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k a April Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
Apr 2, 2025
Spring is in full swing and summer is right around the corner, what are your plans? At AoPS Online our schedule has new classes starting now through July, so be sure to keep your skills sharp and be prepared for the Fall school year! Check out the schedule of upcoming classes below.

WOOT early bird pricing is in effect, don’t miss out! If you took MathWOOT Level 2 last year, no worries, it is all new problems this year! Our Worldwide Online Olympiad Training program is for high school level competitors. AoPS designed these courses to help our top students get the deep focus they need to succeed in their specific competition goals. Check out the details at this link for all our WOOT programs in math, computer science, chemistry, and physics.

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[*]April 22nd (Webinar), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Competitive Programming at AoPS (USACO).[/list]
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0 replies
jlacosta
Apr 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
Isos Trap
MithsApprentice   38
N 2 minutes ago by eg4334
Source: USAMO 1999 Problem 6
Let $ABCD$ be an isosceles trapezoid with $AB \parallel CD$. The inscribed circle $\omega$ of triangle $BCD$ meets $CD$ at $E$. Let $F$ be a point on the (internal) angle bisector of $\angle DAC$ such that $EF \perp CD$. Let the circumscribed circle of triangle $ACF$ meet line $CD$ at $C$ and $G$. Prove that the triangle $AFG$ is isosceles.
38 replies
MithsApprentice
Oct 3, 2005
eg4334
2 minutes ago
Funny function that there isn't exist
ItzsleepyXD   0
3 minutes ago
Source: Own, Modified from old problem
Determine all functions $f\colon\mathbb{Z}_{>0}\to\mathbb{Z}_{>0}$ such that, for all positive integers $m$ and $n$,
$$ m^{\phi(n)}+n^{\phi(m)} \mid f(m)^n + f(n)^m$$
0 replies
ItzsleepyXD
3 minutes ago
0 replies
Inspired by Deomad123
sqing   3
N 6 minutes ago by sqing
Source: Own
Let $ a,b,c $ be real numbers so that $ a+2b+3c=2 $ and $ 2ab+6bc+3ca =1. $ Show that
$$\frac{10}{9} \leq a+2b+ c\leq 2 $$$$\frac{11-\sqrt{13}}{9} \leq a+b+c\leq \frac{11+\sqrt{13}}{9} $$$$\frac{29-\sqrt{13}}{9} \leq 2a+3b+4c\leq \frac{29+\sqrt{13}}{9} $$
3 replies
sqing
Yesterday at 2:28 PM
sqing
6 minutes ago
Incircle and circumcircle
stergiu   6
N 7 minutes ago by Sadigly
Source: tst- Greece 2019
Let a triangle $ABC$ inscribed in a circle $\Gamma$ with center $O$. Let $I$ the incenter of triangle $ABC$ and $D, E, F$ the contact points of the incircle with sides $BC, AC, AB$ of triangle $ABC$ respectively . Let also $S$ the foot of the perpendicular line from $D$ to the line $EF$.Prove that line $SI$ passes from the antidiametric point $N$ of $A$ in the circle $\Gamma$.( $AN$ is a diametre of the circle $\Gamma$).
6 replies
stergiu
Sep 23, 2019
Sadigly
7 minutes ago
2011-gon
3333   27
N 39 minutes ago by Maximilian113
Source: All-Russian 2011
A convex 2011-gon is drawn on the board. Peter keeps drawing its diagonals in such a way, that each newly drawn diagonal intersected no more than one of the already drawn diagonals. What is the greatest number of diagonals that Peter can draw?
27 replies
3333
May 17, 2011
Maximilian113
39 minutes ago
ISL 2015 C4 But I misread statement (ii)
ItzsleepyXD   1
N an hour ago by golue3120
Source: ISL 2015 C4 misread
Let $n$ be a positive integer. Two players $A$ and $B$ play a game in which they take turns choosing positive integers $k \le n$. The rules of the game are:

(i) A player cannot choose a number that has been chosen by either player on any previous turn.
(ii) A player cannot choose a number consecutive to any number chosen by any player on any turn.
(iii) The game is a draw if all numbers have been chosen; otherwise the player who cannot choose a number anymore loses the game.

The player $A$ takes the first turn. Determine the outcome of the game, assuming that both players use optimal strategies.

note
1 reply
ItzsleepyXD
an hour ago
golue3120
an hour ago
Geometry tangent circles
Stefan4024   65
N an hour ago by eg4334
Source: EGMO 2016 Day 2 Problem 4
Two circles $\omega_1$ and $\omega_2$, of equal radius intersect at different points $X_1$ and $X_2$. Consider a circle $\omega$ externally tangent to $\omega_1$ at $T_1$ and internally tangent to $\omega_2$ at point $T_2$. Prove that lines $X_1T_1$ and $X_2T_2$ intersect at a point lying on $\omega$.
65 replies
Stefan4024
Apr 13, 2016
eg4334
an hour ago
Maximum Sum in a Grid
Mathdreams   1
N an hour ago by iliya8788
Source: 2025 Nepal Mock TST Day 3 Problem 1
Let $m$ and $n$ be positive integers. In an $m \times n$ grid, two cells are considered neighboring if they share a common edge. Kritesh performs the following actions:

1. He begins by writing $0$ in any cell of the grid.
2. He then fills each remaining cell with a non-negative integer such that the absolute difference between the numbers in any two neighboring cells is exactly $1$.

Kritesh aims to fill the grid in a way that maximizes the sum of the numbers written in all the cells. Determine the maximum possible sum that Kritesh can achieve in terms of $m$ and $n$.

(Kritesh Dhakal, Nepal)
1 reply
Mathdreams
5 hours ago
iliya8788
an hour ago
Something nice
KhuongTrang   25
N 2 hours ago by KhuongTrang
Source: own
Problem. Given $a,b,c$ be non-negative real numbers such that $ab+bc+ca=1.$ Prove that

$$\sqrt{a+1}+\sqrt{b+1}+\sqrt{c+1}\le 1+2\sqrt{a+b+c+abc}.$$
25 replies
KhuongTrang
Nov 1, 2023
KhuongTrang
2 hours ago
Beautiful problem
luutrongphuc   12
N 3 hours ago by luutrongphuc
(Phan Quang Tri) Let triangle $ABC$ be circumscribed about circle $(I)$, and let $H$ be the orthocenter of $\triangle ABC$. The circle $(I)$ touches line $BC$ at $D$. The tangent to the circle $(BHC)$ at $H$ meets $BC$ at $S$. Let $J$ be the midpoint of $HI$, and let the line $DJ$ meet $(I)$ again at $X$. The tangent to $(I)$ parallel to $BC$ meets the line $AX$ at $T$. Prove that $ST$ is tangent to $(I)$.
12 replies
luutrongphuc
Apr 4, 2025
luutrongphuc
3 hours ago
Navid FE on R+
Assassino9931   0
3 hours ago
Source: Bulgaria Balkan MO TST 2025
Determine all functions $f: \mathbb{R}^{+} \to \mathbb{R}^{+}$ such that
\[ f(x)f\left(x + 4f(y)\right) = xf\left(x + 3y\right) + f(x)f(y) \]for any positive real numbers $x,y$.
0 replies
+1 w
Assassino9931
3 hours ago
0 replies
Combinatorics on progressions
Assassino9931   0
3 hours ago
Source: Bulgaria Balkan MO TST 2025
Let \( p > 1 \) and \( q > 1 \) be coprime integers. Call a set $a_1 < a_2 < \cdots < a_{p+q}$ balanced if the numbers \( a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_p \) form an arithmetic progression with difference \( q \), and the numbers \( a_p, a_{p+1}, \ldots, a_{p+q} \) form an arithmetic progression with difference \( p \).

In terms of $p$ and $q$, determine the maximum size of a collection of balanced sets such that every two of them have a non-empty intersection.
0 replies
1 viewing
Assassino9931
3 hours ago
0 replies
Linear recurrence fits with factorial finitely often
Assassino9931   0
3 hours ago
Source: Bulgaria Balkan MO TST 2025
Let $k\geq 3$ be an integer. The sequence $(a_n)_{n\geq 1}$ is defined via $a_1 = 1$, $a_2 = k$ and
\[ a_{n+2} = ka_{n+1} + a_n \]for any positive integer $n$. Prove that there are finitely many pairs $(m, \ell)$ of positive integers such that $a_m = \ell!$.
0 replies
Assassino9931
3 hours ago
0 replies
Projective training on circumscribds
Assassino9931   0
4 hours ago
Source: Bulgaria Balkan MO TST 2025
Let $ABCD$ be a circumscribed quadrilateral with incircle $k$ and no two opposite angles equal. Let $P$ be an arbitrary point on the diagonal $BD$, which is inside $k$. The segments $AP$ and $CP$ intersect $k$ at $K$ and $L$. The tangents to $k$ at $K$ and $L$ intersect at $S$. Prove that $S$ lies on the line $BD$.
0 replies
Assassino9931
4 hours ago
0 replies
IMO ShortList 1998, algebra problem 1
orl   37
N Apr 5, 2025 by Marcus_Zhang
Source: IMO ShortList 1998, algebra problem 1
Let $a_{1},a_{2},\ldots ,a_{n}$ be positive real numbers such that $a_{1}+a_{2}+\cdots +a_{n}<1$. Prove that

\[ \frac{a_{1} a_{2} \cdots a_{n} \left[ 1 - (a_{1} + a_{2} + \cdots + a_{n}) \right] }{(a_{1} + a_{2} + \cdots + a_{n})( 1 - a_{1})(1 - a_{2}) \cdots (1 - a_{n})} \leq \frac{1}{ n^{n+1}}. \]
37 replies
orl
Oct 22, 2004
Marcus_Zhang
Apr 5, 2025
IMO ShortList 1998, algebra problem 1
G H J
Source: IMO ShortList 1998, algebra problem 1
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orl
3647 posts
#1 • 6 Y
Y by maXplanK, Adventure10, megarnie, Mango247, and 2 other users
Let $a_{1},a_{2},\ldots ,a_{n}$ be positive real numbers such that $a_{1}+a_{2}+\cdots +a_{n}<1$. Prove that

\[ \frac{a_{1} a_{2} \cdots a_{n} \left[ 1 - (a_{1} + a_{2} + \cdots + a_{n}) \right] }{(a_{1} + a_{2} + \cdots + a_{n})( 1 - a_{1})(1 - a_{2}) \cdots (1 - a_{n})} \leq \frac{1}{ n^{n+1}}. \]
Attachments:
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by orl, Oct 23, 2004, 12:50 PM
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orl
3647 posts
#2 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Please post your solutions. This is just a solution template to write up your solutions in a nice way and formatted in LaTeX. But maybe your solution is so well written that this is not required finally. For more information and instructions regarding the ISL/ILL problems please look here: introduction for the IMO ShortList/LongList project and regardingsolutions :)
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grobber
7849 posts
#3 • 6 Y
Y by lolm2k, Adventure10, Aopamy, Jalcwel, Mango247, Sadece_Threv
Put $a_{n+1}=1-(a_1+a_2+\ldots+a_n)$. The inequality becomes $\frac{a_1a_2\ldots a_{n+1}}{(1-a_1)(1-a_2)\ldots (1-a_{n+1})}\le \frac 1{n^{n+1}}$, where $a_i$ are positive and $\sum_1^{n+1}a_i=1$. This is a mere application of AM-GM to the denominators $A_i=1-a_i=a_1+a_2+\ldots+a_{i-1}+a_{i+1}+\ldots+a_n+a_{n+1}$. We get $A_i\ge n\sqrt[n]{\frac{\prod a_k}{a_i}}$. After multiplying all of these we get the desired result.
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SnowEverywhere
801 posts
#4 • 5 Y
Y by Binomial-theorem, maXplanK, Adventure10, Mango247, kiyoras_2001
Its too bad that not all inequalities are like this one...

Solution

Define $a_{n+1}$ such that $\sum^{n+1}_{k=1} a_k = 1$. Cross multiplication and substitution yields that the desired inequality is equivalent to

\[n^{n+1} \le \frac{(1-a_1)(1-a_2) \dots (1-a_{n+1})}{a_1 a_2 \dots a_{n+1}} \quad (*)\]
By AM-GM we have that

\[n\sqrt[n] {\frac{a_1 a_2 \dots a_{n+1}}{a_i}} \le a_1 + a_2 + \dots + a_{i-1} + a_{i+1} + \dots + a_{n+1} = 1-a_i\]
Multiplying the above for each $i$ and dividing by $a_1 a_2 \dots a_{n+1}$ yields $(*)$ and the proof is complete.
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peregrinefalcon88
299 posts
#5 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
Proceeding in a manner similar to the above posts,

$ n^{n+1}\le\frac{(1-a_1)(1-a_2)\dots (1-a_{n+1})}{a_1 a_2\dots a_{n+1}}$

is easily proven via smoothing with $(a, b) \rightarrow (\frac{a+b}{2}, \frac{a+b}{2})$. The algebra of verifying the smoothing is tedious but straight forward.
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Mate007
69 posts
#6 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
$a_1+a_2+...+a_n/n>=( a_1.a_2...a_n)^1/n$. It becomes
$1/n^n>= a_1.a_2...a_n/a_1+a_2+...+a_n$
Take is as (1).
Now there is an inequality known as weitrass inequality. It will give
$1-(a_1+a_2+...+a_n)<=(1-a_1)...(1-a_n)$
Which will become
$1-(a_1+a_2+...+a_n)/(1-a_1)...(1-a_n)<=1$
Take it as (2).
Multiply (1) and(2).you will.get it less than $1/n^n$ which is all less than $1/n^{n+1}$.
Hence shown
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by Mate007, Feb 9, 2018, 12:40 PM
Reason: E
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anantmudgal09
1979 posts
#7 • 3 Y
Y by srijonrick, Adventure10, georgemason12
More storage
1998 A1 wrote:
Let $a_{1},a_{2},\ldots ,a_{n}$ be positive real numbers such that $a_{1}+a_{2}+\cdots +a_{n}<1$. Prove that

\[ \frac{a_{1} a_{2} \cdots a_{n} \left[ 1 - (a_{1} + a_{2} + \cdots + a_{n}) \right] }{(a_{1} + a_{2} + \cdots + a_{n})( 1 - a_{1})(1 - a_{2}) \cdots (1 - a_{n})} \leq \frac{1}{ n^{n+1}}. \]

Silly :P

Call $1-(a_1+\dots+a_n)$ as $b$ (it really is decoration). Then we just want $(1-a_1) \dots (1-a_n)(1-b) \ge n^{n+1}a_1\dots a_nb$. However, notice that $1-a_i=a_1+\dots+a_{i-1}+a_{i+1}+\dots+a_n+b \geqslant n\sqrt[n]{a_1\dots a_{i-1}a_{i+1}\dots a_nb}$ and multiplying all of them gives the result. $\blacksquare$
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GeronimoStilton
1521 posts
#8
Y by
Let $a_i=a,a_j=b$ have fixed sum $c<1$. Note
\[\frac{ab}{(1-a)(1-b)}\le t\iff ab\le t-tc+tab\iff ab(1-t)\le t(1-c)\]where $t$ is the maximum of the expression.
Clearly $t<1$ and so equality would have to be achieved at $a=b$. Thus by a smoothing argument each $a_i$ is equal. Let $\sum_i a_i=c$ so the desired is
\[\frac{1}{n^{n+1}}\ge \frac{\frac{c^n}{n^n}[1-c]}{c\cdot (1-\frac cn)^n}=\frac{c^{n-1}[1-c]}{(n-c)^n}\iff (n-c)^n\ge n^{n+1}c^{n-1}[1-c].\]The result is obvious at $n=1$ so we can assume $n>1$.
Let $c=\frac{n}{n+1}-\frac{d}{n+1}$ so we need to check
\[\left(n^2+d\right)^n \ge n^{n+1}\left(n-d\right)^{n-1}\left(1+d\right)\]and have $-1<d<n$. Since the result is true at the extrema, it suffices to check cases where the derivatives of both sides are equal. In these cases,
\[n(n^2+d)^{n-1}=-(n-1)n^{n+1}(n-d)^{n-2}\cdot (1+d)+n^{n+1}(n-d)^{n-1}.\]Equivalently,
\[(n^2+d)^{n-1}=n^n(n-d)^{n-2}\cdot [(n-d)-(n-1)(1+d)]=n^n(n-d)^{n-2}\cdot [1-nd].\]Equality can only hold at $d=0$ because $d>0$ increases the left side and decreases the right side whereas $d<0$ increases the right side and decreases the left side. But at $d=0$ the result is obvious, so we are done.
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AwesomeYRY
579 posts
#9
Y by
Previous Wrong Solution :blush:

Write $a_{n+1}=1-a_1-a_2\ldots a_n >0$. Thus, our expression becomes
\[\prod_{i=1}^{n+1} \frac{a_i}{1-a_i} = e^{\sum \ln(\frac{a_i}{1-a_i})}\]Note that $\ln(\frac{x}{1-x})$ has a second derivative of $\frac{1}{x(1-x)}$ and is thus convex over $0<x<1$, thus, by jensens
\[\sum \ln(\frac{a_i}{1-a_i}) \geq (n+1)\cdot \ln(\frac{1}{n})\]Thus, \[\prod_{i=1}^{n+1} \frac{a_i}{1-a_i}\geq e^{(n+1)\cdot \ln(\frac{1}{n})} = \left(\frac{1}{n}\right)^{n+1}\]and we are done $\blacksquare$.

Edit: The second derivative is in fact
\[\frac{2x-1}{(x-1)^2x^2}\]New Correct Solution
Write $a_{n+1}=1-a_1-a_2\ldots a_n >0$.
Now, note that
\[\prod_{i=1}^{n+1} \sum_{j\neq i} a_i \leq \prod_{i=1}^{n+1} n\cdot \sqrt[n]{\prod_{j\neq i}a_i} \leq n^{n+1} \cdot \prod a_i\]But wait! this is the denominator of our new expression. The given expression becomes
\[\frac{\prod a_i}{\prod (1-a_i)}=\frac{\prod a_i}{\prod (\sum_{j\neq i} a_j)}\leq \frac{\prod_{i=1}^{n+1}}{n^{n+1}\prod_{i=1}^{n+1}}=\frac{1}{n^{n+1}}\]and we are done.
This post has been edited 4 times. Last edited by AwesomeYRY, Jun 2, 2021, 3:50 PM
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DottedCaculator
7330 posts
#10
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Solution
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by DottedCaculator, Jul 26, 2021, 3:27 PM
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bluelinfish
1446 posts
#11
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We do the trick of letting $a_{n+1}=1-(a_1+a_2+\ldots+a_n)$. Then we must have $a_1+\ldots+a_{n+1}=1$, and we want to prove that $$\frac{a_1\ldots a_{n+1}}{(1-a_1)\ldots(1-a_{n+1})}\le \frac{1}{n^{n+1}}.$$Now notice that $$1-a_i=(a_1+\ldots+a_{n+1})-a_i\ge n\sqrt[n]{\frac{a_1\ldots a_{n+1}}{a_i}}.$$Applying this to all the terms in the denominator gives us \begin{align*} \frac{a_1\ldots a_{n+1}}{(1-a_1)\ldots(1-a_{n+1})} & \le \frac{a_1\ldots a_{n+1}}{n^{n+1}\sqrt[n]{\frac{a_1\ldots a_{n+1}}{a_1}}\ldots \sqrt[n]{\frac{a_1\ldots a_{n+1}}{a_{n+1}}}} \\ &= \frac{a_1\ldots a_{n+1}}{n^{n+1}\sqrt[n]{a_1^n\ldots a_{n+1}^n}} \\ &= \frac{a_1\ldots a_{n+1}}{n^{n+1}(a_1\ldots a_{n+1})} \\ &= \frac{1}{n^{n+1}}.\end{align*}The proof is complete.

Remark: Try stupid stuff first. Don't be like me who takes two hours to solve the problem because I realize that if we take the natural log of both sides, we essentially need to prove that if $f(x)=\ln\left(\frac{x}{1-x}\right)$, we have $$f(a_1)+\ldots+f(a_{n+1})\le (n+1)f\left(\frac{1}{n}\right).$$Then I find $$f''(x)=\frac{2x-1}{(x(x-1))^2}$$so Jensen doesn't work, but I see that there is exactly one inflection point in $(0,1)$, so $n-1$ EV is applicable (you should not need $n-1$ EV on an A1)... You can see how this approach of trying fancy things first fails miserably.
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by bluelinfish, Jun 21, 2021, 8:57 PM
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circlethm
98 posts
#12
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Solution. Define $a_{n + 1} = 1 - (a_1 + \cdots + a_n)$, and note that $a_{n + 1} > 0$ and $a_1 + \cdots + a_{n + 1} = 1$. Then by AM-GM we have
\begin{align*}
1 - a_i &= a_1 + \cdots + a_{i - 1} + a_{i + 1} + \cdots + a_{n + 1} \\ &\geq n(a_1\cdots a_{i - 1} a_{i + 1} \cdots a_{n + 1})^{\frac{1}{n}}.
\end{align*}Taking the product over $i$,
$$
 \prod_i (1 - a_i) \geq n^{n + 1} a_1 \cdots a_{n + 1},
$$that is,
$$
\frac{a_1 \cdots a_n (1 - (a_1 + a_2 + \cdots + a_n))}{(a_1 + \cdots + a_n)(1 - a_1) \cdots (1 - a_n)} \leq \frac{1}{n^{n + 1}}.
$$
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rafaello
1079 posts
#13
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So, by GM-HM,
$$\sqrt[n]{\left(\frac{1}{a_1}-1\right) \left(\frac{1}{a_2}-1\right)\ldots \left(\frac{1}{a_n}-1\right)}\geq \frac{n}{\frac{a_1}{1-a_1}+\frac{a_2}{1-a_2}+\ldots+\frac{a_n}{1-a_n}}.$$Now it is suffices to show that
$$\left(\frac{1}{\frac{a_1}{1-a_1}+\frac{a_2}{1-a_2}+\ldots+\frac{a_n}{1-a_n}}\right)^n\geq n\left(\frac{1}{a_1+a_2+\ldots+a_n}-1\right).$$
By Jensen's inequality, $$\frac{a_1}{1-a_1}+\frac{a_2}{1-a_2}+\ldots+\frac{a_n}{1-a_n}\leq n\frac{\frac{a_1+a_2+\ldots+a_n}{n}}{1-\frac{a_1+a_2+\ldots+a_n}{n}}=\frac{a_1+a_2+\ldots+a_n}{1-\frac{a_1+a_2+\ldots+a_n}{n}}=\frac{n(a_1+a_2+\ldots+a_n)}{n-(a_1+a_2+\ldots+a_n)}.$$Therefore it is suffices to show that
$$\left(\frac{1}{a_1+a_2+\ldots+a_n}-\frac{1}{n}\right)^{n} \geq n\left(\frac{1}{a_1+a_2+\ldots+a_n}-1\right).$$Let $t=\frac{1}{a_1+a_2+\ldots+a_n}>1$.
We need
\[ \left(t-\frac{1}{n}\right)^{n} \geq n\left(t-1\right).\]Define $f:\mathbb{R}_{>1}\to \mathbb{R}$, such that $f(t)=\left(t-\frac{1}{n}\right)^{n} - n\left(t-1\right)$.

We want to find the minimum of $f$.
We have $f'(t)=n\left(t-\frac{1}{n}\right)^{n-1}-n$ and $f''(t)=n(n-1)\left(t-\frac{1}{n}\right)^{n-2}>0 \forall t>1$.
Also note that $f'(t)=0\Longleftrightarrow t=\frac{n+1}{n}$ and thus the minimum of the function $f$ is
$$f\left(\frac{n+1}{n}\right)=\left(\frac{n+1}{n}-\frac{1}{n}\right)^{n} - n\left(\frac{n+1}{n}-1\right)=1-1=0.$$Hence, we have proven the inequality \[ \left(t-\frac{1}{n}\right)^{n} \geq n\left(t-1\right),\]where the equality holds iff $t=\frac{n+1}{n}$. We conclude that that the equality in our original inequality holds iff $a_1=a_2=\ldots=a_n=\frac{1}{n+1}$. We are done.
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asdf334
7586 posts
#14
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It is equivalent to showing that $\left(\frac{1}{a_1}-1\right)\left(\frac{1}{a_2}-1\right)\dots\left(\frac{1}{a_{n+1}}-1\right)\geq n^{n+1}$ for positive reals $a_1,a_2,\dots,a_{n+1}$ with $n\geq 1$ that sum to $1$ (in the problem, $a_{n+1}$ is replaced with $1-(a_1+a_2+\dots+a_n)$).

Then $$\frac{1}{a_1}-1=\frac{a_2+\dots+a_{n+1}}{a_1}\geq \frac{n\sqrt[n]{a_2a_3\dots a_{n+1}}}{a_1}$$and multiplying together gives the desired result. Equality holds when $a_1=a_2=a_3=\dots=a_{n+1}=\frac{1}{n+1}$.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by asdf334, Jan 1, 2022, 5:10 PM
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awesomehuman
496 posts
#15
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For $k\leq n$, let $b_n=a_n$, and let $b_{n+1}=1-\sum_{k=0}^n a_k$. Note
$$\sum_{k=1}^{n+1} b_k=1$$and all $b_k$ are positive.
By AM-GM, for all $1\geq k\leq n+1$,
$$\sum_{j\neq k}b_k\geq n\sqrt[n]{\prod_{j\neq k}b_k}$$So,
$$\prod_{k=1}^{n+1} \sum_{j\neq k}b_j\geq \prod_{k=1}^{n+1} n\sqrt[n]{\prod_{j\neq k}b_j}$$$$\prod_{k=1}^{n+1} \sum_{j\neq k}b_j\geq n^{n+1}\prod_{k=1}^{n+1} \sqrt[n]{\prod_{j\neq k}b_j}$$$$\prod_{k=1}^{n+1} 1-b_k\geq n^{n+1}\prod_{k=1}^{n+1} b_k$$$$\frac{\prod_{k=1}^{n+1} 1-b_k}{\prod_{k=1}^{n+1} b_k}\geq n^{n+1}$$$$\frac{\prod_{k=1}^{n+1} b_k}{\prod_{k=1}^{n+1} 1-b_k}\leq \frac{1}{n^{n+1}}$$$$\frac{\prod_{k=1}^{n+1} b_k}{\prod_{k=1}^{n+1} 1-b_k}\leq \frac{1}{n^{n+1}}$$$$\frac{a_{1} a_{2} \cdots a_{n} \left[ 1 - (a_{1} + a_{2} + \cdots + a_{n}) \right] }{(a_{1} + a_{2} + \cdots + a_{n})( 1 - a_{1})(1 - a_{2}) \cdots (1 - a_{n})} \leq \frac{1}{ n^{n+1}}$$
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megarnie
5556 posts
#16
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ISL marabot solve

Let $1-(a_1+a_2+\ldots+a_n)=a_{n+1}$ and take the reciprocal to get that the original inequality is equivalent to \[\left(\frac{1-a_1}{a_1}\right)\cdot \left(\frac{1-a_2}{a_2}\right)\cdots \left(\frac{1-a_{n+1}}{a_{n+1}}\right)\ge n^{n+1}.\]
Now we have $1-a_i=\sum_{k=1, k\ne i}^{n+1} a_k\ge n\sqrt[n]{\prod_{k=1, k\ne i}^{n+1} a_k}$.

So the numerator is greater than or equal to $n^{n+1}a_1\cdot a_2\cdots a_{n+1}$. Dividing by the denominator gives the desired result.
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ETS1331
107 posts
#17
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First, throw out the $n = 1$ case and define $a_0 = 1 - \sum\limits_{i=1}^{n} a_i$. Then, we have $\sum\limits_{i=1}^{n} a_i = 1$, and we want to show that \[ \prod\limits_{i=0}^{n} \frac{a_i}{1-a_i} \leq \frac{1}{n^{n+1}} \]and notice that equality holds when $a_0 = a_1 = \cdots = a_n = \frac{1}{n+1}$. Now, we smooth. Say that there is some set of values $(a_0,a_1,\ldots,a_n)$ such that the value of the product is maximal, and assume for the sake of contradiction that there exist some $a_i \neq a_j$. Then, we are done if \[ \frac{a_i}{1-a_i}\frac{a_j}{1-a_j} \leq \left(\frac{a_i+a_j}{2-a_i-a_j}\right)^2 \]as that would imply that there was some larger value of the product by taking the values \[ \left(a_0,a_1,\ldots,a_{i-1},\frac{a_i+a_j}{2},a_{i+1},\ldots,a_{j-1},\frac{a_i+a_j}{2},a_{j+1},\ldots,a_n\right) \]Now, we prove that this set is actually larger. We use the subsitution $a_i + a_j = 2u$ and $a_i - a_j = 2v$. Then, we can rewrite the equation we want to prove as \[ \frac{a_i}{1-a_i}\frac{a_j}{1-a_j} \leq \left(\frac{a_i+a_j}{2-a_i-a_j}\right)^2 \Rightarrow \frac{u^2 - v^2}{(1-u)^2 - v^2} < \frac{u^2}{(1-u)^2}  \]after some algebra, which further rearranges into \[ \frac{u^2 - (1-u)^2}{(1-u)^2 - v^2} < \frac{u^2 - (1-u)^2}{(1-u)^2} \]which is true because $2u = a_i + a_j < 1$.
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mihaig
7339 posts
#18
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grobber wrote:
Put $a_{n+1}=1-(a_1+a_2+\ldots+a_n)$. The inequality becomes $\frac{a_1a_2\ldots a_{n+1}}{(1-a_1)(1-a_2)\ldots (1-a_{n+1})}\le \frac 1{n^{n+1}}$, where $a_i$ are positive and $\sum_1^{n+1}a_i=1$. This is a mere application of AM-GM to the denominators $A_i=1-a_i=a_1+a_2+\ldots+a_{i-1}+a_{i+1}+\ldots+a_n+a_{n+1}$. We get $A_i\ge n\sqrt[n]{\frac{\prod a_k}{a_i}}$. After multiplying all of these we get the desired result.

Very nice idea
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lrjr24
966 posts
#19
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Let $a_{n+1}=1-(a_1+a_2+ \cdots a_n)$. We have that the inequality becomes $\left( \frac{1}{a_1}-1 \right) \left( \frac{1}{a_2}-1 \right) \cdots \left( \frac{1}{a_{n+1}}-1 \right) \ge n^{n+1}$. We note that $$\frac{1}{a_1}-1 = \frac{a_2+a_3 + \cdots + a_{n+1}}{a_1} \ge \frac{n \sqrt[n]{a_2a_3 \cdots a_{n+1}}}{a_1}$$and multiplying similar inequalities gives the result.
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awesomeming327.
1692 posts
#20
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Let $a_{n+1}$ be the positive real number such that $a_{1}+a_{2}+\cdots +a_{n+1}=1.$ The desired inequality becomes \[ (na_{1}) (na_{2}) \cdots (na_{n}) (na_{n+1}) \le ( 1 - a_{1})(1 - a_{2}) \cdots (1 - a_{n})(1-a_{n+1}) \]By AM-GM we have \[1-a_{i}=a_1+a_2+\dots+a_{n+1}-a_i\ge n\cdot \sqrt[n]{\frac{a_1a_2\cdots a_{n+1}}{a_i}}\]Multiplying the analogous gives the result.
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by awesomeming327., Dec 28, 2022, 4:06 PM
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asdf334
7586 posts
#21 • 2 Y
Y by Mango247, Mango247
Define $1-(a_1+a_2+\dots+a_n)=a_{n+1}$; the LHS is equal to
\[\frac{a_1a_2\dots a_{n+1}}{\prod_{\text{cyc}}(a_1+a_2+\dots+a_n)}\le \frac{a_1a_2\dots a_{n+1}}{\prod_{\text{cyc}}(n\sqrt[n]{a_1a_2\dots a_n})}=\frac{1}{n^{n+1}}\]so we are done. $\blacksquare$
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by asdf334, Jul 12, 2022, 9:03 PM
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sman96
136 posts
#22
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ISL Marabot solve

Let, $a_{n+1} = 1-\sum\limits_{i=1}^na_i$. So, $\sum\limits_{i=1}^{n+1}a_i =1$.
Now for each $1\leq k \leq n+1$,
\begin{align*}
\sqrt[n]{\prod_{i\neq k}a_i} &\leq \dfrac{\sum_{i\neq k}a_i}n\\
\implies \sqrt[n]{\prod_{i\neq k}a_i} &\leq \dfrac{(1-a_k)}n
\end{align*}And, multiplying all of these gives,
\begin{align*}
\prod_{i=1}^{n+1}a_i &\leq \dfrac{\prod\limits_{i=1}^{n+1} (1-a_i)}{n^{n+1}}\\
\implies \dfrac{\prod\limits_{i=1}^{n+1}a_i}{\prod\limits_{i=1}^{n+1} (1-a_i)} &\leq \dfrac1{n^{n+1}} \\
\end{align*}Which is what we wanted. $\blacksquare$
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cj13609517288
1881 posts
#23
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Let $a=a_1+a_2+\dots+a_n$. Taking $\ln$ of both sides, we can first optimize $$\sum_{\text{cyc}}\ln\left(\frac{a_1}{1-a_1}\right).$$Using log properties, we find that the second derivative of the term we are summing is $$-\frac{1}{x^2}+\frac{1}{(1-x)^2}$$which is zero at $x=\frac12$, so there is exactly one inflection point, meaning that we can use $n-1$ EV to have WLOG $a_1=a_2=\dots=a_{n-1}$. Our wanted inequality is now $$\frac{a_1^{n-1}\cdot a_n\cdot(1-a)}{a\cdot(1-a_1)^{n-1}\cdot(1-a_n)}\le\frac{1}{n^{n+1}}.$$By AM-GM, we can instead just show that $$(n-1)\cdot\frac{a_1}{1-a_1}+\frac{a_n}{1-a_n}+\frac{1-a}{a}\le\frac{n+1}{n}.$$Adding $n+1$ to both sides, we want $$\frac{n-1}{1-a_1}+\frac{1}{1-a_n}+\frac{1}{(n-1)a_1+a_n}\le\frac{(n+1)^2}{n}.$$We can resort to differentiating the LHS with respect to $a_n$ to get $$\frac{1}{(1-a_n)^2}-\frac{1}{((n-1)a_1+a_n)^2}$$which is zero when $a_n=\frac{1-a_1(n-1)}{2}$. The second derivative is positive for the whole interval, so that root is the global minimum for the interval. Plugging this back in, we want to show that $$\frac{n-1}{1-a_1}+\frac{4}{1+a_1(n-1)}\le\frac{(n+1)^2}{n}.$$We can do this using another direct differentiation with respect to $a_1$. We get $$\frac{n-1}{\left(1-a_1\right)^2}-\frac{4\left(n-1\right)}{\left(\left(n-1\right)a_1+1\right)^2}$$and we have to check $$a_1=0,\frac1{n+1},\frac1{n-1}.$$It is easy to check that the wanted inequality does hold true for all of these, so we are done.
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by cj13609517288, Nov 6, 2022, 11:39 PM
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Taco12
1757 posts
#24 • 1 Y
Y by centslordm
Let $a_{n+1}=1-\sum_{i=1}^n a_i$, so $\sum_{i=1}^{n+1} a_i = 1$. It then suffices to show $$\prod_{i=1}^{n+1} \left(\frac{1-a_i}{a_i}\right) \geq n^{n+1},$$which is clearly true by AM-GM on the numerator. $\blacksquare$
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Ritwin
155 posts
#25 • 1 Y
Y by LLL2019
This abomination of a solution is caused by the fact that I did not see the clean way.

Solution
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HamstPan38825
8857 posts
#26
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Let $a_{n+1} = 1-a_1-a_2-\cdots-a_n$. Then, the inequality is equivalent to $$\frac{a_1a_2\cdots a_{n+1}}{(1-a_1)(1-a_2)\cdots (1-a_{n+1})} \leq \frac 1{n^{n+1}}.$$However, observe that $$1-a_1 = a_2+a_3+\cdots+a_{n+1} \geq n\sqrt[n]{a_2a_3\cdots a_{n+1}},$$so multiplying this inequality cyclically in the denominator yields the result.
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vsamc
3787 posts
#27
Y by
Solution
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bobthegod78
2982 posts
#28
Y by
Let $a_{n+1} = 1- \sum a_i$. Then it remains to show $$\prod \frac{a_i}{1-a_i} \leq \frac 1{n^{n+1}}.$$This is easy with AM-GM, as $$\prod \frac{a_i}{1-a_i} \leq \prod \frac{a_i^{(n+1)/n}}{n \cdot \prod a_i} = \frac 1{n^{n+1}}.$$
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F10tothepowerof34
195 posts
#29
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Let $a_{n+1}=1-\sum_{i=1}^na_i$, thus the inequality is equal to: $\frac{\prod_{i=1}^{n+1}a_i}{(a_1+... a_n)\cdots (a_1+...a_{n+1})}$
Furthermore notice that:\begin{align*} a_1+\dots +a_n\ge n\sqrt[n]{\prod_{i=1}^n a_i}\end{align*}$
$ \begin{align*}\vdots\end{align*}\begin{align*}a_1+\dots +a_{n-1}+a_{n+1}\ge n\sqrt[n]{a_1\cdots a_{n-1}a_{n+1}} \end{align*}By multiplying the inequalities: $LHS\ge n^{n+1}\prod_{i=1}^{n+1}a_i$
Thus $LHS \le\frac{\prod_{i=1}^{n+1}a_{n}}{n^{n+1}\prod_{i=1}^{n+1}a_n}=\frac{1}{n^{n+1}}$. QED
And we are done! :play_ball:
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bobthegod78
2982 posts
#30
Y by
Let $a_{n+1} = 1-\sum_{i=1}^n a_i$. We claim the maximum can be achieved when all the variables are equal. Assume not. WLOG, $a_1 \neq a_2$. Let $x=a_1, y=a_2$. But consider
\[
\frac{\left( \frac{x+y}2 \right)^2}{\left(1 - \frac{x+y}2 \right)^2} - \frac{xy}{(1-x)(1-y)} = \frac{(x-y)^2 (1-x-y)}{(1-x)(1-y)(2-x-y)^2} \ge 0,
\]so making them equal (with the same sum) results in a product at least as big as the original one. The conclusion follows.
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by bobthegod78, Jun 5, 2023, 7:33 PM
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huashiliao2020
1292 posts
#31
Y by
orl wrote:
Let $a_{1},a_{2},\ldots ,a_{n}$ be positive real numbers such that $a_{1}+a_{2}+\cdots +a_{n}<1$. Prove that \[ \frac{a_{1} a_{2} \cdots a_{n} \left[ 1 - (a_{1} + a_{2} + \cdots + a_{n}) \right] }{(a_{1} + a_{2} + \cdots + a_{n})( 1 - a_{1})(1 - a_{2}) \cdots (1 - a_{n})} \leq \frac{1}{ n^{n+1}}. \]

Putting $a_{n+1}=1-\sum_{k=1}^{n}a_k$, it suffices to prove that $\prod_{i=1}^{n}\frac{(1-a_i)}{a_i}\ge n^{n+1}$. Note that 1-a_i=the sum of all a_j's from 1 to n excluding a_i. Then this inequality follows immediately from $\prod_{i=1}^{n}\frac{(1-a_i)}{a_i}=\frac{\prod_{i}(\sum_{j\ne i}a_j)}{\prod_{i}a_i}\ge \frac{(n-1)^n\prod_{i}(\prod_{j\ne i}a_j)^{\frac{1}{n-1}})}{\prod_{i}a_i}=(n-1)^n$, where the greater or equal to is just the AM-GM. Each of these steps are reversible, so we're done. $\blacksquare$
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by huashiliao2020, Jun 7, 2023, 2:19 AM
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vsamc
3787 posts
#32
Y by
@above, I think the product should go from $i=1$ to $i=n+1$, no? And then you would get $\prod_{i=1}^{n+1} \geq n^{n+1}$ instead of $\prod_{i=1}^{n}\frac{1-a_i}{a_i} \geq (n-1)^n$.
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huashiliao2020
1292 posts
#33
Y by
Sorry, yeah. The Latexing took a long time so I couldn't notice what was wrong. The index would be changed over by 1 (1->n+1) and like you said.
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ryanbear
1055 posts
#34
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Let $a_{n+1}=1-a_1-a_2-...-a_n$.
$\frac{a_1a_2...a_{n+1}}{(1-a_1)(1-a_2)...(1-a_{n+1})}=\Pi_{k=1}^{n+1} \frac{a_k}{1-a_k}$. Note that for $x \neq y$, $\frac{(\frac{x+y}{2})^2}{(1-\frac{x+y}{2})(1-\frac{x+y}{2})} < \frac{xy}{(1-x)(1-y)}$, so turning $x$ and $y$ into their averages makes the product smaller. So all the numbers being equal is the minimum case, which results in $\frac{1}{n^{n+1}}$.
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ezpotd
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#35
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Replace $\sum a_i$ with $a_{n + 1}$, now we have the better condition $a_1 + \cdots a_{n} = 1$, prove $\prod \frac{a_i}{1 - a_i} \le \frac{1}{n-1^n}$. We proceed by smoothing, we show replacing any two $a_i$ with their average does not decrease the product. We desire $\frac{x}{1 - x}\frac{y}{1 - y} \le (\frac{\frac{x + y}{2}}{ 1 - \frac{x + y}{2}})^2 $, equivalently $xy(2 - (x + y))^2 \le (1 - x)(1 - y)(x + y)^2$, standard expansion gives the desired as $xy((x + y)^2 - 4(x + y) + 4) \le (xy - x - y + 1)(x + y)^2$, cancellation gives $(x + y)^3 + 4xy \le 4(x + y)xy  + (x + y)^2$. We can write this as $x^3 + y^3 \le (x-y)^2 + xy^2 + yx^2$. We can now write the left hand side as $(x + y)(x - y)^2 + xy^2 + yx^2$, since $x + y \le  1$, the bound is now obvious.

Thus applying this operation to the largest and smallest elements of $a_i$ repeatedly, we can see $a_i$ approaches $\frac 1n$. Assume there exists some tuple $b_i$ for which the product is a factor of $x$ greater than the claimed maximum. After applying the operation some arbitrarily large number of times, we can eventually reach a tuple $c_i$ for which each element is a factor $y$ away from $\frac 1n$ for arbitrarily small $y$, so we can then bound the product for $c_i$ as $z$ away from desired for arbitrarily small $z$, choosing $z < x$ forces a contradiction.
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pie854
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#36
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Note that there exists a number $a_{n+1}\in (0,1)$ such that $a_1+a_2+\dots+a_n+a_{n+1}=1$. Then we need to prove the nicer inequality $$\frac{a_1a_2\cdots a_{n+1}}{(1-a_1)(1-a_2)\cdots (1-a_{n+1})} \leq \frac{1}{n^{n+1}}.$$But this is the same as proving \begin{align*} & \frac{a_2+a_3+\dots+a_{n+1}}n \cdot \frac{a_1+a_3+\dots+a_{n+1}}n \cdot \frac{a_1+a_2+a_4+\dots+a_{n+1}}n \cdots \frac{a_1+a_2+\dots+a_{n-1}+a_{n+1}}n \cdot \frac{a_1+a_2+\dots+a_{n-1}+a_n}n \\ & \qquad \geq \sqrt[n]{a_2a_3 \cdots a_{n+1}}\sqrt[n]{a_1a_3 \cdots a_{n+1}}\sqrt[n]{a_1a_2 a_4 \cdots a_{n+1}}\cdots \sqrt[n]{a_1a_2\cdots a_{n-1}a_{n+1}}\sqrt[n]{a_1a_2 \cdots a_{n-1}a_n}\end{align*}which is just AM-GM.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by pie854, Nov 1, 2024, 6:39 AM
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Maximilian113
530 posts
#37
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Let $a_0 = 1-(a_1+a_2+\cdots + a_n) > 0.$ Then the inequality is equivalent to $$n^{n+1} \leq \prod_{i=0}^{n} \frac{a_0+a_1+\cdots + a_n - a_i}{ a_i}$$which is true by AM-GM. QED
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Marcus_Zhang
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#38
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