It is sufficient to prove that: For every k∈{1,2,…,n}, we have
ak2≤3ni=1∑n−1(ai−ai+1)2.
Let dk=ak−ak+1, k=1,2,…,n−1, then
ak=ak,
ak+1=ak−dk,ak+2=ak−dk−dk+1,…,
an=ak−dk−dk+1−⋯−dn−1,
ak−1=ak+dk−1,ak−2=ak+dk−1+dk−2,…,
a1=ak+dk−1+dk−2+⋯+d1.
Summing all equalities, and using a1+a2+⋯+an=0, we get
nak−(n−k)dk−(n−k−1)dk+1−⋯−dn−1+(k−1)dk−1+(k−2)dk−2+⋯+d1=0.
Then in view of Cauchy's inequality
(nak)2=((n−k)dk+(n−k−1)dk+1+⋯+dn−1−(k−1)dk−1−(k−2)dk−2−⋯−d1)2≤[i=1∑k−1i2+i=1∑n−ki2][i=1∑n−1di2]≤[i=1∑n−1i2][i=1∑n−1di2]=6n(n−1)(2n−1)[i=1∑n−1di2]≤3n3[i=1∑n−1di2].
So, ak2≤3n∑i=1n−1(ai−ai+1)2.