There are 2n real numbers a1,a2,…,an,r1,r2,…,rn satisfying a1≤a2≤⋯≤an and 0≤r1≤r2≤⋯≤rn. Prove that ∑i=1n∑j=1naiajmin(ri,rj)≥0.
Solution
Since i=1∑nj=1∑naiajmin(ri,rj)=j=1∑na1ajmin(r1,rj)+j=1∑na2ajmin(r2,rj)+⋯+j=1∑nakajmin(rk,rj)+…+j=1∑nanajmin(rn,rj), its k-th term is j=1∑nakajmin(rk,rj)=aka1r1+aka2r2+⋯+akakrk+akak+1rk+⋯+akanrn which is the sum of elements of the k-th row of A1, k=1,2,…,n. Therefore, ∑i=1n∑j=1naiajmin(ri,rj) is the sum of all elements of A1.
On the other hand, the summation can also be done as follows: Take the elements of first column and the first row of A1, sum up; denote the rest (n−1)×(n−1) element by matrix A2, then take the first column and the first row of A2, sum up, denote the rest by matrix A3,…, so we get i=1∑nj=1∑naiajmin(ri,rj)=k=1∑nrk(ak2+2ak(ak+1+ak+2+⋯+an))=k=1∑nrk(ak+i=k+1∑nai)2−(i=k+1∑nai)2=k=1∑nrk(i=k∑nai)2−(i=k+1∑nai)2=r1(i=1∑nai)2+r2(i=2∑nai)2+r3(i=3∑nai)2+…+rn(i=n∑nai)2−r1(i=2∑nai)2−r2(i=3∑nai)2−⋯−rn−1(i=n∑nai)2=k=1∑n(rk−rk−1)(i=k∑nai)2≥0 (where r0=0).
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