We will reason by induction on n⩾1.
- For n=1, consider two real numbers x1,y1∈[0,1] and set x2=1. We need to prove that (x1−y1)+(x2−x1)y1⩾0.
Indeed, we have (x1−y1)+(x2−x1)y1=(x1−y1)+(1−x1)y1=x1(1−y1)⩾0, which concludes the proof.
- Suppose that for some n⩾1 and for all real numbers 0⩽a1⩽a2⩽⋯⩽an⩽1 and 0⩽b1⩽b2⩽⋯⩽bn⩽1 with an+1=1, we have
i=1∑n(ai−bi)+ni=1∑n(ai+1−ai)bi⩾0
Consider then real numbers 0⩽x1⩽x2⩽⋯⩽xn+1⩽1 and 0⩽y1⩽y2⩽⋯⩽yn+1⩽1 and set xn+2=1.
By isolating the contributions of x1 and y1, we have
i=1∑n+1(xi−yi)+(n+1)i=1∑n+1(xi+1−xi)yi=i=2∑n+1(xi−yi)+ni=2∑n+1(xi+1−xi)yi+x1−y1+i=2∑n+1(xi+1−xi)yi+(n+1)(x2−x1)y1
applied to the real numbers ai=xi+1 and bi=yi+1
⩾x1−y1+i=2∑n+1(xi+1−xi)y1+(n+1)(x2−x1)y1 since y1⩽yi and xi+1⩾xi for
all i
=x1+y1[−1+(n+1)(x2−x1)+i=2∑n+1(xi+1−xi)]=x1+y1[nx2−(n+1)x1]=x1(1−y1)+ny1(x2−x1)⩾0
which proves the desired result for the value n+1 and completes the proof.
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