let n>2 be a fixed integer.positive reals ai≤1(for all 1≤i≤n).for all k=1,2,...,n,let Ak=k∑i=1kai prove that ∣∑k=1nak−∑k=1nAk∣<2n−1.
Solution
1. **Base Case: n=2** - For n=2, we need to show that ∑k=12ak−∑k=12Ak<21. - We have A1=a1 and A2=2a1+a2. - Therefore, ∑k=12Ak=a1+2a1+a2=22a1+a2. - Also, ∑k=12ak=a1+a2. - Thus, ∑k=12ak−∑k=12Ak=(a1+a2)−22a1+a2=a1+a2−a1−2a2=2a2. - Since a2≤1, we have 2a2≤21. - Therefore, ∑k=12ak−∑k=12Ak<21.
2. **Inductive Step: Assume the statement is true for n=k** - Assume ∑i=1kai−∑i=1kAi<2k−1 holds for some k≥2.
3. **Consider n=k+1** - We need to show that ∑i=1k+1ai−∑i=1k+1Ai<2k. - We have ∑i=1k+1ai=∑i=1kai+ak+1. - Also, ∑i=1k+1Ai=∑i=1kAi+Ak+1, where Ak+1=k+1∑i=1k+1ai. - Therefore, ∑i=1k+1ai−∑i=1k+1Ai=∑i=1kai+ak+1−(∑i=1kAi+k+1∑i=1k+1ai).
4. Simplify the expression - ∑i=1k+1ai−∑i=1k+1Ai=∑i=1kai+ak+1−∑i=1kAi−k+1∑i=1kai+ak+1. - Let Sk=∑i=1kai, then the expression becomes Sk+ak+1−∑i=1kAi−k+1Sk+ak+1. - This simplifies to Sk+ak+1−∑i=1kAi−k+1Sk−k+1ak+1. - Further simplifying, we get Sk+ak+1−∑i=1kAi−k+1Sk−k+1ak+1=Sk−∑i=1kAi+ak+1−k+1Sk−k+1ak+1. - This can be written as Sk−∑i=1kAi−k+1Sk+ak+1−k+1ak+1.
5. Use the inductive hypothesis - By the inductive hypothesis, Sk−∑i=1kAi<2k−1. - We need to show that Sk−∑i=1kAi−k+1Sk+ak+1−k+1ak+1<2k.
6. Bound the additional terms - Note that k+1Sk≤k+1k since Sk≤k and k+1ak+1≤k+11. - Therefore, k+1Sk+k+1ak+1≤k+1k+k+11=1.
7. Combine the bounds - We have Sk−∑i=1kAi−k+1Sk+ak+1−k+1ak+1≤Sk−∑i=1kAi+k+1Sk+k+1ak+1. - Using the inductive hypothesis and the bound on the additional terms, we get Sk−∑i=1kAi+1<2k−1+1=2k+1.