The real numbers satisfy
where is a permutation of . Prove .
, 2011
Solutions — 2
Solution 1
For convenience we call also . Let be the largest of the numbers , and consider an equation , where . Hence we get , so either or is . Since , we then have , and then also . That is, in such an equation both variables on the left equal . Now let be the set of such equations, and let be the set of subscripts on the left of these equations. From we get . On the other hand, since the total number of appearances of these subscripts is and each subscript appears on the left in no more than two equations, we have . Thus , so for each the set contains both equations with the subscript on the left. Now assume without loss of generality. Then the equation belongs to , so . Continuing in this way we find that all subscripts belong to , so .
Solution 2
Again we call also . Taking the square on both sides of all the equations and adding the results, we get
which can be transformed with some algebra into
Hence the assertion follows.