ii) ⟹ i): We have ∣z−c∣=∣z−ta−(1−t)b∣≤t∣z−a∣+(1−t)∣z−b∣. Analogously, ∣z−d∣≤(1−t)∣z−a∣+t∣z−b∣. Summing up, the conclusion follows.
i) ⟹ ii): For z=a we get ∣a−b∣≥∣a−c∣+∣a−d∣, and for z=b, ∣a−b∣≥∣b−c∣+∣b−d∣. Summing up, 2∣a−b∣≥∣a−c∣+∣a−d∣+∣b−c∣+∣b−d∣.
But ∣a−c∣+∣b−c∣≥∣a−b∣, ∣a−d∣+∣b−d∣≥∣a−b∣. It follows that all inequalities are in fact equalities. In particular ∣a−c∣+∣b−c∣=∣a−b∣ giving the existence of t1∈(0,1) such that c=t1a+(1−t1)b. In the same way, there is t2∈(0,1) such that d=t2a+(1−t2)b.
We shall show that t1+t2=1. We have ∣a−c∣+∣b−c∣=∣a−b∣=∣b−c∣+∣b−d∣, implying ∣a−c∣=∣b−d∣. These give (1−t1)∣a−b∣=t2∣b−a∣, which concludes the proof.