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k a May Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
May 1, 2025
May is an exciting month! National MATHCOUNTS is the second week of May in Washington D.C. and our Founder, Richard Rusczyk will be presenting a seminar, Preparing Strong Math Students for College and Careers, on May 11th.

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0 replies
jlacosta
May 1, 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
2-var inequality
sqing   0
4 minutes ago
Source: Own
Let $ a,b> 0 ,a+b+ab=2.$ Prove that
$$ (a^2+\frac{27}{5}ab+b^2)(a+1)(b+1) \leq 12 $$$$ (a^2+\frac{11}{2}ab+b^2)(a+1)(b+1) \leq 45(2-\sqrt 3) $$
0 replies
sqing
4 minutes ago
0 replies
circumcenter of ARS lies on AD
Melid   1
N 10 minutes ago by Acrylic3491
Source: own
In triangle $ABC$, let $D$ be a point on arc $BC$ of circle $ABC$ which doesn't contain $A$. $AD$ and $BC$ intersect at $E$. Let $P$ and $Q$ be the reflection of $E$ about to $AB$ and $AC$, respectively. $PD$ intersects $AB$ at $R$, and $QD$ intersects $AC$ at $S$. Prove that circumcenter of triangle $ARS$ lies on $AD$.
1 reply
Melid
4 hours ago
Acrylic3491
10 minutes ago
2-var inequality
sqing   10
N 28 minutes ago by sqing
Source: Own
Let $ a,b> 0 ,a^3+ab+b^3=3.$ Prove that
$$ (a+b)(a+1)(b+1) \leq 8$$$$ (a^2+b^2)(a+1)(b+1) \leq 8$$Let $ a,b> 0 ,a^3+ab(a+b)+b^3=3.$ Prove that
$$ (a+b)(a+1)(b+1) \leq \frac{3}{2}+\sqrt[3]{6}+\sqrt[3]{36}$$
10 replies
sqing
Yesterday at 1:35 PM
sqing
28 minutes ago
Inspired by Czech-Polish-Slovak 2024
sqing   1
N 43 minutes ago by sqing
Source: Own
Let $ a,b,c\geq 0, (a+1)(b+ c )=2025.$ Prove that$$ a+b^2+c\geq \frac{355}{4}$$Let $ a,b,c\geq 0, (a-1)(b+ c )=2025.$ Prove that$$ a+b^2+c\geq \frac{364}{4}$$Let $ a,b,c\geq 0, (a+ 1)(b- c )=2025.$ Prove that$$ a+b^2+c\geq \frac{135 \sqrt[3]{90}-2}{2}$$
1 reply
sqing
an hour ago
sqing
43 minutes ago
FE i created on bijective function with x≠y
benjaminchew13   8
N an hour ago by benjaminchew13
Source: own (probably)
Find all bijective functions $f:\mathbb{R}\to \mathbb{R}$ such that $$(x-y)f(x+f(f(y)))=xf(x)+f(y)^{2}$$for all $x,y\in \mathbb{R}$ such that $x\neq y$.
8 replies
benjaminchew13
3 hours ago
benjaminchew13
an hour ago
Sum of divisors
Kimchiks926   3
N an hour ago by math-olympiad-clown
Source: Baltic Way 2022, Problem 17
Let $n$ be a positive integer such that the sum of its positive divisors is at least $2022n$. Prove that $n$ has at least $2022$ distinct prime factors.
3 replies
Kimchiks926
Nov 12, 2022
math-olympiad-clown
an hour ago
Find the number of interesting numbers
WakeUp   13
N an hour ago by mathematical-forest
Source: China TST 2011 - Quiz 1 - D1 - P3
A positive integer $n$ is known as an interesting number if $n$ satisfies
\[{\  \{\frac{n}{10^k}} \} > \frac{n}{10^{10}} \]
for all $k=1,2,\ldots 9$.
Find the number of interesting numbers.
13 replies
WakeUp
May 19, 2011
mathematical-forest
an hour ago
A complex FE from Iran
mojyla222   7
N an hour ago by mathematical-forest
Source: Iran 2024 3rd round algebra exam P2
A surjective function $g: \mathbb{C} \to \mathbb C$ is given. Find all functions $f: \mathbb{C} \to \mathbb C$ such that for all $x,y\in \mathbb C$ we have
$$
|f(x)+g(y)| = | f(y) + g(x)|.
$$

Proposed by Mojtaba Zare, Amirabbas Mohammadi
7 replies
mojyla222
Aug 29, 2024
mathematical-forest
an hour ago
interesting geometry config (3/3)
Royal_mhyasd   1
N an hour ago by Royal_mhyasd
Let $\triangle ABC$ be an acute triangle, $H$ its orthocenter and $E$ the center of its nine point circle. Let $P$ be a point on the parallel through $C$ to $AB$ such that $\angle CPH = |\angle BAC-\angle ABC|$ and $P$ and $A$ are on different sides of $BC$ and $Q$ a point on the parallel through $B$ to $AC$ such that $\angle BQH = |\angle BAC - \angle ACB|$ and $C$ and $Q$ are on different sides of $AB$. If $B'$ and $C'$ are the reflections of $H$ over $AC$ and $AB$ respectively, $S$ and $T$ are the intersections of $B'Q$ and $C'P$ respectively with the circumcircle of $\triangle ABC$, prove that the intersection of lines $CT$ and $BS$ lies on $HE$.

final problem for this "points on parallels forming strange angles with the orthocenter" config, for now. personally i think its pretty cool :D
1 reply
Royal_mhyasd
Today at 7:06 AM
Royal_mhyasd
an hour ago
interesting geo config (2/3)
Royal_mhyasd   4
N an hour ago by Royal_mhyasd
Source: own
Let $\triangle ABC$ be an acute triangle and $H$ its orthocenter. Let $P$ be a point on the parallel through $A$ to $BC$ such that $\angle APH = |\angle ABC-\angle ACB|$. Define $Q$ and $R$ as points on the parallels through $B$ to $AC$ and through $C$ to $AB$ similarly. If $P,Q,R$ are positioned around the sides of $\triangle ABC$ as in the given configuration, prove that $P,Q,R$ are collinear.
4 replies
Royal_mhyasd
Yesterday at 11:36 PM
Royal_mhyasd
an hour ago
Polyline with increasing links
NO_SQUARES   1
N an hour ago by Noirshade
Source: 239 MO 2025 10-11 p1
There are $100$ points on the plane, all pairwise distances between which are different. Is there always a polyline with vertices at these points, passing through each point once, in which the link lengths increase monotonously?
1 reply
NO_SQUARES
May 5, 2025
Noirshade
an hour ago
Find the perfect squares
Johann Peter Dirichlet   5
N an hour ago by ririgggg
Source: Problem 1, Brazil MO 1993
The sequence $(a_n)_{n \in\mathbb{N}}$ is defined by $a_1 = 8, a_2 = 18, a_{n+2} = a_{n+1}a_{n}$. Find all terms which are perfect squares.
5 replies
Johann Peter Dirichlet
Mar 18, 2006
ririgggg
an hour ago
Centroid, altitudes and medians, and concyclic points
BR1F1SZ   6
N 2 hours ago by pigeon123
Source: Austria National MO Part 1 Problem 2
Let $\triangle{ABC}$ be an acute triangle with $BC > AC$. Let $S$ be the centroid of triangle $ABC$ and let $F$ be the foot of the perpendicular from $C$ to side $AB$. The median $CS$ intersects the circumcircle $\gamma$ of triangle $\triangle{ABC}$ at a second point $P$. Let $M$ be the point where $CS$ intersects $AB$. The line $SF$ intersects the circle $\gamma$ at a point $Q$, such that $F$ lies between $S$ and $Q$. Prove that the points $M,P,Q$ and $F$ lie on a circle.

(Karl Czakler)
6 replies
BR1F1SZ
May 5, 2025
pigeon123
2 hours ago
divide regions
macves   0
2 hours ago
We are given a geometry problem involving separating 99 red points and 100 blue points placed on the plane in general position (no 3 collinear), using lines that do not pass through any point, such that no region contains both a red and blue point. We are to find the smallest positive integer k such that for every configuration, k lines suffice to ensure all regions created by the lines contain points of only one color.
0 replies
macves
2 hours ago
0 replies
2020 EGMO P2: Sum inequality with permutations
alifenix-   29
N May 11, 2025 by Markas
Source: 2020 EGMO P2
Find all lists $(x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_{2020})$ of non-negative real numbers such that the following three conditions are all satisfied:

[list]
[*] $x_1 \le x_2 \le \ldots \le x_{2020}$;
[*] $x_{2020} \le x_1  + 1$;
[*] there is a permutation $(y_1, y_2, \ldots, y_{2020})$ of $(x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_{2020})$ such that $$\sum_{i = 1}^{2020} ((x_i + 1)(y_i + 1))^2 = 8 \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} x_i^3.$$[/list]

A permutation of a list is a list of the same length, with the same entries, but the entries are allowed to be in any order. For example, $(2, 1, 2)$ is a permutation of $(1, 2, 2)$, and they are both permutations of $(2, 2, 1)$. Note that any list is a permutation of itself.
29 replies
alifenix-
Apr 18, 2020
Markas
May 11, 2025
2020 EGMO P2: Sum inequality with permutations
G H J
G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
Source: 2020 EGMO P2
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alifenix-
1547 posts
#1 • 5 Y
Y by anser, itslumi, v4913, megarnie, Rounak_iitr
Find all lists $(x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_{2020})$ of non-negative real numbers such that the following three conditions are all satisfied:
  • $x_1 \le x_2 \le \ldots \le x_{2020}$;
  • $x_{2020} \le x_1  + 1$;
  • there is a permutation $(y_1, y_2, \ldots, y_{2020})$ of $(x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_{2020})$ such that $$\sum_{i = 1}^{2020} ((x_i + 1)(y_i + 1))^2 = 8 \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} x_i^3.$$

A permutation of a list is a list of the same length, with the same entries, but the entries are allowed to be in any order. For example, $(2, 1, 2)$ is a permutation of $(1, 2, 2)$, and they are both permutations of $(2, 2, 1)$. Note that any list is a permutation of itself.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by alifenix-, Apr 18, 2020, 10:04 PM
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alifenix-
1547 posts
#2 • 6 Y
Y by wu2481632, karitoshi, v4913, Pluto04, Mango247, khina
By rearrangement, we need $$\sum_{i = 1}^{2020} ((x_i + 1)(x_{2021 - i} + 1))^2 \le 8 \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} x_i^3.$$
Consider the inequality $$(a + 1)^2(b + 1)^2 \le 4(a^3 + b^3),$$with $a \le b$. It can be shown that it is only true when $(a, b) = (0, 1), (1, 2)$; we do it using calculus. Evidently $b \in [a, a + 1]$, so $(a + 1)^2(b + 1)^2 - 4(a^3 + b^3)$, taking as a function of $b$, is minimized either when the derivative $$\frac{\partial}{\partial b} (a + 1)(b + 1)^2 - 4(a^3 + b^3) = 2(b + 1)(a + 1)^2 - 12b^2 = 0$$or at the endpoints of the interval. The derivative is a quadratic with roots at $$b = \frac{(a + 1)^2 \pm \sqrt{(a + 1)^4 + 24(a + 1)^2}}{12},$$and since $b \ge 0$, we must take the larger root. However, since we need a minimum, the second derivative at this root, $$\frac{\partial}{\partial b} 2(b + 1)(a + 1)^2 - 12b^2 = 2(a + 1)^2 - 24b,$$must be positive and thus $b < \frac{(a + 1)^2}{12}$. However $\frac{(a + 1)^2 + \sqrt{(a + 1)^4 + 24(a + 1)^2}}{12} > \frac{(a + 1)^2}{12}$, so there are no minimums inside the interval.

If $b = a$, then we get $$(a + 1)^2 (b + 1)^2 - 4(a^3 + b^3) = (a + 1)^4 - 8a^3 = (a - 1)^4 + 8a,$$which is always positive, contradiction. If $b = a + 1$, then we get $$(a + 1)^2(a + 2)^2 - 4(a^3 + (a + 1)^3) = a^2(a - 1)^2,$$so as desired the only pairs $(a, b)$ where this is true are $(0, 1)$ and $(1, 2)$, and furthermore they are equality cases.

Thus we must have either $$x_1 = x_2 = \ldots = x_{1010} = 0, x_{1011} = x_{1012} = \ldots = x_{2020} = 1,$$or $$x_1 = x_2 = \ldots = x_{1010} = 1, x_{1011} = x_{1012} = \ldots = x_{2020} = 2.$$
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v_Enhance
6882 posts
#3 • 12 Y
Y by tapir1729, alifenix-, Inconsistent, karitoshi, Illuzion, itslumi, v4913, mijail, Pluto04, megarnie, HamstPan38825, khina
alifenix- wrote:
Consider the inequality $$(a + 1)^2(b + 1)^2 \le 4(a^3 + b^3),$$with $a \le b$. It can be shown that it is only true when $(a, b) = (0, 1), (1, 2)$; we do it using calculus.

Seems the following is cleaner (remembering that $|a-b| \le 1$ is given):
\[ a^3+b^3 = (a+b)(a^2-ab+b^2) = (a+b)[(a-b)^2 + ab] \]\[ \le (a+b)(1+ab) \le \left( \frac{(a+b)+(1+ab)}{2} \right)^2 = \frac{(a+1)^2(b+1)^2}{4}. \]
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by v_Enhance, Apr 19, 2020, 12:31 AM
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naman12
1358 posts
#4 • 2 Y
Y by Mango247, Mango247
v_Enhance wrote:
alifenix- wrote:
Consider the inequality $$(a + 1)^2(b + 1)^2 \le 4(a^3 + b^3),$$with $a \le b$. It can be shown that it is only true when $(a, b) = (0, 1), (1, 2)$; we do it using calculus.

Seems the following is cleaner:
\[ a^3+b^3 = (a+b)(a^2-ab+b^2) = (a+b)[(a-b)^2 + ab] \]\[ \le (a+b)(1+ab) \le \left( \frac{(a+b)+(1+ab)}{2} \right)^2 = \frac{(a+1)^2(b+1)^2}{4}. \]

Oh yeah. Thanks. I forgot about that!
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by naman12, Apr 18, 2020, 10:53 PM
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v_Enhance
6882 posts
#5 • 3 Y
Y by v4913, HamstPan38825, asdf334
Isn't it given that $|a-b| \le 1$ for any $a$ and $b$ in the problem statement? (I suppose the quote I had didn't mention that :) )
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by v_Enhance, Apr 18, 2020, 10:53 PM
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IndoMathXdZ
694 posts
#6 • 7 Y
Y by CyclicConcaveTriangle, karitoshi, GorgonMathDota, Sugiyem, itslumi, Pluto04, ILOVEMYFAMILY
Personally, i think this is a lot easier than 01, solved #01 much slower than this?
Since there exists a permutation $\{y_i\}$ that satisfies such condition. By rearrangement Inequality, we have
\[ \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} ((x_i + 1)(x_{2021 - i} + 1))^2 \le 8 \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} x_i^3 \]$\textbf{Main Claim.}$ For any nonnegative reals $x \ge y$ such that $x - y \le 1$, then
\[ 4(x^3 + y^3) \le ((x+1)(y+1))^2 \]$\textit{Proof.}$ Notice that
\[ x^3 + y^3 = (x + y)(x^2 - xy + y^2) = (x+y)((x-y)^2 + xy) \le (x+y)(xy + 1) \le \frac{((x+1)(y+1))^2}{4} \]Equality holds if and only if $xy + 1 = x + y$ and $x = y + 1$, which gives us $(2,1)$ and $(1,0)$.
Therefore, applying this to the original statement, we have that $x_i \{ 0, 1, 2 \}$ for each $i \in [1,2020]$.
Now, suppose that $x_1 = 0$, this gives us $x_{2020} = 1$, forcing all the others $(x_i, x_{2020 - i})$ to be $(0,1)$ as well, giving $(0,0,0,\dots,0,1,1,\dots,1)$ as a solution.
Suppose that $x_1 = 1$, this gives $x_{2020} = 2$, forcing all the others $(x_i, x_{2020 - i})$ to be $(1,2)$ as well, giving $(1,1,1,\dots,1,2,2,\dots,2)$ as a solution.

Therefore, the solutions are
\[ x_1 = x_2 = \dots = x_{1010} = 1 \ \text{and} \ x_{1011} = x_{1012} = \dots = x_{2020} = 2 \]and
\[ x_1 = x_2 = \dots = x_{1010} = 0 \ \text{and} \ x_{1011} = x_{1012} = \dots = x_{2020} = 1 \]
Remark. At first i tried to use the fact $|x - y| \le 1$ to prove $(x-1)^4 + (y - 1)^4 + 8(x+y) \ge (x+y+2)^2$, but when i square the initial condition (lol) and look back at the identity $x^3 + y^3$, solved this really fast accidentally.
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by IndoMathXdZ, Apr 19, 2020, 3:47 AM
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naman12
1358 posts
#7 • 5 Y
Y by Inconsistent, vsamc, user1729, Aryan-23, ehuseyinyigit
Yeah. I didn't solve this very fast. Took me wayyyyy too much time (like > 30 minutes):
We have the following
Claim. For $0\leq x\leq y\leq x+1$, we have $4(x^3+y^3)\leq (x+1)^2(y+1)^2$. Furthermore, equality holds for $(x,y)=(0,1),(1,2)$.
Proof. We start with defining the function
\[f(y)=(x+1)^2(y+1)^2-4x^3-4y^3=-4y^3+(x+1)^2(y^2+2y+1)-4x^3\]Now, we expand to get
\[f(y)=-4y^3+(x+1)^2y^2+2(x+1)^2y+(x+1)^2-4x^3\]Now, we note that
\[f'(y)=-12y^2+2(x+1)^2y+2(x+1)^2\]We note that
\[f'(x)=-12x^2+2(x+1)^2x+2(x+1)^2=2x^3-6x^2+6x+2=2(x-1)^3+4\]and
\[f'(x+1)=-12(x+1)^2+2(x+1)^3+2(x+1)^2=2(x+1)^2(x-4)=2x^3-4x^2-14x-8\]Now, if $x\geq 4$, then $f(x)$ is decreasing, so it suffices to check $f(x)$ on its bounds. For $x<4$, we get that there is exactly one root in $[x,x+1]$ of $f'(x)$. We can check this is a maximum as
\[f'\left(\dfrac{(x+1)^2}{12}\right)=-12\left(\dfrac{(x+1)^2}{12}\right)^2+2(x+1)^2\left(\dfrac{(x+1)^2}{12}\right)+2(x+1)^2\]Simplifying the first two, we get
\[f'\left(\dfrac{(x+1)^2}{12}\right)=\dfrac{(x+1)^4}{12}+2(x+1)^2>0\]so thus we get that the root of $f'(x)$ is greater than $\dfrac{(x+1)^2}{12}$. Now, we get that if this root is $r$, it is a maximum if and only if $f''(r)>0$. However, we have
\[f''(r)=-24r+(x+1)^2>0\]as $r>\dfrac{(x+1)^2}{12}$. Thus, in both cases where $x\geq 4$ and $x<4$, we have that the minimum of $f(x)$ occur on the bounds. Now, the rest is easy to check. We get
\[f(x)=(x+1)^4-8x^3=(x-1)^4+8x>0\]as we can easily check that $(x+1)^4-(x-1)^4=8x^3+8x$. Thus, we also have
\[f(x+1)=(x+1)^2(x+2)^2-4x^3-4(x+1)^3=(x+1)^2(x^2)-4x^3=(x-1)^2x^2\geq 0\]with equality only for $x=0,1$. Thus, the claim has been proved. $\blacksquare$.

Now, we note by the Rearrangement Inequality, we get
\[4\sum_{i=1}^{2020}(x_i^3+x_{2021-i}^3)=8\sum_{i=1}^{2020}x_i^3=\sum_{i=1}^{2020}(x_i+1)^2(y_i+1)^2\geq\sum_{i=1}^{2020}(x_i+1)^2(x_{2021-i}+1)^2\]However, we have that applying our claim on $x_i,x_{2020-i}$ for all $1\leq i\leq 2020$, we get
\[4\sum_{i=1}^{2020}(x_i^3+x_{2021-i}^3\leq \sum_{i=1}^{2020}(x_i+1)^2(x_{2021-i}+1)^2\]with equality only for $x_1=x_2=\cdots=x_{1010}=0,1$ and $x_{1011}=x_{1012}=\cdots=x_{2020}$. Thus, we can define it as:
\[\boxed{x_k=\begin{cases}0,1&k=1\\x_1&2\leq k\leq 1010\\x_1+1&1011\leq k\leq 2020\end{cases}}\]I hate not being able to see like v_enhance.
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MarkBcc168
1595 posts
#8 • 1 Y
Y by Tintarn
Here is a cleaner way to prove the inequality.

The answer is $(0,0,\hdots,0,1,1,\hdots,1)$ and $(1,1,\hdots,1,2,2,\hdots,2)$ where each numbers appear $1010$ times. This is easily seen to work so we prove that these are all solutions. Consider the following.

Claim: For any reals $a,b$ such that $|a-b|\leq 1$, we have $(a+1)^2(b+1)^2\geq 4(a^3+b^3)$, with equality at $(0,1)$, $(1,2)$.

Proof: We first reduce this to one-var. Set $a=t+\delta$ and $b=t-\delta$ where $\delta\in (0,\tfrac 12]$. We have
$$\text{LHS} = ((t+1)^2-\delta^2)^2 \geq \left((t+1)^2-\tfrac{1}{4}\right)^2.$$Moreover,
$$\text{RHS} = 4((t+\delta)^3 + (t-\delta)^3)= 8t(t^2+3\delta^2) \leq 8t\left(t^2+\tfrac{3}{4}\right)$$Hence it suffices to prove that $\left((t+1)^2-\tfrac{1}{4}\right)^2\geq 8t^3+6t$, which could be easily expanded to $\left(t-\tfrac{1}{2}\right)^2\left(t-\tfrac{3}{2}\right)^2\geq 0$. The equality case can easily be reverse-engineered. $\blacksquare$

Applying the claim with $(x_i, y_i)$ and sum up, we get that
$$\sum_{i=1}^{2020}((x_i+1)(y_i+1))^2\geq 8\sum_{i=1}^{2020}x_i^3.$$The equality case occurs if and only if $(x_i, y_i) = (0,1), (1,2)$ for each $i$. It's easy to see that they must be $(0,1)$ or $(1,2)$ for all $i$. Moreover, each number appears in $x_1,x_2,\hdots,x_{2020}$ exactly $1010$ times. Hence there are two such lists.
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arqady
30263 posts
#9 • 1 Y
Y by Mango247
It's enough to prove that $(a+1)^2(b+1)^2\geq4(a^3+b^3),$ where $a$ and $b$ are non-negatives such that $(a-b)^2\le1.$
Indeed, let $a+b=2u$ and $ab=v^2$.
Thus, $$4u^2-4v^2\leq1$$and we need to probe that $$(v^2+2u+1)^2\geq4(8u^3-6uv^2)$$or
$$v^4+(28u+2)v^2+(2u+1)^2\geq32u^3,$$for which it's enough to prove that
$$v^4+(28u+2)v^2+(2u+1)^2\geq8u(4v^2+1)$$or
$$v^4-2(2u-1)v^2+(2u-1)^2\geq0$$or $$(v^2-2u+1)^2\geq0$$and from here we can get the equality cases occurring.
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Th3Numb3rThr33
1247 posts
#10
Y by
Solved with TheUltimate123 and eisirrational.

The answer is $(\underbrace{0,\dots,0}_{1010 \ \text{0's}}, \underbrace{1,\dots,1}_{1010 \ \text{1's}})$ and $(\underbrace{1,\dots,1}_{1010 \ \text{1's}}, \underbrace{2,\dots,2}_{1010 \ \text{2's}})$. These can be easily checked to work, so we now show uniqueness.

By the Rearrangement Inequality, we have that
\[8 \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} x_i^3 = \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} ((x_i + 1)(y_i + 1))^2 \geq \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} ((x_i + 1)(x_{2021-i} + 1))^2.\]
We, in fact, show the reverse inequality in the following claim.

Claim. For all reals $a \leq b \leq a+1$, we have $8(a^3+b^3) \leq 2(a+1)^2(b+1)^2$. Moreover, equality holds when $(a,b) = (0,1)$ or $(1,2)$.

Proof. Verify that
\[(a+1)^2(b+1)^2 - 4(a^3+b^3) = (a-1)^2(b-1)^2 + 4(a+b)(1-(a-b)^2) \geq 0\]as desired.

Finally, apply the claim to $(a,b) = (x_i, x_{2021-i})$ and sum the resulting inequalities to show that
\[8 \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} x_i^3 \leq \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} ((x_i + 1)(x_{2021-i} + 1))^2.\]So equality must hold, as desired.
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pad
1671 posts
#11
Y by
Claim: If $0\le b-a\le 1$, then $(a+1)^2(b+1)^2 \ge 4(a^3+b^3)$, with equality iff $(a,b)=(0,1),(1,2)$.

Proof: We see that
\begin{align*}
    4(a^3+b^3) &= 4(a+b)(a^2-ab+b^2) = 4(a+b)[(b-a)^2 + ab] \\
    &\le 4(a+b)(1+ab)  = (2a+2b)(2+2ab) \le (a+b+1+ab)^2 \\
    &=(a+1)^2(b+1)^2. 
\end{align*}Equality is achieved when $b-a=1$ and $a+b=1+ab$ simultaneously, i.e. $(a,b)=(0,1),(1,2)$. $\square$


By the Rearrangement inequality, the minimum LHS is achieved when we pair the smallest elements with the largest available:
\[ \sum_{i=1}^{2020} ((x_i+1)(y_i+1))^2 \ge \sum_{i=1}^{2020} ((x_i+1)(x_{2021-i}+1))^2. \]Since all the $x_i$'s are within 1 of each other, we apply the claim to get
\[ ((x_i+1)(x_{2021-i}+1))^2 \ge 4(x_i^3+x_{2021-i}^3). \]Sum the above cyclically to conclude that the LHS is at least the RHS in the third condition. Equality is achieved when $(x_i,x_{2021-i}) = (0,1)\text{ or }(1,2)$ for all $i$. Note that we cannot have both combinations in a single working tuple, since all the $x_i$'s are within 1 of each other. Hence, the two equality cases are
\[ (x_1,\ldots,x_{2020}) = (0,\ldots,0,1,\ldots,1), \ (1,\ldots,1,2,\ldots,2), \]where each of the two tuples above has 1010 of each number.

Remarks
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by pad, Apr 22, 2020, 6:08 AM
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GeronimoStilton
1521 posts
#12
Y by
The two lists satisfying these criteria are $(1,1,\dots, 1,2,2,\dots, 2)$ where there are $1010$ of each of $1$ and $2$ and the similarly defined $(0,0,\dots, 0,1,1,\dots, 1)$. It is easy to check that both of these work. Now, consider some satisfactory sequence.

By Rearrangement Inequality, we have
\[\sum_{i=1}^{2020} (x_i+1)^2(y_i+1)^2 \ge \sum_{i=1}^{2020} (x_i+1)^2(x_{2021-i}+1)^2 = 2\sum_{i=1}^{1010} (x_i+1)^2(x_{2021-i}+1)^2.\]Clearly, there exists some $i$ with
\[(x_i+1)^2(x_{2021-i}+1)^2 \le 4(x_i^3+x_{2021-i}^3).\]Let $x_i+1=a,x_{2021-i}+1=b$. Note that $b \le 1+a$. We have
\[a^2b^2\le 4(a^3-3a^2+3a-1+(b-1)^3).\]Observe that the function
\[f(b) = a^2b^2-(b-1)^3\]has
\[f’(b) = 2a^2b - 3(b-1)^2 \ge 2a^2b-3a^2 = a^2(2b-3),\]so $f$ certainly has nonnegative slope for $b \ge 3/2$. For $b \le 3/2$, we get $a^2b^2 \ge 9/4$ and $4(a-1)^3 + 4(b-1)^3 \le 1$, a contradiction.

Thus, we ought to check this inequality at just $b=a+1$ and $b=a$. At $b=a$ we get
\[a^4\le 8(a-1)^3 = (2a-2)^3.\]Note that the function $f(a) = a^4-(2a-2)^3$ is convex because $f''(a) = 12a^2 - 48(a-1) = 12(a^2-4a+4)$ is nonnegative. Thus, this inequality can never be satisfied because $1^4 > 8(1-1)^3$ and $f’(1) = 4\cdot 1^3-24(1-1)^2 > 0$. That is, we now only need to check $b=a+1$. Plug in $b=a+1$ to obtain
\[a^4+2a^3+a^2 = a^2(a+1)^2 \le 4(a-1)^3 + 4a^3 = 8a^3 - 12a^2+12a-4.\]Rearrange to get
\[0 \ge a^4-6a^3+13a^2-12a+4 = (a-2)(a^3-4a^2+5a-2) = (a-2)^2(a^2-2a+1) = (a-1)^2(a-2)^2.\]Note that this inequality is always at most an equality; this means that each $x_i+1$ is one of $1$ or $2$. But clearly the information about $b$ forces either all $x_i$ with $1\le i \le 1010$ to be $0$ or all $1$. This yields the two claimed solutions above.
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ftheftics
651 posts
#13 • 1 Y
Y by Gerninza
My solution is same as everyone done . BUT MY Solution to $4(x^3+y^3)\le (x+1)^2(y+1)^2)$ is bit different . Here it is -

$(x+1)^2(y+1)^2$


$=(xy+x+y+1)^2$

$\ge (xy+x+y +(x-y)^2)^2$ [cause $|x-y|\le 1$ ].

$=(x+y +(x^2+y^2-xy)^2$

$\ge (x+y)(x^2+y^2-xy).4$[AM-GM]

$=4(x^3+y^3)$ .


Obviously equality holds for $(x-y)^2=1$ and $x^2+y^2-xy =x+y$ .
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by ftheftics, May 13, 2020, 1:56 AM
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Aryan-23
558 posts
#14 • 4 Y
Y by AlastorMoody, Pluto04, kamatadu, Mango247
So troll :mad:

We claim that the only solutions are \[\boxed{x_k=\begin{cases}0,1&k=1\\x_1&2\leq k\leq 1010\\x_1+1&1011\leq k\leq 2020\end{cases}}\]
Invoking Rearrangement inequality, we have \[8 \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} x_i^3 = \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} ((x_i + 1)(y_i + 1))^2 \geq \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} ((x_i + 1)(x_{2021-i} + 1))^2.\].

We now present a crucial claim .

$\mathbf{Lemma}$ Consider non-negative reals $a \leq b$ with $a-b \leq 1$ . We claim the following inequality holds
$$(a + 1)^2(b + 1)^2 \geq 4(a^3 + b^3)$$
with equality iff $(a,b)=(1,0) \text {  or} (2,1)$

$\mathbf{Proof :}$ We have
$$\left((a+1)(b+1) \right)^2 = \left((a+b) +(ab+1)\right)^2 \geq 4(a+b)(ab+1) \geq 4(a+b)(ab+ (a-b)^2) = 4(a+b)(a^2+ab+b^2) = 4(a^3+b^3) $$Equality occurs when $a=b+1$ and $a+b=ab+1$ .

Now we are ready to finish .
Note that , from the claim we have,
$$  \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} ((x_i + 1)(x_{2021-i} + 1))^2 \geq 8\sum_{i = 1}^{2020} x_i^3 $$.

So we have the forementioned solutions as desired as equality must hold in all the estimates we used .
$\blacksquare$ .
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by Aryan-23, Jul 5, 2020, 7:24 PM
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Sohil_Doshi
141 posts
#15
Y by
Solution
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IvoBucata
46 posts
#16
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We know that $(x_1+1)^2\leq (x_2+1)^2 \leq \cdots \leq (x_{2020}+1)^2 $ . Now Rearrangement inequality gives us $$\sum_{i = 1}^{2020} ((x_i + 1)(y_i + 1))^2 \geq \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} ((x_i + 1)(x_{2020-i} + 1))^2$$Now I'll prove that for each $1\leq i \leq 1010$ e have $$((x_i + 1)(x_{2020-i} + 1))^2+((x_{2020-i} + 1)(x_i + 1))^2 \geq 8(x_i^3+x_{2020-i}^3) (*)$$and when summing all of these up we would get $$\sum_{i = 1}^{2020} ((x_i + 1)(x_{2020-i} + 1))^2 \geq 8 \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} x_i^3 $$so the only solutions will be the equality cases in $(*)$.

Now let's for brevity have $x_i=x$ and $x_{2020-i}=y$ and we also know that $x_{2020-i}-x_i=y-x\leq 1$. Now let $y-x=k$, so we know that $0\leq k\leq 1$. Now $(*)$ transforms into proving $$(x+1)^2(x+1+k)^2 \geq 4(x^3+(x+k)^3) \Leftrightarrow $$$$(x+1)^4+2(x+1)^3k+(x+1)^2k^2 \geq 4(x^3+x^3+3x^2k+3xk^2+k^3) \Leftrightarrow $$$$x^4+4x^3+6x^2+4x+1+2x^3k+6x^2k+6xk+2k+x^2k^2+2xk^2+k^2\geq $$$$\geq 8x^3+12x^2k+12xk^2=4k^3 \Leftrightarrow $$$$x^4+2x^3(k-2)+x^2(6-6k+k^2)+x(4+6k-10k^2)+(k^2+2k+1-4k^3)\geq 0$$$$x^2(x^2+2x(k-2)+(k-2)^2)+x^2(6-6k+k^2-(k-2)^2)+x(4+6k-10k^2)+(k^2+2k+1-4k^3)\geq 0$$$$x^2(x+(k-2))^2+2x^2(1-k)+x(k-1)(-10k-4)+(k-1)(-4k^2-3k-1)\geq 0$$Now we have the following inequalities (for $0\leq k\leq 1$)
$$x^2(x+(k-2))^2\geq 0$$$$2x(1-k)\geq 0$$$$x(k-1)(-10k-4)\geq 0$$$$(k-1)(-4k^2-3k-1)\geq 0$$There is an equality in the last one only when $k=1$, so we get that we should have $k=1$.Now $(*)$ transforms into $$x^2(x-1)^2\geq 0$$and equality holds only when $x=0;1$.

We got that in $$((x_i + 1)(x_{2020-i} + 1))^2+((x_{2020-i} + 1)(x_i + 1))^2 \geq 8(x_i^3+x_{2020-i}^3)$$equality holds only when $x_i=1$ and $x_{2020-i} = 2$ or when $x_i=0$ and $x_{2020-i}=1$. Together with the constraints in the statement we get that the only solutions are $$x_1=x_2=\cdots =x_{1010}=0 ; x_{1011}=\cdots = x_{2020}=1 $$$$x_1=x_2=\cdots =x_{1010}=1 ; x_{1011}=\cdots = x_{2020}=2 $$
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IAmTheHazard
5005 posts
#17 • 1 Y
Y by centslordm
Yet another proof of the main inequality

The answer is $(0,\ldots,0,1,\ldots,1)$ and $(1,\ldots,1,2,\ldots,2)$, where both tuples contain exactly $1010$ ones. We can verify that these work by letting $(y_1,\ldots,y_{2020})$ be the reverse of $(x_1,\ldots,x_{2020})$.

The key inequality is the following bound:
$$\sum_{i=1}^{2020}(x_i+1)^2(x_{2020-i}+1)^2\geq 8\sum_{i=1}^{2020} x_i^3.$$It suffices to "break up" this summation and prove
$$(x_i+1)^2(x_{2020-i}+1)^2\geq 4x_i^3+4x_{2020-i}^3.$$Let $a=x_i$ and $b=x_{2020-i}$, so $a \leq b \leq a+1$. The inequality becomes $(a+1)^2(b+1)^2 \geq 4a^3+4b^3 \iff (a+1)^2(b+1)^2-4a^3-4b^3 \geq 0$. Fix $b$ and let $f(a)$ denote the value of the expression that we want to prove is nonnegative over the interval $I=[0,1] \cap [b-1,b]$.
We can compute $f'(a)=2(b+1)^2(a+1)-12a^2$. Since $f'(0)=2(b+1)^2>0$ and $f'(-\infty)=-\infty<0$, it follows that there is exactly one nonnegative root of $f'$ (Descartes' rule of signs works too!). Hence there is at most one turning point of $f$ in $I$, where $f$ must go from increasing to decreasing. As such, $f$ attains its minimum at an endpoint of $I$. We have
\begin{align*}
f(b)&=(b+1)^4-8b^3=b^4-4b^3+6b^2+4b+1=(b-1)^4+8b^3>0\\
f(b-1)&=b^2(b+1)^2-4b^3-4(b-1)^3=(b-2)^2(b-1)^2\geq 0\\
f(0)&=(b+1)^2-4b^3=(1-b)(4b^2+3b+1)\geq 0~\forall b \leq 1,\\
\end{align*}hence $f(a)$ is indeed nonnegative for $a \in I$, and is zero only if $(a,b)=(0,1)$ or $(a,b)=(1,2)$, by looking at the equality cases.
Then by rearrangement, for any permutation $(y_1,\ldots,y_{2020})$, we have
$$\sum_{i=1}^{2020}(x_i+1)^2(y_i+1)^2\geq \sum_{i=1}^{2020}(x_i+1)^2(x_{2020-i}+1)^2\geq 8\sum_{i=1}^{2020} x_i^3.$$It is clear that we can't have both of our equality cases hold at the same time (since that makes $x_1<x_{2020}+1$), so we extract the desired solution set. $\blacksquare$
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by IAmTheHazard, Jan 9, 2023, 3:38 PM
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HamstPan38825
8872 posts
#18 • 1 Y
Y by Mango247
The key is to use the following equaltiy:

Claim. $$(x+1)^2(y+1)^2 \geq 4(x^3+y^3)$$as long as $|x-y| \leq 1$ with equality at $(0, 1)$ and $(1, 2)$.

We can use the inequality $(x-y)^2 \leq 1$, and substitute $a = x+y, b = xy$, so that the given equation reduces to $$(a+b+1)^2 \geq 4a(b+1).$$This can just be done by considering $\Delta_a$ for the resulting quadratic in $a$, details omitted. $\blacksquare$

For the final part, we can use Rearrangement in the form $$\sum_{i=1}^{2020} (x_i+1)^2(y_i+1)^2 \geq \sum_{i=1}^{2020} (x_i+1)^2(x_{2021-i}+1)^2 \geq 8\sum_{i=1}^{1010} (x_i^3+x_{2021-i}^3).$$Thus, equality must hold everywhere, which implies that $(x_i, x_{2021-i}) = (0, 1)$ or $(1, 2)$. Obviously the solutions must all come from one of these combinations, so only $(0, 0, \cdots, 0, 1, 1, \cdots, 1)$ and $(1, 1, \cdots, 1, 2, 2, \cdots, 2)$, where there are 1010 of each number, work.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by HamstPan38825, Jan 7, 2023, 4:03 AM
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shendrew7
799 posts
#19
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Our given condition can be rewritten as
\[\sum_{i = 1}^{2020} ((x_i + 1)(y_i + 1))^2 = 4 \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} (x_i^3 + y_i^3).\]
Due to the order we are given, Rearrangement inequality implies
\[\sum_{i = 1}^{2020} ((x_i + 1)(x_{2021-i} + 1))^2 \leq 4 \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} (x_i^3 + x_{2021-i}^3).\]
However, comparing each individual summand, we notice the inequality
\[\left((a+1)(b+1)\right)^2 \ge \left(2 \sqrt{(ab+1)(a+b)}\right)^2 = 4(a+b)(ab+1) \ge 4(a+b)(ab+(a-b)^2) = 4(a^3+b^3),\]
where $a = x_i$ and $b = x_{2021-i}$ for simplicity, and $(a-b)^2 \leq 1$ by our second condition. Hence we must have the equality case, or
\begin{align*}
(a-b)^2 = 1 &\implies a = b \pm 1 \\
ab+1 &= a+b,
\end{align*}
from which we get the pairs $(0, 1)$ and $(1, 2)$. Thus our possible sequences are
\[\boxed{a_1 = a_2 = \ldots = a_{1010} = 0, \quad a_{1011} = a_{1012} = \ldots = a_{2020} = 1}\]\[\boxed{a_1 = a_2 = \ldots = a_{1010} = 1, \quad a_{1011} = a_{1012} = \ldots = a_{2020} = 2}\]
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joshualiu315
2534 posts
#20
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The answer is $(\underbrace{0,\dots,0}_{1010 \ \text{0's}}, \underbrace{1,\dots,1}_{1010 \ \text{1's}})$ and $(\underbrace{1,\dots,1}_{1010 \ \text{1's}}, \underbrace{2,\dots,2}_{1010 \ \text{2's}})$. These can be easily checked to work, so now we prove that these are the only solutions

Claim: For reals $0 \le x \le y \le x+1$, we have $2(x+1)^2(y+1)^2 \ge 8(x^3+y^3)$, equality at $(x,y)=(0,1), (1,2)$.

Proof: Expansion gives

\begin{align*}
&(x+1)^2(y+1)^2-4(x^3+y^3) \\
= \ &(x-1)^2(y-1)^2+4(x+y)(xy+1)-4(x^3+y^3) \\
= \ &(x-1)^2(y-1)^2 + 4(x+y)(xy+1-(x^2+y^2-xy)) \\
= \ &(x-1)^2(y-1)^2 + 4(x+y)(1-(x-y)^2) \ge 0. \ \square
\end{align*}
Substituting in $(x,y)=(x_i, x_{2021-i})$ and summing, we get

\[\sum_{i=1}^{2020} ((x_i-1)(x_{2021-i}-1))^2 \ge 8 \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} x_i^3\]
However, by the Rearrangement Inequality, we have

\[\sum_{i=1}^{2020} ((x_i-1)(x_{2021-i}-1))^2 \le \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} ((x_i + 1)(y_i + 1))^2 = 8 \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} x_i^3\]
Thus, we must have the equality case, meaning $(x_i, x_{2021-i})=(0,1), (1,2)$ for $1 \le 1 \le 1010$, giving us our two solutions.
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spectator01
60 posts
#21
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Note that
\[\sum_{i=1}^{2020}{(x_i+1)^2(x_{2021-i}+1)^2} \leq \sum_{i=1}^{2020}{(x_i+1)^2(y_i+1)^2}\]from rearrangement inequality. We claim that
\[8(x^3+y^3) \leq 2(x+1)^2(y+1)^2\]with equality case when they're both $1$, if $(x-y)^2\leq 1$. From, $(x-y)^2\leq 1$, we get
\[(x-y)^2\leq 1 \implies x^2+y^2 \leq 1+2xy \implies x^3+y^3 \leq (1+xy)(x+y)\]Note that
\[0\leq(x-1)^2(y-1)^2 \implies 4(1+xy)(x+y) \leq (x+1)^2(y+1)^2\]completing the proof. The equality case of such inequality is when one of them is $1$ and the other is $1$ away, giving $(0,1)$ and $(1,2)$. Thus, our only two sequences are $x_{i} = (0,1)$, $i \in \{1, 2, \cdots, 1010\}$, $x_{i} = (1,2)$, $i \in \{1011, 1012, \cdots, 2020\}$.
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OronSH
1748 posts
#22
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We first prove that if nonnegative $x,y$ satisfy $(x-y)^2\le 1,$ then $((x+1)(y+1))^2 \ge 4(x^3+y^3).$ To do this, let $x+y=s,xy=p$ and our condition is $s^2\le 4p+1.$ We wish to show that $s^2+p^2+14sp+2s+2p+1 \ge 4s^3.$ From our condition we may instead consider $s^2+p^2+14sp+2s+2p+1 \ge 16sp+4s,$ which implies the result. However this simplifies to $(p-s+1)^2 \ge 0,$ which is clear, and equality holds iff both $(x-y)^2=1$ and $(xy-x-y+1)^2=0,$ that is, either $x=1$ or $y=1.$ Thus equality holds when $(x,y)=(0,1),(1,0),(1,2),(2,1).$

Now by Rearrangement Inequality on our original expression, we see that $\sum_{i=1}^{2020}((x_i+1)(y_i+1))^2 \ge \sum_{i=1}^{2020}((x_i+1)(x_{2021-i}+1))^2.$ Now letting $x_i=x$ and $x_{2021-i}=y,$ since we have $|x_i-x_{2021-i}| \le |x_{2020}-x_1|\le 1,$ we see that $((x_i+1)(x_{2021-i}+1))^2 \ge 4(x_i^3+x_{2021-i}^3).$ Summing this across all $1 \le i \le 2020,$ we see that $\sum_{i=1}^{2020}((x_i+1)(x_{2021-i}+1))^2 \ge 8\sum_{i=1}^{2020} x_i^3,$ and equality holds iff each pair of $(x_i,x_{2021-i})$ is one of the four we found above. From here we notice that we cannot have both a $0$ and a $2,$ and since the sequence is increasing we get that the only possibilities are $x_1=x_2=\cdots=x_{1010}=0,x_{1011}=x_{1012}=\cdots=x_{2020}=1$ and $x_1=x_2=\cdots=x_{1010}=1,x_{1011}=x_{1012}=\cdots=x_{2020}=2.$
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by OronSH, Jan 13, 2024, 5:40 PM
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dolphinday
1329 posts
#23 • 1 Y
Y by ehuseyinyigit
We will first show that $4(x^3 + y^3) \leq ((x + 1)(y + 1))^2$, if $|x-y| \leq 1$.

\[(xy + x + y + 1)^2 = ((x + 1)(y + 1))^2\]\[= (xy + x + y + 1)^2 \geq (xy + x + y + (x - y)^2)^2 \]\[= (x^2 - xy + x + y + y^2)^2 \geq 4(x^2 - xy + y^2)(x + y) \]\[=  4(x^3 + y^3) \]\[\implies  4(x^3 + y^3) \leq ((x + 1)(y + 1))^2 \]

Then by Rearrangement Inequality,
$\newline$
\[\sum_{i = 1}^{2020} ((x_i + 1)(x_{2020-i} + 1))^2 \leq \sum_{i=1}^{2020} ((x_i + 1)(y_i + 1))^2 = \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} x_i^3 \]Which implies that this is the equality case of the Rearrangement Inequality, so the list $x_i$ either consists of $1010$ $0$'s and $1010$ $1$'s, or $1010$ $1$'s and $1010$ $2$'s.
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blueprimes
363 posts
#24
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Feels more like an equality problem instead of manipulation. This took way too long, why didn't I try the obvious thing to do first :stretcher:

We will prove that the only solutions $(x_1, x_2, \dots, x_{2020})$ is the multiset containing $1010$ copies of $0$ and $1$, and the multiset containing $1010$ copies of $1$ and $2$, which are easily shown to work. We begin with the following claim:

$\textbf{Claim 1.}$ If $|a - b| \le 1$, then $(a + 1)^2 (b + 1)^2 \le 4(a^3 + b^3)$.
Proof. Let $a + b = 2u$, $ab = v^2$, we have
\[|a - b| \le 1 \iff (a + b)^2 - 4ab \le 1 \iff v^2 \ge \dfrac{4u^2 - 1}{4}\]and we wish to show
\[(a + 1)^2 (b + 1)^2 \ge 4(a^3 + b^3) \iff (ab + a + b + 1)^2 \ge 4(a + b)[(a + b)^2 - 3ab] \iff (2u + v^2 + 1)^2 \ge 8u(4u^2 - 3v^2). \]Now utilizing the earlier condition we have $(2u + v^2 + 1)^2 \ge \left( \dfrac{4u^2 + 8u + 3}{4} \right)^2$ and $8u \left( \dfrac{4u^2 + 3}{4}\right) \ge 8u(4u^2 - 3v^2)$ so it suffices to prove that
\[\left( \dfrac{4u^2 + 8u + 3}{4} \right)^2 \ge 8u \left( \dfrac{4u^2 + 3}{4}\right) \iff 16u^4 - 64u^3 + 88u^2 - 48u + 9 \ge 0 \iff (2u - 1)^2 (2u - 3)^2 \ge 0\]which is true. Equality cases occur at $u = 1/2, 3/2$, and reverse-engineering the original pairs we get $(a, b) = (0, 1), (1, 2)$ and permutations.

Now returning to the original problem, note that by Chebyshev (also extended Rearrangement) we obtain
$$8 \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} x_i^3 \ge \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} (x_i + 1)^2 (x_{2021 - i} + 1)^2$$but summing $\textbf{Claim 1.}$ over all $i$ on ordered pairs $(x_i, x_{2021 - i})$ yields the same inequality with an inverted sign. Hence, equality must hold, which easily generates the solution sets claimed earlier.
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by blueprimes, Aug 27, 2024, 11:45 AM
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Mathandski
773 posts
#25
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What a missed solve ;-;
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mariairam
8 posts
#26 • 1 Y
Y by vi144
mostly similar to other solutions but instead of rearrangements we use substitutions
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by mariairam, Dec 16, 2024, 7:29 PM
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Ilikeminecraft
676 posts
#27
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I claim the inequality $((x + 1)(y + 1))^2 \leq 4 (x^3 + y^3)$. We have that $x^3 + y^3 = (x + y)((x - y)^2 + xy) \leq (x + y)(1 + xy) \leq\left(\frac{(x + y)^2 + (1 + xy)^2}{2}\right)^2 = \frac{(x + 1)^2(y + 1)^2}{4}.$ Equality holds if and only if $x - y = 1, x + y = 1 + xy.$ Hence, $(x, y) = (0, 1), (1, 2).$

Hence,
$$8 \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} x_i^3 = \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} ((x_i + 1)(y_i + 1))^2 \geq \sum_{i = 1}^{2020} ((x_i + 1)(x_{2021 - i} + 1))^2 \geq 8\sum_{i = 1}^{2020} x_i^3$$where the 1st inequality is by rearrangement, and 2nd is by our claim.

Hence, equality can only occur when they are: $(0, ..., 0, 1, ..., 1), (1, ..., 1, 2, ..., 2),$ where each one appears 1010 times.
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Maximilian113
575 posts
#28
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Observe that $|x_i-y_i| \leq 1$ we have $$4x_i^3+4y_i^3 = 4(x_i+y_i)((x_i-y_i)^2+x_iy_i) \leq 4(x_i+y_i)(1+x_iy_i) \leq ((1+x_i)(1+y_i))^2$$by AM-GM. Summing yields equality holds, so $|x_i-y_i| = 1$ and $x_i+y_i=1+x_iy_i \implies (x_i-1)(y_i-1)=0.$ So $(x_i, y_i) = (1, 0), (1, 2).$ Hence the solutions are the first $1010$ being $0$ and the rest being $1,$ or the first $1010$ being $1$ and the rest being $2.$
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math-olympiad-clown
44 posts
#29
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We first observe that the rearrangement inequality tells us the left-hand side is minimized when \((y_1, \ldots, y_{2020}) = (x_{2020}, x_{2019}, \ldots, x_1)\), i.e., when the permutation is in reverse order.

Let \(a = x_i\), \(b = x_{2021 - i}\), so each term becomes\[((a+1)(b+1))^2.\]The corresponding right-hand side terms are
\[4(a^3 + b^3).\]So we want to show: \[(a+1)^2(b+1)^2 \ge 4(a^3 + b^3).\]
Note that
\[4(a^3 + b^3) = 4(a + b)(a^2 - ab + b^2) = 4(a + b)((a - b)^2 + ab).\]On the other hand,
\[(a+1)^2(b+1)^2 = (ab + a + b + 1)^2.\]So it suffices to prove: \[(ab + a + b + 1)^2 \ge 4(a + b)(ab + 1),\]and this can be checked immediately by AM-GM.

Thus, for the original identity to hold with equality, we must have a-b=1and a+b=1+ab ,this implies b=0 a=1 or b=1 a=2
and then we can assume there are m 0's and 2020-m 1's or n 1's and 2020-n 2's and easily calculate that m=1010.
Hence, the only valid sequences are those where exactly half of the values are 1 and half are 2 (or 0 and 1), arranged such that \(x_i + x_{2021 - i}\) is constant across all \(i\).
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by math-olympiad-clown, Apr 29, 2025, 2:51 PM
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Markas
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#30
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By Rearrangement inequality we have that $8\sum_{i=1}^{2020}x_i^3=\sum_{i=1}^{2020}(x_i+1)^2(y_i+1)^2\geq\sum_{i=1}^{2020}(x_i+1)^2(x_{2021-i}+1)^2$, but for x,y where $x - y \leq 1$, we have that $8(x^3 + y^3) \leq 2(x + 1)^2(y + 1)^2$. This is true because $(x^3 + y^3) = (x + y)(x^2 + y^2 - xy) = (x + y)((x - y)^2 + xy) \leq (x + y)(xy + 1) \leq (\frac{(x + y) + (xy + 1)}{2})^2 = \frac{(x + 1)^2(y + 1)^2}{4}$, using the fact that $x - y \leq 1$ and AM-GM $\Rightarrow$ we want to find the equality case in order to get the solutions. To have equality, we need to have xy + 1 = x + y and x - y = 1 $\Rightarrow$ for (x,y) we get (x,y) = (0,1); (1,2) $\Rightarrow$ $x_i \in (0,1,2)$ for $i \in (1,2020)$. When $x_1 = 0$, we have that $x_{2020} = 1$ $\Rightarrow$ we have the solution $x_1 = x_2 \cdots = x_{1010} = 0, x_{1011} = \cdots = x_{2020} = 1$. When $x_1 = 1$, we have that $x_{2020} = 2$ $\Rightarrow$ we have the solution $x_1 = x_2 \cdots = x_{1010} = 1, x_{1011} = \cdots = x_{2020} = 2$. All solutions are $x_1 = x_2 \cdots = x_{1010} = 0$, $x_{1011} = \cdots = x_{2020} = 1$; $x_1 = x_2 \cdots = x_{1010} = 1$, $x_{1011} = \cdots = x_{2020} = 2$ and we are ready.
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