−x for all x>−1 with equality for x=1. For x⩾1 we get 4⩽(1+x)(1+x2) and for −1<x⩽1 we get 4⩾(1+x)(1+x2). Both inequalities are obviously true.
Now we conclude that j=1∑n(1+xj)(1+xj2)1−xj⩾j=1∑n41−xj=0 and we are done.
Equality occurs if and only if all n numbers are equal to 1 .
Solution 2
Solution: Since 1+xj>0 for j=1,2,…,n, Cauchy-Schwarz inequality yields j=1∑n1+xj1⋅j=1∑n(1+xj)⩾(j=1∑n1)2 which is equivalent to j=1∑n1+xj1⩾2n It therefore suffices to prove that j=1∑n1+xj2xj⩽2n but this last inequality is equivalent to the trivial one j=1∑n1+xj2(1−xj)2⩾0 so the inequation is proven. In the last equation, we have equality if and only if xj=1 for j=1,2,…,n, and one can easily see that this is indeed a case of equality, so it is the only case of equality.
Solution 3
Solution: The inequality is equivalent to i=1∑n(1+xi)(1+xi2)1−xi⩾0 As the functions f(x)=1−x and g(x)=(1+x)(1+x2)1 are both strictly decreasing, we can apply the Chebychev inequality to obtain: n⋅i=1∑n(1+xi)(1+xi2)1−xi⩾(i=1∑n1−xi)(i=1∑n(1+xi)(1+xi2)1)=0 So we're done.
Solution 4
Solution (via Lagrange multipliers): Let us write f(x)=1+x1−1+x2x. We want to show that the expression f(x1)+…+f(xn) in the domain D:x1,…,xn>−1,x1+…+xn=n attains its minimal value 0 exactly at the point x1=…=xn=1. We first consider the boundary of D. This means that w. l. o. g. we may assume that x1=−1, in which case the expression attains the value +∞, which is not the minimum. We now look for minima in the interior of the domain: The method of Lagrange multipliers gives the Langrange function F(x1,…,xn,λ)=j=1∑n(f(xj)−λ(xj−1)) and results in the system of equations f′(xj)j=1∑nxj=λ,j=1,…,n=n Now note that - f′(x)=(1+x)2−1+(1+x2)2x2−1=(1+x)2(1+x2)22(x3−x2−x−1). - f′(x)<0 for −1<x⩽1. This is obvious from the first expression for f′(x). - f′(x)>0 for x>2. This can be seen from the second expression for f′(x), since for x>2 we have 1+x+x2<8x3+4x3+2x3<x3. - f′′(x)=(1+x2)32x(3−x2)+(1+x)32. - f′′(x)>0 for −1<x<2 can be shown by considering the following three cases: - For −1<x<0, we have (1+x)31=(1+x)(1+2x+x2)1>(1+x)(1+x2)1 Thus we get f′′(x)>(1+x2)32x(3−x2)+(1+x)(1+x2)2=(1+x)(1+x2)32x(3−x2)(1+x)+2(1+x2)2==(1+x)(1+x2)3(6x+6x2−2x3−2x4)+(2+4x2+2x4)=(1+x)(1+x2)32+6x+10x2−2x3==(1+x)(1+x2)321(2+3x)2+211x2−2x3>0 - For 0⩽x⩽3, the assertion is obvious. - For 3<x<2, the assertion follows from (1+x)32>272,(1+x2)32x(3−x2)=−(1+x2)32x(x2−3)>−(1+32)32⋅2(22−3)=−161>−272 - Hence f′ is strictly increasing for −1<x⩽2. Since xˉ=n1∑j=1nxj=1, we know that xj⩽1 for some j. Therefore λ<0. This means xj⩽2 for every j=1,…,n. From the monotonicity of f′ in the domain −1<x⩽2, we now conclude x1=…=xn. In view of the condition x1+…+xn=n this means x1=…=xn=1. Since f(1)=0, we are done.
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