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Algebra Difficulty 8.4 Shortlist Prove it China

Let n3n \ge 3 be an integer. Let t1,t2,,tnt_1, t_2, \dots, t_n be positive real numbers such that
n2+1>(t1+t2++tn)(1t1+1t2++1tn). n^2 + 1 > (t_1+t_2+\dots+t_n)\left(\frac{1}{t_1}+\frac{1}{t_2}+\dots+\frac{1}{t_n}\right).
Show that ti,tj,tkt_i, t_j, t_k are the lengths of the sides of a triangle for all i,j,ki, j, k with 1i<j<kn1 \le i < j < k \le n.

Solution

Assume on the contrary that there exist three numbers among t1,t2,,tnt_1, t_2, \dots, t_n that do not form the sides of a triangle. Without loss of generality, we may assume that these three numbers are t1,t2,t3t_1, t_2, t_3, and t1+t2t3t_1+t_2 \le t_3. One has
(t1++tn)(1t1++1tn)=1i<jn[titj+tjti]+n=t1t3+t3t1+t2t3+t3t2+1i<jn(i,j){(1,3),(2,3)}[titj+tjti]+nt1+t2t3+t3(1t1+1t2)+1i<jn(i,j){(1,3),(2,3)}2+nt1+t2t3+4t3t1+t2+2(Cn22)+n=4t3t1+t2+t1+t2t3+n24.(1) \begin{aligned} & (t_1+\cdots+t_n)\left(\frac{1}{t_1}+\cdots+\frac{1}{t_n}\right) \\ &=\sum_{1\le i<j\le n}\left[\frac{t_i}{t_j}+\frac{t_j}{t_i}\right]+n \\ &=\frac{t_1}{t_3}+\frac{t_3}{t_1}+\frac{t_2}{t_3}+\frac{t_3}{t_2}+\sum_{\substack{1\le i<j\le n \\ (i,j)\notin\{(1,3), (2,3)\}}}[\frac{t_i}{t_j}+\frac{t_j}{t_i}]+n \\ &\ge\frac{t_1+t_2}{t_3}+t_3\left(\frac{1}{t_1}+\frac{1}{t_2}\right)+\sum_{\substack{1\le i<j\le n \\ (i,j)\notin\{(1,3), (2,3)\}}}2+n \\ &\ge\frac{t_1+t_2}{t_3}+\frac{4t_3}{t_1+t_2}+2(C_n^2-2)+n \\ &=4\frac{t_3}{t_1+t_2}+\frac{t_1+t_2}{t_3}+n^2-4. \end{aligned} \quad (1)

If x=t3t1+t2x = \frac{t_3}{t_1+t_2}, then x1x \ge 1, and 4x+1x5=(x1)(4x1)x04x + \frac{1}{x} - 5 = \frac{(x-1)(4x-1)}{x} \ge 0.
Together with (1), we obtain that
(t1++tn)(1t1++1tn)5+n24=n2+1, (t_1+\cdots+t_n)\left(\frac{1}{t_1}+\cdots+\frac{1}{t_n}\right) \ge 5+n^2-4 = n^2+1,
a contradiction. This completes the proof.

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Source: MathNet, licensed CC-BY-4.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.