Let a1,a2,…,a2n be positive real numbers such that ai+an+i=1, for all i=1,⋯,n. Prove that there exist two different integers 1≤j,k≤2n for which aj2−ak2<n+n−11
Solution
Assume, without loss of generality, that 0<a1≤a2≤⋯≤an≤21≤a2n≤a2n−1≤⋯≤an+1<1, and let K=min{ai2−aj2, with i,j=1,…,2n, and i=j}. We have K≤a2n2−an2=(a2n+an)(a2n−an)=1−2an, which means that 21−K≥an. We deduce that 4(1−K)2≥an2>an2−a12=i=1∑n−1(ai+12−ai2)≥(n−1)K. This implies that K2−2(2n−1)K+1>0. Because K<1, we deduce that K<2n−1−(2n−1)2−1=(n−n−1)2, and therefore K<n−n−1=n+n−11.
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