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k a June Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
Jun 2, 2025
Congratulations to all the mathletes who competed at National MATHCOUNTS! If you missed the exciting Countdown Round, you can watch the video at this link. Are you interested in training for MATHCOUNTS or AMC 10 contests? How would you like to train for these math competitions in half the time? We have accelerated sections which meet twice per week instead of once starting on July 8th (7:30pm ET). These sections fill quickly so enroll today!

[list][*]MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Basics
[*]MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Advanced
[*]AMC 10 Problem Series[/list]
For those interested in Olympiad level training in math, computer science, physics, and chemistry, be sure to enroll in our WOOT courses before August 19th to take advantage of early bird pricing!

Summer camps are starting this month at the Virtual Campus in math and language arts that are 2 - to 4 - weeks in duration. Spaces are still available - don’t miss your chance to have a transformative summer experience. There are middle and high school competition math camps as well as Math Beasts camps that review key topics coupled with fun explorations covering areas such as graph theory (Math Beasts Camp 6), cryptography (Math Beasts Camp 7-8), and topology (Math Beasts Camp 8-9)!

Be sure to mark your calendars for the following upcoming events:
[list][*]June 5th, Thursday, 7:30pm ET: Open Discussion with Ben Kornell and Andrew Sutherland, Art of Problem Solving's incoming CEO Ben Kornell and CPO Andrew Sutherland host an Ask Me Anything-style chat. Come ask your questions and get to know our incoming CEO & CPO!
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0 replies
jlacosta
Jun 2, 2025
0 replies
k i Adding contests to the Contest Collections
dcouchman   1
N Apr 5, 2023 by v_Enhance
Want to help AoPS remain a valuable Olympiad resource? Help us add contests to AoPS's Contest Collections.

Find instructions and a list of contests to add here: https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c40244h1064480_contests_to_add
1 reply
dcouchman
Sep 9, 2019
v_Enhance
Apr 5, 2023
k i Zero tolerance
ZetaX   49
N May 4, 2019 by NoDealsHere
Source: Use your common sense! (enough is enough)
Some users don't want to learn, some other simply ignore advises.
But please follow the following guideline:


To make it short: ALWAYS USE YOUR COMMON SENSE IF POSTING!
If you don't have common sense, don't post.


More specifically:

For new threads:


a) Good, meaningful title:
The title has to say what the problem is about in best way possible.
If that title occured already, it's definitely bad. And contest names aren't good either.
That's in fact a requirement for being able to search old problems.

Examples:
Bad titles:
- "Hard"/"Medium"/"Easy" (if you find it so cool how hard/easy it is, tell it in the post and use a title that tells us the problem)
- "Number Theory" (hey guy, guess why this forum's named that way¿ and is it the only such problem on earth¿)
- "Fibonacci" (there are millions of Fibonacci problems out there, all posted and named the same...)
- "Chinese TST 2003" (does this say anything about the problem¿)
Good titles:
- "On divisors of a³+2b³+4c³-6abc"
- "Number of solutions to x²+y²=6z²"
- "Fibonacci numbers are never squares"


b) Use search function:
Before posting a "new" problem spend at least two, better five, minutes to look if this problem was posted before. If it was, don't repost it. If you have anything important to say on topic, post it in one of the older threads.
If the thread is locked cause of this, use search function.

Update (by Amir Hossein). The best way to search for two keywords in AoPS is to input
[code]+"first keyword" +"second keyword"[/code]
so that any post containing both strings "first word" and "second form".


c) Good problem statement:
Some recent really bad post was:
[quote]$lim_{n\to 1}^{+\infty}\frac{1}{n}-lnn$[/quote]
It contains no question and no answer.
If you do this, too, you are on the best way to get your thread deleted. Write everything clearly, define where your variables come from (and define the "natural" numbers if used). Additionally read your post at least twice before submitting. After you sent it, read it again and use the Edit-Button if necessary to correct errors.


For answers to already existing threads:


d) Of any interest and with content:
Don't post things that are more trivial than completely obvious. For example, if the question is to solve $x^{3}+y^{3}=z^{3}$, do not answer with "$x=y=z=0$ is a solution" only. Either you post any kind of proof or at least something unexpected (like "$x=1337, y=481, z=42$ is the smallest solution). Someone that does not see that $x=y=z=0$ is a solution of the above without your post is completely wrong here, this is an IMO-level forum.
Similar, posting "I have solved this problem" but not posting anything else is not welcome; it even looks that you just want to show off what a genius you are.

e) Well written and checked answers:
Like c) for new threads, check your solutions at least twice for mistakes. And after sending, read it again and use the Edit-Button if necessary to correct errors.



To repeat it: ALWAYS USE YOUR COMMON SENSE IF POSTING!


Everything definitely out of range of common sense will be locked or deleted (exept for new users having less than about 42 posts, they are newbies and need/get some time to learn).

The above rules will be applied from next monday (5. march of 2007).
Feel free to discuss on this here.
49 replies
ZetaX
Feb 27, 2007
NoDealsHere
May 4, 2019
Cyclic Quadrilateral in a Square
tobiSALT   4
N 6 minutes ago by lksb
Source: Cono Sur 2025 #1
Given a square $ABCD$, let $P$ be a point on the segment $BC$ and let $G$ be the intersection point of $AP$ with the diagonal $DB$. The line perpendicular to the segment $AP$ through $G$ intersects the side $CD$ at point $E$. Let $K$ be a point on the segment $GE$ such that $AK = PE$. Let $Q$ be the intersection point of the diagonal $AC$ and the segment $KP$.
Prove that the points $E, K, Q,$ and $C$ are concyclic.
4 replies
tobiSALT
Today at 4:20 PM
lksb
6 minutes ago
power sum system of equations in 3 variables
Stear14   1
N 14 minutes ago by Stear14
Given that
$x^2+y^2+z^2=8\ ,$
$x^3+y^3+z^3=15\ ,$
$x^5+y^5+z^5=100\ .$

Find the value of $\ x+y+z\ .$
1 reply
Stear14
May 25, 2025
Stear14
14 minutes ago
Euler Line Madness
raxu   76
N an hour ago by zuat.e
Source: TSTST 2015 Problem 2
Let ABC be a scalene triangle. Let $K_a$, $L_a$ and $M_a$ be the respective intersections with BC of the internal angle bisector, external angle bisector, and the median from A. The circumcircle of $AK_aL_a$ intersects $AM_a$ a second time at point $X_a$ different from A. Define $X_b$ and $X_c$ analogously. Prove that the circumcenter of $X_aX_bX_c$ lies on the Euler line of ABC.
(The Euler line of ABC is the line passing through the circumcenter, centroid, and orthocenter of ABC.)

Proposed by Ivan Borsenco
76 replies
raxu
Jun 26, 2015
zuat.e
an hour ago
IMO 2006 Slovenia - PROBLEM 5
Valentin Vornicu   70
N an hour ago by bjump
Let $P(x)$ be a polynomial of degree $n > 1$ with integer coefficients and let $k$ be a positive integer. Consider the polynomial $Q(x) = P(P(\ldots P(P(x)) \ldots ))$, where $P$ occurs $k$ times. Prove that there are at most $n$ integers $t$ such that $Q(t) = t$.
70 replies
Valentin Vornicu
Jul 13, 2006
bjump
an hour ago
The angle bisectors are perpendicular/parallel
Entei   1
N an hour ago by RANDOM__USER
Source: Own
In $\triangle{ABC}$, let two altitudes $BE$ and $CF$ meet at the orthocenter $H$. Let the tangents of circle $(ABC)$ from $B$ and $C$ meet at a point $T$. $AT$ meets $EF$ at $X$. $M$ is the midpoint of $BC$. Prove that the angle bisector of $\angle{XHM}$ is perpendicular to the angle bisector of $\angle{BAC}.$

IMAGE
1 reply
Entei
3 hours ago
RANDOM__USER
an hour ago
Product of injective/surjective functions
WakeUp   7
N 2 hours ago by lpieleanu
Source: Romanian TST 2001
a) Let $f,g:\mathbb{Z}\rightarrow\mathbb{Z}$ be one to one maps. Show that the function $h:\mathbb{Z}\rightarrow\mathbb{Z}$ defined by $h(x)=f(x)g(x)$, for all $x\in\mathbb{Z}$, cannot be a surjective function.

b) Let $f:\mathbb{Z}\rightarrow\mathbb{Z}$ be a surjective function. Show that there exist surjective functions $g,h:\mathbb{Z}\rightarrow\mathbb{Z}$ such that $f(x)=g(x)h(x)$, for all $x\in\mathbb{Z}$.
7 replies
WakeUp
Jan 16, 2011
lpieleanu
2 hours ago
Multiple of power of two.
dgrozev   4
N 2 hours ago by Assassino9931
Source: Bulgarian TST, 2020, p2
Given two odd natural numbers $ a,b$ prove that for each $ n\in\mathbb{N}$ there exists $ m\in\mathbb{N}$ such that either $ a^mb^2-1$ or $ b^ma^2-1$ is multiple of $ 2^n.$
4 replies
dgrozev
Aug 4, 2020
Assassino9931
2 hours ago
Parallelity and equal angles given, wanted an angle equality
BarisKoyuncu   6
N 2 hours ago by expsaggaf
Source: 2022 Turkey JBMO TST P4
Given a convex quadrilateral $ABCD$ such that $m(\widehat{ABC})=m(\widehat{BCD})$. The lines $AD$ and $BC$ intersect at a point $P$ and the line passing through $P$ which is parallel to $AB$, intersects $BD$ at $T$. Prove that
$$m(\widehat{ACB})=m(\widehat{PCT})$$
6 replies
BarisKoyuncu
Mar 15, 2022
expsaggaf
2 hours ago
2020 IGO Intermediate P3
turko.arias   13
N 2 hours ago by fe.
Source: 7th Iranian Geometry Olympiad (Intermediate) P3
In acute-angled triangle $ABC$ ($AC > AB$), point $H$ is the orthocenter and point $M$ is the midpoint of the segment $BC$. The median $AM$ intersects the circumcircle of triangle $ABC$ at $X$. The line $CH$ intersects the perpendicular bisector of $BC$ at $E$ and the circumcircle of the triangle $ABC$ again at $F$. Point $J$ lies on circle $\omega$, passing through $X, E,$ and $F$, such that $BCHJ$ is a trapezoid ($CB \parallel HJ$). Prove that $JB$ and $EM$ meet on $\omega$.


Proposed by Alireza Dadgarnia
13 replies
turko.arias
Nov 4, 2020
fe.
2 hours ago
Functional equation involving decimal-place count
saulgodman   0
2 hours ago
Source: Own

Let
\[
S = \left\{\, x \in \mathbb{Q} : x \text{ has a finite decimal expansion} \,\right\}.
\]For each \( x \in S \), define
\[
d(x) = \text{the number of digits after the decimal point in the (reduced) decimal form of } x.
\]Find all functions \( f\colon S \to \mathbb{Z} \) such that, whenever both \( x+y \in S \) and \( x y \in S \),
\[
f(x) + f(y) = f(x+y) + d(x y).
\]
0 replies
saulgodman
2 hours ago
0 replies
Did you talk to Noga Alon?
pohoatza   36
N 2 hours ago by ezpotd
Source: IMO Shortlist 2006, Combinatorics 3, AIMO 2007, TST 6, P2
Let $ S$ be a finite set of points in the plane such that no three of them are on a line. For each convex polygon $ P$ whose vertices are in $ S$, let $ a(P)$ be the number of vertices of $ P$, and let $ b(P)$ be the number of points of $ S$ which are outside $ P$. A line segment, a point, and the empty set are considered as convex polygons of $ 2$, $ 1$, and $ 0$ vertices respectively. Prove that for every real number $ x$ \[\sum_{P}{x^{a(P)}(1 - x)^{b(P)}} = 1,\] where the sum is taken over all convex polygons with vertices in $ S$.

Alternative formulation:

Let $ M$ be a finite point set in the plane and no three points are collinear. A subset $ A$ of $ M$ will be called round if its elements is the set of vertices of a convex $ A -$gon $ V(A).$ For each round subset let $ r(A)$ be the number of points from $ M$ which are exterior from the convex $ A -$gon $ V(A).$ Subsets with $ 0,1$ and 2 elements are always round, its corresponding polygons are the empty set, a point or a segment, respectively (for which all other points that are not vertices of the polygon are exterior). For each round subset $ A$ of $ M$ construct the polynomial
\[ P_A(x) = x^{|A|}(1 - x)^{r(A)}.
\]
Show that the sum of polynomials for all round subsets is exactly the polynomial $ P(x) = 1.$

Proposed by Federico Ardila, Colombia
36 replies
pohoatza
Jun 28, 2007
ezpotd
2 hours ago
sqrt(n) or n+p (Generalized 2017 IMO/1)
vincentwant   2
N 2 hours ago by vincentwant
Let $p$ be an odd prime. Define $f(n)$ over the positive integers as follows:
$$f(n)=\begin{cases}
\sqrt{n}&\text{ if n is a perfect square} \\
n+p&\text{ otherwise}
\end{cases}$$
Let $p$ be chosen such that there exists an ordered pair of positive integers $(n,k)$ where $n>1,p\nmid n$ such that $f^k(n)=n$. Prove that there exists at least three integers $i$ such that $1\leq i\leq k$ and $f^i(n)$ is a perfect square.
2 replies
vincentwant
Apr 30, 2025
vincentwant
2 hours ago
Aslı tries to make the amount of stones at every unit square is equal
AlperenINAN   1
N 3 hours ago by expsaggaf
Source: Turkey JBMO TST 2025 P2
Let $n$ be a positive integer. Aslı and Zehra are playing a game on an $n\times n$ grid. Initially, $10n^2$ stones are placed on some of the unit squares of this grid.

On each move (starting with Aslı), Aslı chooses a row or a column that contains at least two squares with different numbers of stones, and Zehra redistributes the stones in that row or column so that after redistribution, the difference in the number of stones between any two squares in that row or column is at most one. Furthermore, this move must change the number of stones in at least one square.

For which values of $n$, regardless of the initial placement of the stones, can Aslı guarantee that every square ends up with the same number of stones?
1 reply
AlperenINAN
May 11, 2025
expsaggaf
3 hours ago
Arrange positive divisors of n in rectangular table!
cjquines0   44
N 3 hours ago by ezpotd
Source: 2016 IMO Shortlist C2
Find all positive integers $n$ for which all positive divisors of $n$ can be put into the cells of a rectangular table under the following constraints:
[list]
[*]each cell contains a distinct divisor;
[*]the sums of all rows are equal; and
[*]the sums of all columns are equal.
[/list]
44 replies
cjquines0
Jul 19, 2017
ezpotd
3 hours ago
Half concave and half convex theorem
zhaobin   18
N Aug 11, 2011 by zdyzhj
Source: zhaobin
Hey guys,here is my new idea.If it is right.it may be easy.but I think it will be nice,useful and great. :)
I hope somebody can intreast in my idea,thanks ;) .And I wonder if others think it before :)
theorem1 $x_1,x_2,\cdots,x_n$ are n real numbers,such that
$(i),x_1 \le x_2 \le \cdots \le x_n$
$(ii), x_1 , x_2 , \cdots , x_n \in \left[ a ,b \right]$
$(iii)x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_n=C$ (C is contant)
and $f$ is a function on $\left[a,b\right]$ ,if $f$ convave on $\left[ a,c \right]$ and convex on $\left[c,b\right]$
LET $F=f(x_1)+f(x_2)+\cdots+f(x_n)$
then:$F$ is minimal for $x_1=x_2=\cdots=x_{k-1}=a,x_{k+1}=\cdots=x_n$ ($k=1,2\cdots,n$)
and $F$ is maximal for $x_1=x_2=\cdots=x_{k-1},x_{k+1}=\cdots=x_n=b$($k=1,2\cdots,n$)
Proof:just for the minimal(maximal is simalar).by induction.
If there is no ${x_1,x_2,\cdots,x_n}$ or just $x_1 \in \left[a,c\right]$,then the theorem is certainly true.
this is because $x_2,x_3,\cdots,x_n \in \left[c,b\right]$ so that $f(x_1)+f(x_2)+\cdots+f(x_n) \ge f(x_1)+(n-1)f(\frac{x_2,x_3,\cdots,x_n}{n-1})$
if there have $x_1,x_2,\cdots,x_i \in \left[a,c\right]$
case(i) $x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_i-(i-1)a <c$,we can get
$f(x_1)+f(x_2)+\cdots+f(x_i) \ge (i-1)f(a)+f(x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_i-(i-1)a)$
case(ii) assume $m,(1 \le m \le i)$ be the minimum interger such that $x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_m-(m-1)a \ge c$
then we obtian
$f(x_1)+f(x_2)+\cdots+f(x_m) \ge (m-1)f(a)+f(x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_{m-1}-(m-2)a)+f(x_m) \ge (m-1)f(a)+f(x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_{m-1}+x_m-c-(m-2)a)+f(c)$
we reduce it to be $i-1$ case.
so the theorem is proven.
theorem1'$x_1,x_2,\cdots,x_n$ are n real numbers,such that
$(i),x_1 \le x_2 \le \cdots \le x_n$
$(ii), x_1 , x_2 , \cdots , x_n \in \left[a,b\right]$
$(iii)x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_n=C$ (C is contant)
and $f$ is a function on $\left[a,b\right]$ ,if $f$ convex on $\left[a,c\right]$ and concave on $\left[c,b\right]$
LET $F=f(x_1)+f(x_2)+\cdots+f(x_n)$
then:$F$ is minimal for $x_1=x_2=\cdots=x_{k-1},x_{k+1}=\cdots=x_n=b$ ($k=1,2\cdots,n$)
and $F$ is maximal for $x_1=x_2=\cdots=x_{k-1}=a,x_{k+1}=\cdots=x_n$($k=1,2\cdots,n$)
proof is similar to theorem1.
Application
1.http://www.mathlinks.ro/Forum/viewtopic.php?highlight=1%2B%5C%5Ccos&t=59649
Let ABC be an acute-angled triangle,Prove:
$\sum \frac{\cos^2{A}}{\cos{A}+1}\ge\frac{1}{2}$
proof:just let ${f(x)=\cos^2{x}}{\cos{x}+1}$ you will find $f$ satisfy the condtion with theorem1',
so we just need to prove :
$\frac{\cos^2{A}}{\cos{A}+1}+\frac{\cos^2{B}}{\cos{B}+1}\ge\frac{1}{2}(A+B=\frac{\pi}{2})$
or $\sum \frac{\cos^2{A}}{\cos{A}+1}\ge\frac{1}{2}$($A=B$)

2..http://www.mathlinks.ro/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=64122
$a,b,c \ge 0$
$\sqrt{1+\frac{48a}{b+c}}+\sqrt{1+\frac{48b}{c+a}}+\sqrt{1+\frac{48c}{a+b}} \ge 15$
proof:let $x=\frac{a}{a+b+c}$ and y,z similar
notice $\sqrt{1+\frac{48a}{b+c}}=\sqrt{\frac{48}{1-x}-47}$
and let $f(t)=\sqrt{\frac{48}{1-t}-47}$you will find $f$ satisfy the condtion with theorem1,
wlog $x \le y \le z$ then we should only to prove
$f(y)+f(z) \ge 15$($y+z=1$) or $f(x)+f(y)+f(z) \ge 15$($y=z$)
theorem2 $x_1,x_2,\cdots,x_n$ are n real numbers,such that
$(i),x_1 \le x_2 \le \cdots \le x_n$
$(ii), x_1 , x_2 , \cdots , x_n \in \left( -\infty ,+\infty \right)$
$(iii)x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_n=C$ (C is contant)
and $f$ is a function on $\left( -\infty ,+\infty \right)$ ,if $f$ convave on $\left(-\infty,c \right]$ and convex on $\left[c,+\infty \right)$
LET $F=f(x_1)+f(x_2)+\cdots+f(x_n)$
then:$F$ is minimal for $x_{2}=x_3=\cdots =x_n$
and $F$ is maximal for $x_1=x_2=\cdots =x_{n-1}$
Proof:just for the minimal(maximal is simalar).
assume $x_1,x_2,\cdots,x_i \in \left(-\infty,c \right]$
because $f$ convave on $\left(-\infty,c \right]$
then we get $f(x_1)+f(x_2)+\cdots+f(x_i) \ge (i-1)f(c)+f(x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_i-(i-1)c)$
and $(i-1)f(c)+f(x_{i+1})+f(x_{i+2})+\cdots+f(x_{n}) \ge (n-1)f(\frac{(i-1)c+x_{i+1}+\cdots+x_n}{n-1})$
so $f(x_1)+f(x_2)+\cdots+f(x_n) \ge (n-1)f(\frac{(i-1)c+x_{i+1}+\cdots+x_n}{n-1})+f(x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_i-(i-1)c)$
so the theorem2 is proved.
theorem2' $x_1,x_2,\cdots,x_n$ are n real numbers,such that
$(i),x_1 \le x_2 \le \cdots \le x_n$
$(ii), x_1 , x_2 , \cdots , x_n \in \left( -\infty ,+\infty \right)$
$(iii)x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_n=C$ (C is contant)
and $f$ is a function on $\left( -\infty ,+\infty \right)$ ,if $f$ convex on $\left(-\infty,c \right]$ and concave on $\left[c,+\infty \right)$
LET $F=f(x_1)+f(x_2)+\cdots+f(x_n)$
then:$F$ is minimal for $x_{1}=x_3=\cdots =x_{n-1}$
and $F$ is maximal for $x_2=x_2=\cdots =x_{n}$

Application
http://www.mathlinks.ro/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=32031
http://www.mathlinks.ro/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=64793
$x,y,z \ge 0$
find the minimum of $\frac{1}{(1+x)^k}+\frac{1}{(1+y)^k}+\frac{1}{(1+z)^k}$
proof:let $f(t)=\frac 1{(1+e^t)^k}$ then we calculate that
$f\"(t)=\frac{e^x(k(k+1)e^x-k)}{(1+e^x)^{k+2}}$
which impies it can use theorem2 .
Wlog $x \le y \le z$
by theorem2 I think we should only consider the case $y=z$
I think it can also work when find the maximum of $\frac{1}{(1+x)^k}+\frac{1}{(1+y)^k}+\frac{1}{(1+z)^k}$.


And I think there may be another more applications,If you find,please write it here,thanks :) ,and If there is something wrong in my post please point it out for me.thanks :)and welcome any advice.
(and I find the theorem2 is a little similar to VASC's Right-Convex Function Theorem )
18 replies
zhaobin
Dec 8, 2005
zdyzhj
Aug 11, 2011
Half concave and half convex theorem
G H J
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2382 posts
#1 • 20 Y
Y by mahanmath, jatin, alibez, zabihpourmahdi, fractals, Grotex, daisyxixi, adityaguharoy, Adventure10, Mango247, and 10 other users
Hey guys,here is my new idea.If it is right.it may be easy.but I think it will be nice,useful and great. :)
I hope somebody can intreast in my idea,thanks ;) .And I wonder if others think it before :)
theorem1 $x_1,x_2,\cdots,x_n$ are n real numbers,such that
$(i),x_1 \le x_2 \le \cdots \le x_n$
$(ii), x_1 , x_2 , \cdots , x_n \in \left[ a ,b \right]$
$(iii)x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_n=C$ (C is contant)
and $f$ is a function on $\left[a,b\right]$ ,if $f$ convave on $\left[ a,c \right]$ and convex on $\left[c,b\right]$
LET $F=f(x_1)+f(x_2)+\cdots+f(x_n)$
then:$F$ is minimal for $x_1=x_2=\cdots=x_{k-1}=a,x_{k+1}=\cdots=x_n$ ($k=1,2\cdots,n$)
and $F$ is maximal for $x_1=x_2=\cdots=x_{k-1},x_{k+1}=\cdots=x_n=b$($k=1,2\cdots,n$)
Proof:just for the minimal(maximal is simalar).by induction.
If there is no ${x_1,x_2,\cdots,x_n}$ or just $x_1 \in \left[a,c\right]$,then the theorem is certainly true.
this is because $x_2,x_3,\cdots,x_n \in \left[c,b\right]$ so that $f(x_1)+f(x_2)+\cdots+f(x_n) \ge f(x_1)+(n-1)f(\frac{x_2,x_3,\cdots,x_n}{n-1})$
if there have $x_1,x_2,\cdots,x_i \in \left[a,c\right]$
case(i) $x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_i-(i-1)a <c$,we can get
$f(x_1)+f(x_2)+\cdots+f(x_i) \ge (i-1)f(a)+f(x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_i-(i-1)a)$
case(ii) assume $m,(1 \le m \le i)$ be the minimum interger such that $x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_m-(m-1)a \ge c$
then we obtian
$f(x_1)+f(x_2)+\cdots+f(x_m) \ge (m-1)f(a)+f(x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_{m-1}-(m-2)a)+f(x_m) \ge (m-1)f(a)+f(x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_{m-1}+x_m-c-(m-2)a)+f(c)$
we reduce it to be $i-1$ case.
so the theorem is proven.
theorem1'$x_1,x_2,\cdots,x_n$ are n real numbers,such that
$(i),x_1 \le x_2 \le \cdots \le x_n$
$(ii), x_1 , x_2 , \cdots , x_n \in \left[a,b\right]$
$(iii)x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_n=C$ (C is contant)
and $f$ is a function on $\left[a,b\right]$ ,if $f$ convex on $\left[a,c\right]$ and concave on $\left[c,b\right]$
LET $F=f(x_1)+f(x_2)+\cdots+f(x_n)$
then:$F$ is minimal for $x_1=x_2=\cdots=x_{k-1},x_{k+1}=\cdots=x_n=b$ ($k=1,2\cdots,n$)
and $F$ is maximal for $x_1=x_2=\cdots=x_{k-1}=a,x_{k+1}=\cdots=x_n$($k=1,2\cdots,n$)
proof is similar to theorem1.
Application
1.http://www.mathlinks.ro/Forum/viewtopic.php?highlight=1%2B%5C%5Ccos&t=59649
Let ABC be an acute-angled triangle,Prove:
$\sum \frac{\cos^2{A}}{\cos{A}+1}\ge\frac{1}{2}$
proof:just let ${f(x)=\cos^2{x}}{\cos{x}+1}$ you will find $f$ satisfy the condtion with theorem1',
so we just need to prove :
$\frac{\cos^2{A}}{\cos{A}+1}+\frac{\cos^2{B}}{\cos{B}+1}\ge\frac{1}{2}(A+B=\frac{\pi}{2})$
or $\sum \frac{\cos^2{A}}{\cos{A}+1}\ge\frac{1}{2}$($A=B$)

2..http://www.mathlinks.ro/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=64122
$a,b,c \ge 0$
$\sqrt{1+\frac{48a}{b+c}}+\sqrt{1+\frac{48b}{c+a}}+\sqrt{1+\frac{48c}{a+b}} \ge 15$
proof:let $x=\frac{a}{a+b+c}$ and y,z similar
notice $\sqrt{1+\frac{48a}{b+c}}=\sqrt{\frac{48}{1-x}-47}$
and let $f(t)=\sqrt{\frac{48}{1-t}-47}$you will find $f$ satisfy the condtion with theorem1,
wlog $x \le y \le z$ then we should only to prove
$f(y)+f(z) \ge 15$($y+z=1$) or $f(x)+f(y)+f(z) \ge 15$($y=z$)
theorem2 $x_1,x_2,\cdots,x_n$ are n real numbers,such that
$(i),x_1 \le x_2 \le \cdots \le x_n$
$(ii), x_1 , x_2 , \cdots , x_n \in \left( -\infty ,+\infty \right)$
$(iii)x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_n=C$ (C is contant)
and $f$ is a function on $\left( -\infty ,+\infty \right)$ ,if $f$ convave on $\left(-\infty,c \right]$ and convex on $\left[c,+\infty \right)$
LET $F=f(x_1)+f(x_2)+\cdots+f(x_n)$
then:$F$ is minimal for $x_{2}=x_3=\cdots =x_n$
and $F$ is maximal for $x_1=x_2=\cdots =x_{n-1}$
Proof:just for the minimal(maximal is simalar).
assume $x_1,x_2,\cdots,x_i \in \left(-\infty,c \right]$
because $f$ convave on $\left(-\infty,c \right]$
then we get $f(x_1)+f(x_2)+\cdots+f(x_i) \ge (i-1)f(c)+f(x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_i-(i-1)c)$
and $(i-1)f(c)+f(x_{i+1})+f(x_{i+2})+\cdots+f(x_{n}) \ge (n-1)f(\frac{(i-1)c+x_{i+1}+\cdots+x_n}{n-1})$
so $f(x_1)+f(x_2)+\cdots+f(x_n) \ge (n-1)f(\frac{(i-1)c+x_{i+1}+\cdots+x_n}{n-1})+f(x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_i-(i-1)c)$
so the theorem2 is proved.
theorem2' $x_1,x_2,\cdots,x_n$ are n real numbers,such that
$(i),x_1 \le x_2 \le \cdots \le x_n$
$(ii), x_1 , x_2 , \cdots , x_n \in \left( -\infty ,+\infty \right)$
$(iii)x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_n=C$ (C is contant)
and $f$ is a function on $\left( -\infty ,+\infty \right)$ ,if $f$ convex on $\left(-\infty,c \right]$ and concave on $\left[c,+\infty \right)$
LET $F=f(x_1)+f(x_2)+\cdots+f(x_n)$
then:$F$ is minimal for $x_{1}=x_3=\cdots =x_{n-1}$
and $F$ is maximal for $x_2=x_2=\cdots =x_{n}$

Application
http://www.mathlinks.ro/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=32031
http://www.mathlinks.ro/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=64793
$x,y,z \ge 0$
find the minimum of $\frac{1}{(1+x)^k}+\frac{1}{(1+y)^k}+\frac{1}{(1+z)^k}$
proof:let $f(t)=\frac 1{(1+e^t)^k}$ then we calculate that
$f\"(t)=\frac{e^x(k(k+1)e^x-k)}{(1+e^x)^{k+2}}$
which impies it can use theorem2 .
Wlog $x \le y \le z$
by theorem2 I think we should only consider the case $y=z$
I think it can also work when find the maximum of $\frac{1}{(1+x)^k}+\frac{1}{(1+y)^k}+\frac{1}{(1+z)^k}$.


And I think there may be another more applications,If you find,please write it here,thanks :) ,and If there is something wrong in my post please point it out for me.thanks :)and welcome any advice.
(and I find the theorem2 is a little similar to VASC's Right-Convex Function Theorem )
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Vasc
2861 posts
#2 • 8 Y
Y by shima, bararobertandrei, Adventure10, Mango247, and 4 other users
I agree on Theorem 1 and 1'.
With regard to Theorem 2 and 2', there is a formulation trouble (problem), because it is possible that $F$ is not minimal/maximal.
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zhaobin
2382 posts
#3 • 6 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, and 4 other users
thanks very much,VASC.
can we add a condition that $f(x)$ upbound or lowbound
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Vasc
2861 posts
#4 • 6 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, and 4 other users
I think we can use a more general formulation. For example,
Theorem2. ...
a) To obtain the minimal value or the greatest lower bound of $F$, it suffices to consider $x_2=x_3=...=x_n$.
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zhaobin
2382 posts
#5 • 5 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, and 3 other users
Vasc wrote:
I think we can use a more general formulation. For example,
Theorem2. ...
a) To obtain the minimal value or the greatest lower bound of $F$, it suffices to consider $x_2=x_3=...=x_n$.
yes,you are right.It will be nicer :lol:
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Vasc
2861 posts
#6 • 7 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, and 5 other users
I think we can extend theorems 1-1' as follows:

Theorem 1. Let $a,b$ be fixed reals ($a<b$), and let $x_1,x_2,...,x_n$ be real numbers such that
$a\leq x_1\leq x_2\leq... \leq x_n \leq b$ and $x_1+x_2+...+x_n=constant$.
Let $f$ be a function either continuous on $[a,b]$, or continuous on $[a,b)$ and with $\lim_{x\rightarrow b}{f(x)}=\infty$. Moreover,
$f$ is concave on $[a,c]$ and convex on $[c,b)$, where $c\in(a,b)$.
Then, the expression $F=f(x_1)+f(x_2)+...+f(x_n)$ is minimal for $x_1=...=x_{k-1}=a$ and $x_{k+1}=...=x_n>c$,
where $k\in(1,2,...,n)$.

Theorem 2. Let $a,b$ be fixed reals ($a<b$), and let $x_1,x_2,...,x_n$ be real numbers such that
$a\leq x_1\leq x_2\leq... \leq x_n \leq b$ and $x_1+x_2+...+x_n=constant$.
Let $f$ be a function either continuous on $[a,b]$, or continuous on $(a,b]$ and with $\lim_{x\rightarrow a}{f(x)}=-\infty$. Moreover,
$f$ is concave on $(a,c]$ and convex on $[c,b]$, where $c\in(a,b)$.
Then, the expression $F=f(x_1)+f(x_2)+...+f(x_n)$ is maximal for $x_1=...=x_{k-1}<c$ and $x_{k+1}=...=x_n=b$,
where $k\in(1,2,...,n)$.
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zhaobin
2382 posts
#7 • 6 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, and 4 other users
thanks.Vasc.
but I think the condition with continuous is not necessary.
because f concave on $[a,c]$ and convex on $[c,b)$ contain f continuous on $(a,c)$ and $(c,b)$
and more:if $f$ is not continuous on $a$ or $b$,the theorem is still true
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zhaobin
2382 posts
#8 • 5 Y
Y by Adventure10 and 4 other users
now I find two Applications of the theorem 1 or 1'.
$1$,find the minamum the $k>0$ such that for every $a,b,c \ge 0$
we have $\sqrt[k]{\frac a {b+c}}+\sqrt[k]{\frac b {c+a}}+\sqrt[k]{\frac c {a+b}} \ge 3(\frac 1 2)^k$
the answer is $\frac{\ln 3}{\ln 2}-1$
and I think it is a famous one,I haven't see a solution without my theorem before ;) .Now I think I can slove it,but also cost a lot of calclulations :( .
$2$,find the minamum the $k>0$ such that for every $a,b,c \ge 0,a+b+c=3$
we have$\sqrt[k] a +\sqrt[k] b +\sqrt[k] c \ge ab+bc+ca$
it is a generaltion of russian one.It have posted on the forum.As far as I know,no one give a solution.
also it cost a lot of calclulations :( .
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perfect_radio
2607 posts
#9 • 4 Y
Y by Adventure10 and 3 other users
zhaobin wrote:
Hey guys,here is my new idea.If it is right.it may be easy.but I think it will be nice,useful and great. :)
I hope somebody can intreast in my idea,thanks ;) .And I wonder if others think it before :)

I already knew these theorems from mathlinks (Mildorf). It also appears in his inequalities pdf.

An alternative proof would be by Karamata without induction.
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zhaobin
2382 posts
#10 • 5 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, and 3 other users
perfect_radio wrote:
zhaobin wrote:
Hey guys,here is my new idea.If it is right.it may be easy.but I think it will be nice,useful and great. :)
I hope somebody can intreast in my idea,thanks ;) .And I wonder if others think it before :)

I already knew these theorems from mathlinks (Mildorf). It also appears in his inequalities pdf.

An alternative proof would be by Karamata without induction.
sorry,if it is ture. :(
can you upload Mildorf's inequalities pdf?(I can't find it)
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perfect_radio
2607 posts
#11 • 5 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, and 3 other users
See here : http://web.mit.edu/~tmildorf/www/Inequalities.pdf . (Problem 21) It's more or less your theorem
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2382 posts
#12 • 5 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, and 3 other users
ok.thanks, :)
and I come out the idea when I sloving the inequality:
$\sqrt{1+\frac{48a}{b+c}}+\sqrt{1+\frac{48b}{c+a}}+\sqrt{1+\frac{48c}{a+b}} \ge 15$
and
$\sum \frac{\cos^2{A}}{\cos{A}+1}\ge\frac{1}{2}$
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Ji Chen
827 posts
#13 • 4 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, and 2 other users
zhaobin wrote:
If it is right, it may be easy.
theorem1 $x_{1},x_{2},\cdots,x_{n}$ are n real numbers,such that
$(i),x_{1}\le x_{2}\le \cdots \le x_{n}$
$(ii), x_{1}, x_{2}, \cdots , x_{n}\in \left[ a ,b \right]$
$(iii)x_{1}+x_{2}+\cdots+x_{n}=C$ (C is contant)
and $f$ is a function on $\left[a,b\right]$ ,if $f$ convave on $\left[ a,c \right]$ and convex on $\left[c,b\right]$
LET $F=f(x_{1})+f(x_{2})+\cdots+f(x_{n})$
then:$F$ is minimal for $x_{1}=x_{2}=\cdots=x_{k-1}=a,x_{k+1}=\cdots=x_{n}$ ($k=1,2\cdots,n$)
and $F$ is maximal for $x_{1}=x_{2}=\cdots=x_{k-1},x_{k+1}=\cdots=x_{n}=b$($k=1,2\cdots,n$)
This is not ture, for example,

Let $x,y,z$ be nonnegative numbers such that $x+y+z=5$.

$f(x)=5x^{4}-28x^{3}$, then $f''(x)=12x(5x-14)$.

$f(x)$ is convave on $\left[0,\frac{14}{5}\right]$ and convex on $\left[\frac{14}{5},5\right]$.

$f(0)+f(0)+f(5) =-375$,

$f(0)+f(\frac{5}{2})+f(\frac{5}{2})=-\frac{3875}{8}=-484.375$,

$f(\frac{5}{3})+f(\frac{5}{3})+f(\frac{5}{3}) =-\frac{7375}{27}=-273.148\cdots$,

but

$f(x)+f(y)+f(z) \geq f(0)+f(1)+f(4) =-535$.
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perfect_radio
2607 posts
#14 • 5 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, and 3 other users
Apparently, the minimum is reached for $a = x_{1}= \ldots = x_{k}\leq x_{k+1}< c \leq x_{k+2}= \ldots = x_{n}$.
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by perfect_radio, Feb 5, 2007, 10:31 AM
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zhaobin
2382 posts
#15 • 4 Y
Y by Adventure10 and 3 other users
Ji Chen wrote:
zhaobin wrote:
If it is right, it may be easy.
theorem1 $x_{1},x_{2},\cdots,x_{n}$ are n real numbers,such that
$(i),x_{1}\le x_{2}\le \cdots \le x_{n}$
$(ii), x_{1}, x_{2}, \cdots , x_{n}\in \left[ a ,b \right]$
$(iii)x_{1}+x_{2}+\cdots+x_{n}=C$ (C is contant)
and $f$ is a function on $\left[a,b\right]$ ,if $f$ convave on $\left[ a,c \right]$ and convex on $\left[c,b\right]$
LET $F=f(x_{1})+f(x_{2})+\cdots+f(x_{n})$
then:$F$ is minimal for $x_{1}=x_{2}=\cdots=x_{k-1}=a,x_{k+1}=\cdots=x_{n}$ ($k=1,2\cdots,n$)
and $F$ is maximal for $x_{1}=x_{2}=\cdots=x_{k-1},x_{k+1}=\cdots=x_{n}=b$($k=1,2\cdots,n$)
This is not ture, for example,

Let $x,y,z$ be nonnegative numbers such that $x+y+z=5$.

$f(x)=5x^{4}-28x^{3}$, then $f''(x)=12x(5x-14)$.

$f(x)$ is convave on $\left[0,\frac{14}{5}\right]$ and convex on $\left[\frac{14}{5},5\right]$.

$f(0)+f(0)+f(5) =-375$,

$f(0)+f(\frac{5}{2})+f(\frac{5}{2})=-\frac{3875}{8}=-484.375$,

$f(\frac{5}{3})+f(\frac{5}{3})+f(\frac{5}{3}) =-\frac{7375}{27}=-273.148\cdots$,

but

$f(x)+f(y)+f(z) \geq f(0)+f(1)+f(4) =-535$.
Note that in the theorem I wrote the $x_{k}$ is not fixed...
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Ji Chen
827 posts
#16 • 3 Y
Y by Adventure10 and 2 other users
zhaobin wrote:
Note that in the theorem I wrote the $x_{k}$ is not fixed...
Indeed, you are right. It's useful.
zhaobin wrote:
Application$a,b,c \ge 0$
$\sqrt{1+\frac{48a}{b+c}}+\sqrt{1+\frac{48b}{c+a}}+\sqrt{1+\frac{48c}{a+b}}\ge 15$
proof:let $x=\frac{a}{a+b+c}$ and y,z similar
notice $\sqrt{1+\frac{48a}{b+c}}=\sqrt{\frac{48}{1-x}-47}$
and let $f(t)=\sqrt{\frac{48}{1-t}-47}$you will find $f$ satisfy the condtion with theorem1,
wlog $x \le y \le z$ then we should only to prove
$f(y)+f(z) \ge 15$($y+z=1$) or $f(x)+f(y)+f(z) \ge 15$($y=z$)
a nice example
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kuing
1008 posts
#17 • 4 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, and 2 other users
very useful theorem.

Ding Qi...:o
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kuing
1008 posts
#18 • 4 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, and 2 other users
zhaobin wrote:
case(ii) assume $ m,(1 \le m \le i)$ be the minimum interger such that $ x_1 + x_2 + \cdots + x_m - (m - 1)a \ge c$
then we obtian
$ f(x_1) + f(x_2) + \cdots + f(x_m) \ge (m - 1)f(a) + f(x_1 + x_2 + \cdots + x_{m - 1} - (m - 2)a) + f(x_m) \ge (m - 1)f(a) + f(x_1 + x_2 + \cdots + x_{m - 1} + x_m - c - (m - 2)a) + f(c)$
we reduce it to be $ i - 1$ case.
so the theorem is proven.

I think
\[ f(x_1) + f(x_2) + \cdots + f(x_m) \ge (m - 2)f(a) + f(x_1 + x_2 + \cdots + x_{m - 1} - (m - 2)a) + f(x_m) \ge (m - 2)f(a) + f(x_1 + x_2 + \cdots + x_{m - 1} + x_m - c - (m - 2)a) + f(c)\]

...
:huh:
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#19 • 3 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, and 1 other user
for the first step ,how can we deduce that $ F $is minimal for ${{x}_{1}}={{x}_{2}}=\cdots {{x}_{k-1}}=a,{{x}_{k+1}}=\cdots {{x}_{n}}$ as well as the following proof. who can give a explanation about the condtion for the equality.
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