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Algebra Difficulty 8.3 Shortlist Find the answer

Determine the maximum value of the sum
S=n=1n2n(a1a2an)1/nS = \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{n}{2^n} (a_1 a_2 \cdots a_n)^{1/n}
over all sequences a1,a2,a3,a_1, a_2, a_3, \cdots of nonnegative real numbers satisfying
k=1ak=1.\sum_{k=1}^\infty a_k = 1.

A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.

Solution

The answer is 2/32/3.

By AM-GM, we have
\begin{align*}
2^{n+1}(a_1\cdots a_n)^{1/n} &= \left((4a_1)(4^2a_2)\cdots (4^na_n)\right)^{1/n}\\
& \leq \frac{\sum_{k=1}^n (4^k a_k)}{n}.
\end{align*}
Thus
\begin{align*}
2S &\leq \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{\sum_{k=1}^n (4^k a_k)}{4^n} \\
&= \sum_{n=1}^\infty \sum_{k=1}^n (4^{k-n}a_k) = \sum_{k=1}^\infty \sum_{n=k}^\infty (4^{k-n}a_k) \\
&= \sum_{k=1}^\infty \frac{4a_k}{3} = \frac{4}{3}
\end{align*}
and S2/3S \leq 2/3. Equality is achieved when ak=34ka_k=\frac{3}{4^k} for all kk, since in this case 4a1=42a2==4nan4a_1=4^2a_2=\cdots=4^na_n for all nn.

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Source: Omni-MATH, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.