Let x1,…,xn (n≥2) be real numbers such that A=i=1∑nxi=0 and B=1≤i<j≤nmax∣xi−xj∣=0. Prove that for every n vectors α1,…,αn on the plane, there exists a permutation (k1,k2,…,kn) of (1,2,…,n) such that i=1∑nxkiαi≥2A+BAB1≤i≤nmax∣αi∣.
Solution
Proof Let ∣αk∣=max1≤i≤n∣αi∣. It is sufficient to prove that (k1,…,kn)∈Snmaxi=1∑nxkiαi≥2A+BAB∣αk∣, where Sn is the set of all permutations of (1,2,…,n).
Without loss of generality, assume ∣xn−x1∣=1≤i<j≤nmax∣xj−xi∣=B, ∣αn−α1∣=1≤i<j≤nmax∣αj−αi∣. For the two vectors β1=x1α1+x2α2+⋯+xn−1αn−1+xnαn, β2=xnα1+x2α2+⋯+xn−1αn−1+x1αn, we have (k1,…,kn)∈Snmaxi=1∑nxkiαi≥max{∣β1∣,∣β2∣}≥21(∣β1∣+∣β2∣)≥21∣β1−β2∣=21∣x1αn+xnα1−x1α1−xnαn∣=21∣x1−xn∣⋅∣α1−αn∣=21B∣αn−α1∣.(1) Now suppose ∣αn−α1∣=x∣αk∣. Using the Triangle Inequality, we obtain 0≤x≤2. So (1) becomes (k1,…,kn)∈Snmaxi=1∑nxkiαi≥21Bx∣αk∣.(2) On the other hand, consider the vectors γ1=x1α1+x2α2+⋯+xn−1αn−1+xnαn γ2=x2α1+x3α2+⋯+xnαn−1+x1αn γn=xnα1+x1α2+⋯+xn−2αn−1+xn−1αn. Then we have (k1,…,kn)∈Snmaxi=1∑nxkiαi≥1≤i≤nmax∣γi∣≥n1(∣γ1∣+⋯+∣γn∣)≥n1∣γ1+⋯+γn∣=nA∣α1+⋯+αn∣=nAnαk−j=k∑(αk−αj)≥nAn∣αk∣−j=k∑∣αk−αj∣≥nA(n∣αk∣−(n−1)∣αn−α1∣)=nA(n∣αk∣−(n−1)x∣αk∣)=A(1−nn−1x)∣αk∣.3◯ From (2) and (3), it follows that (k1,…,kn)∈Snmaxi=1∑nxkiαi≥max{2Bx,A(1−nn−1x)}∣αk∣≥A⋅nn−1+2B2Bx⋅A⋅nn−1+A(1−nn−1x)⋅2B∣αk∣=2A+B−n2AAB∣αk∣≥2A+BAB∣αk∣.
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