Let n be a positive integer number and let a1,a2,…,an be n positive real numbers. Prove that f:[0,∞)→R, defined by f(x)=a2+xa1+x+a3+xa2+x+⋯+an+xan−1+x+a1+xan+x, is a decreasing function.
Solution
Set an+1=a1 and let 0≤x≤y. Since f(y)−f(x)=(y−x)i=1∑n(ai+1+x)(ai+1+y)ai+1−ai showing f is decreasing amounts to showing i=1∑n(ai+1+x)(ai+1+y)ai+1≤i=1∑n(ai+1+x)(ai+1+y)ai Noticing that ai≤aj if and only if (ai+x)−1(ai+y)−1≥(aj+x)−1(aj+y)−1, the above inequality is a straightforward consequence of the rearrangement inequality for the ai and the (ai+x)−1(ai+y)−1.
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