Let a1,a2,…,a2011 be nonnegative reals with sum 22011. Prove that cyc∏(an−an+1)=∣(a1−a2)(a2−a3)…(a2011−a1)∣≤1633.
Solution
In what follows, indices are taken modulo 2011 and E=∏cyc(an−an+1).
Lemma. If E is maximum, for every i∈{1,2,…,2011}, one of the numbers ai−1,ai,ai+1 is zero.
*Proof.* Suppose, by means of contradiction, that E is maximum and there exists ai such that ai−1,ai,ai+1 are all nonzero (that is, ai−1aiai+1>0). Define A={ai∣ai>0} and B={ai∣ai−1aiai+1>0}. Then B⊂A and B=∅. Let ak=minB and consider ak−1 and ak+1. We have the following cases:
* ak<ak−1 and ak<ak+1. Let ai′={0,ai+∣A∣−1ak,if ai=0 or i=kif ai>0 and i=k That is, we make ak be zero and distribute it among the remaining nonzero terms. So ∣ai−ai+1∣ remains unchanged if ai,ai+1∈A and k∈/{i,i+1}, or ai,ai+1∈/A; increases from ∣ai−ai+1∣=max{ai,ai+1} to max{ai,ai+1}+∣A∣−1ak if ai∈/A or ai+1∈/A, but not both; increases from ∣ak±1−ak∣=ak±1−ak to ak±1+∣A∣−1ak if k∈{i,i+1}.
* ak−1<ak<ak+1. This means that ak−1∈/B, and ak∈B, ak−1>0, that is, ak−1∈A∖B, which means ak−2=0. In this case, we exchange (ak−1,ak) for (ak−1′,ak′)=(ak−1+ak,0). Then ∣ai−ai+1∣ remains unchanged for i∈/{k−2,k−1,k}; for i=k−2 increases from ∣ak−2−ak−1∣=ak−1 to ∣ak−2−ak−1′∣=ak−1+ak; for i=k−1 increases from ∣ak−1−ak∣=ak−ak−1 to ∣ak−1′−ak′∣=ak−1+ak; for i=k increases from ∣ak−ak+1∣=ak+1−ak to ∣ak′−ak+1∣=ak+1.
* ak−1>ak>ak+1. Analogous to the previous case.
* ak>ak−1 and ak>ak+1. This means ak−1,ak+1∈A∖B, that is, ak−2=ak+2=0. In this case, exchange (ak−1,ak,ak+1) for (ak−1′,ak′,ak+1′)=(ak−1+ak/2,0,ak+1+ak/2). All differences ∣ai−ai+1∣ remain unchanged except if i∈{k−2,k−1,k,k+1}. The only change is ∣(ak−2−ak−1)(ak−1−ak)(ak−ak+1)(ak+1−ak+2)∣=ak−1(ak−ak−1)(ak−ak+1)ak+1 to ∣(ak−2−ak−1′)(ak−1′−ak′)(ak′−ak+1′)(ak+1′−ak+2)∣=(ak−1+ak/2)2(ak+1+ak/2)2. But (ak−1+ak/2)2(ak+1+ak/2)2=(ak−1(ak−1+ak)+ak2/4)(ak+1(ak+1+ak)+ak2/4)>ak−1(ak+ak−1)(ak+ak+1)ak+1>ak−1(ak−ak−1)(ak−ak+1)ak+1
Now we only have groups with one or two consecutive nonzero variables. For a group (0,ak,0), we obtain the product ∣(ak−1−ak)(ak−ak+1)∣=ak2; for a group (0,ak,ak+1,0), we obtain ∣(ak−1−ak)(ak−ak+1)(ak+1−ak+2)∣=akak+1∣ak+1−ak∣. Notice that the groups can be interchanged, such that we can suppose wlog that all groups with two nonzero variables are contiguous.
Lemma. If E is maximum then there is exactly one group with two nonzero variables. Suppose, that there are at least two groups of nonzero variables (0,a,b,0) and (0,c,d,0). By the above remark, we can suppose wlog that the groups are consecutive, that is, it's (0,a,b,0,c,d,0). Exchange these variables for (0,a+b/2,0,(b+c)/2,0,d+c/2,0). The product abcd∣(a−b)(c−d)∣ is exchanged for (a+b/2)2((b+c)/2)2(d+c/2)2. But we already know that (a+b/2)2>a∣a−b∣, (d+c/2)2>d∣c−d∣ and, by AM-GM, ((b+c)/2)2≥bc. Multiplying everything yields the lemma.
Combining the two lemmas, we can suppose wlog that the nonzero variables are the ones with odd indices, that is, a1,a3,…,a2011. In this case, we obtain the product a1a2011∣a1−a2011∣a32a52…a20092, and we can optimize it locally. Let a1+a2011=s and suppose wlog a1>a2011. Let α,β be positive real numbers to be determined. By AM-GM, a1a2011(a1−a2011)=αβ1(αa1)(βa2011)(a1−a2011)≤αβ1(3αa1+βa2011+(a1−a2011))3=αβ1(3(α+1)a1+(β−1)a2011)3 So we choose α and β such that * we obtain s in the end, that is, α+1=β−1⇔β−α=2; * the equality can occur, that is, αa1=βa2011=a1−a2011⇔a2011=(1−α)a1 and a1=(β+1)a2011, that is, 1=(1−α)(β+1)⇔−αβ=α−β=−2. Thus −α and β are the roots of the quadratic t2−2t−2=0. Hence α=3−1 and β=1+3, and a1a2011(a1−a2011)≤αβ1(3(α+1)a1+(β−1)a2011)3=21(33(a1+a2011))3=183s3
Now we optimize the rest. If a3+a5+⋯+a2009=22011−s, a32a52…a20092≤(1004a3+a5+⋯+a2009)2008=(100422011−s)2008