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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.

Are you interested in working towards MATHCOUNTS and don’t know where to start? We have you covered! If you have taken Prealgebra, then you are ready for MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Basics. Already aiming for State or National MATHCOUNTS and harder AMC 8 problems? Then our MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Advanced course is for you.

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[*]May 21st, 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Mathcamp 2025 Qualifying Quiz Part 2 Math Jam, Problems 5 and 6, Canada/USA Mathcamp staff will discuss solutions to Problems 5 and 6 of the 2025 Mathcamp Qualifying Quiz![/list]
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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
orthocenter on sus circle
DVDTSB   1
N 21 minutes ago by Double07
Source: Romania TST 2025 Day 2 P1
Let \( ABC \) be an acute triangle with \( AB < AC \), and let \( O \) be the center of its circumcircle. Let \( A' \) be the reflection of \( A \) with respect to \( BC \). The line through \( O \) parallel to \( BC \) intersects \( AC \) at \( F \), and the tangent at \( F \) to the circle \( \odot(BFC) \) intersects the line through \( A' \) parallel to \( BC \) at point \( M \). Let \( K \) be a point on the ray \( AB \), starting at \( A \), such that \( AK = 4AB \).
Show that the orthocenter of triangle \( ABC \) lies on the circle with diameter \( KM \).

Proposed by Radu Lecoiu

1 reply
DVDTSB
Today at 12:18 PM
Double07
21 minutes ago
Maximum number of pairs adding to powers of n
MathMystic33   0
33 minutes ago
Source: 2025 Macedonian Team Selection Test P6
Let $n>2$ be an even integer, and let $V$ be an arbitrary set of $8$ distinct integers. Define
\[
E(V,n)
\;=\;
\bigl\{(u,v)\in V\times V : u < v,\ u+v = n^k\text{ for some }k\in\mathbb{N}\bigr\}.
\]For each even $n>2$, determine the maximum possible size of the set $E(V,n)$.

0 replies
MathMystic33
33 minutes ago
0 replies
Incircle triangles inequality
MathMystic33   0
36 minutes ago
Source: 2025 Macedonian Team Selection Test P5
Let $\triangle ABC$ be a triangle with side‐lengths $a,b,c$, incenter $I$, and circumradius $R$. Denote by $P$ the area of $\triangle ABC$, and let $P_1,\;P_2,\;P_3$ be the areas of triangles $\triangle ABI$, $\triangle BCI$, and $\triangle CAI$, respectively. Prove that
\[
\frac{abc}{12R}
\;\le\;
\frac{P_1^2 + P_2^2 + P_3^2}{P}
\;\le\;
\frac{3R^3}{4\sqrt[3]{abc}}.
\]
0 replies
MathMystic33
36 minutes ago
0 replies
Functional equation with extra divisibility condition
MathMystic33   0
38 minutes ago
Source: 2025 Macedonian Team Selection Test P4
Find all functions $f:\mathbb{N}_0\to\mathbb{N}$ such that
1) \(f(a)\) divides \(a\) for every \(a\in\mathbb{N}_0\), and
2) for all \(a,b,k\in\mathbb{N}_0\) we have
\[
    f\bigl(f(a)+kb\bigr)\;=\;f\bigl(a + k\,f(b)\bigr).
  \]
0 replies
MathMystic33
38 minutes ago
0 replies
Cyclic inequality with rational functions
MathMystic33   0
41 minutes ago
Source: 2025 Macedonian Team Selection Test P3
Let \(x_1,x_2,x_3,x_4\) be positive real numbers. Prove the inequality
\[
\frac{x_1 + 3x_2}{x_2 + x_3}
\;+\;
\frac{x_2 + 3x_3}{x_3 + x_4}
\;+\;
\frac{x_3 + 3x_4}{x_4 + x_1}
\;+\;
\frac{x_4 + 3x_1}{x_1 + x_2}
\;\ge\;8.
\]
0 replies
MathMystic33
41 minutes ago
0 replies
Hexagonal lotus leaves
MathMystic33   0
43 minutes ago
Source: 2025 Macedonian Team Selection Test P2
A lake is in the shape of a regular hexagon of side length \(1\). Initially there is a single lotus leaf somewhere in the lake, sufficiently far from the shore. Each day, from every existing leaf a new leaf may grow at distance \(\sqrt{3}\) (measured between centers), provided it does not overlap any other leaf. If the lake is large enough that edge effects never interfere, what is the least number of days required to have \(2025\) leaves in the lake?
0 replies
+1 w
MathMystic33
43 minutes ago
0 replies
Collinearity of intersection points in a triangle
MathMystic33   0
an hour ago
Source: 2025 Macedonian Team Selection Test P1
On the sides of the triangle \(\triangle ABC\) lie the following points: \(K\) and \(L\) on \(AB\), \(M\) on \(BC\), and \(N\) on \(CA\). Let
\[
P = AM\cap BN,\quad
R = KM\cap LN,\quad
S = KN\cap LM,
\]and let the line \(CS\) meet \(AB\) at \(Q\). Prove that the points \(P\), \(Q\), and \(R\) are collinear.
0 replies
MathMystic33
an hour ago
0 replies
3 variable FE with divisibility condition
pithon_with_an_i   2
N an hour ago by ATM_
Source: Revenge JOM 2025 Problem 1, Revenge JOMSL 2025 N2, Own
Find all functions $f:\mathbb{N} \rightarrow \mathbb{N}$ such that $$f(a)+f(b)+f(c) \mid a^2 + af(b) + cf(a)$$for all $a,b,c \in \mathbb{N}$.
2 replies
pithon_with_an_i
3 hours ago
ATM_
an hour ago
Dissection into equal‐area pieces using diagonals
MathMystic33   0
an hour ago
Source: Macedonian Mathematical Olympiad 2025 Problem 5
Let \(n>1\) be a natural number, and let \(K\) be the square of side length \(n\) subdivided into \(n^2\) unit squares. Determine for which values of \(n\) it is possible to dissect \(K\) into \(n\) connected regions of equal area using only the diagonals of those unit squares, subject to the condition that from each unit square at most one of its diagonals is used (some unit squares may have neither diagonal).
0 replies
MathMystic33
an hour ago
0 replies
Brazilian Locus
kraDracsO   15
N an hour ago by Ilikeminecraft
Source: IberoAmerican, Day 2, P4
Let $B$ and $C$ be two fixed points in the plane. For each point $A$ of the plane, outside of the line $BC$, let $G$ be the barycenter of the triangle $ABC$. Determine the locus of points $A$ such that $\angle BAC + \angle BGC = 180^{\circ}$.

Note: The locus is the set of all points of the plane that satisfies the property.
15 replies
kraDracsO
Sep 9, 2023
Ilikeminecraft
an hour ago
Divisibility with the polynomial ax^{75}+b
MathMystic33   0
an hour ago
Source: Macedonian Mathematical Olympiad 2025 Problem 4
Let $P(x)=a x^{75}+b$ be a polynomial where \(a\) and \(b\) are coprime integers in the set \(\{1,2,\dots,151\}\), and suppose it satisfies the following condition: there exists at most one prime \(p\) such that for every positive integer \(k\), \(p\mid P(k)\). Prove that for every prime \(q \neq p\) there exists a positive integer \(k\) for which $q^2 \mid P(k).$
0 replies
MathMystic33
an hour ago
0 replies
Maximum reach of splitting tokens
MathMystic33   0
an hour ago
Source: Macedonian Mathematical Olympiad 2025 Problem 3
On a horizontally placed number line, a pile of \( t_i > 0 \) tokens is placed on each number \( i \in \{1, 2, \ldots, s\} \). As long as at least one pile contains at least two tokens, we repeat the following procedure: we choose such a pile (say, it consists of \( k \geq 2 \) tokens), and move the top token from the selected pile \( k - 1 \) unit positions to the right along the number line. What is the largest natural number \( N \) on which a token can be placed? (Express \( N \) as a function of \( (t_i;\ i = 1, \ldots, s) \).)
0 replies
MathMystic33
an hour ago
0 replies
Inequality with rational function
MathMystic33   0
an hour ago
Source: Macedonian Mathematical Olympiad 2025 Problem 2
Let \( n > 2 \) be an integer, \( k > 1 \) a real number, and \( x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_n \) be positive real numbers such that \( x_1 \cdot x_2 \cdots x_n = 1 \). Prove that:

\[
\frac{1 + x_1^k}{1 + x_2} + \frac{1 + x_2^k}{1 + x_3} + \cdots + \frac{1 + x_n^k}{1 + x_1} \geq n.
\]
When does equality hold?
0 replies
MathMystic33
an hour ago
0 replies
Circumcircle of MUV tangent to two circles at once
MathMystic33   0
an hour ago
Source: Macedonian Mathematical Olympiad 2025 Problem 1
Given is an acute triangle \( \triangle ABC \) with \( AB < AC \). Let \( M \) be the midpoint of side \( BC \), and let \( X \) and \( Y \) be points on segments \( BM \) and \( CM \), respectively, such that \( BX = CY \). Let \( \omega_1 \) be the circumcircle of \( \triangle ABX \), and \( \omega_2 \) the circumcircle of \( \triangle ACY \). The common tangent \( t \) to \( \omega_1 \) and \( \omega_2 \), which lies closer to point \( A \), touches \( \omega_1 \) and \( \omega_2 \) at points \( P \) and \( Q \), respectively. Let the line \( MP \) intersect \( \omega_1 \) again at \( U \), and the line \( MQ \) intersect \( \omega_2 \) again at \( V \). Prove that the circumcircle of triangle \( \triangle MUV \) is tangent to both \( \omega_1 \) and \( \omega_2 \).
0 replies
MathMystic33
an hour ago
0 replies
2020 EGMO P2: Sum inequality with permutations
alifenix-   29
N Sunday at 6:56 PM 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
Sunday at 6:56 PM
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
6877 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
6877 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
30248 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
Y by
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
5001 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
8866 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
796 posts
#19
Y by
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
1745 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
1326 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
355 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
757 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
643 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
30 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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