Fix an integer n≥2. Consider n real numbers a1,a2,…,an, not all equal, and let d=d(a1,a2,…,an)=1≤i<j≤nmax∣ai−aj∣ and s=s(a1,a2,…,an)=1≤i<j≤n∑∣ai−aj∣.
Determine, in terms of n, the smallest and the largest values the quotient s/d may achieve.
Solution
The required minimum is n−1 and is achieved, for instance, by a1<a2=⋯=an. The maximum is ⌊21n⌋⌊21(n+1)⌋ and is achieved, for instance, by a1=⋯=a⌊n/2⌋<a⌊n/2⌋+1=⋯=an. In each case, verification is routine and is hence omitted.
We now show that (n−1)d≤s≤⌊21n⌋⌊21(n+1)⌋d. Clearly, we may and will assume a1≤a2≤⋯≤an, so s=∑1≤i<j≤n(aj−ai). Let dk=ak+1−ak, k=1,…,n−1, so d=d1+⋯+dn−1.
Express every aj−ai, 1≤i<j≤n, and hence s, in terms of the dk: As dk occurs as a summand in every aj−ai, 1≤i≤k<k+1≤j≤n, and in no other aj−ai, 1≤i<j≤n, it follows that s=∑k=1n−1k(n−k)dk.
Finally, as min1≤k≤n−1k(n−k)=n−1 and max1≤k≤n−1k(n−k)=⌊21n⌋⌊21(n+1)⌋, it follows that (n−1)d=k=1∑n−1(n−1)dk≤=sk=1∑n−1k(n−k)dk≤k=1∑n−1⌊21n⌋⌊21(n+1)⌋dk==⌊21n⌋⌊21(n+1)⌋d, as desired. This ends the proof.
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