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k a My Retirement & New Leadership at AoPS
rrusczyk   1571
N Mar 26, 2025 by SmartGroot
I write today to announce my retirement as CEO from Art of Problem Solving. When I founded AoPS 22 years ago, I never imagined that we would reach so many students and families, or that we would find so many channels through which we discover, inspire, and train the great problem solvers of the next generation. I am very proud of all we have accomplished and I’m thankful for the many supporters who provided inspiration and encouragement along the way. I'm particularly grateful to all of the wonderful members of the AoPS Community!

I’m delighted to introduce our new leaders - Ben Kornell and Andrew Sutherland. Ben has extensive experience in education and edtech prior to joining AoPS as my successor as CEO, including starting like I did as a classroom teacher. He has a deep understanding of the value of our work because he’s an AoPS parent! Meanwhile, Andrew and I have common roots as founders of education companies; he launched Quizlet at age 15! His journey from founder to MIT to technology and product leader as our Chief Product Officer traces a pathway many of our students will follow in the years to come.

Thank you again for your support for Art of Problem Solving and we look forward to working with millions more wonderful problem solvers in the years to come.

And special thanks to all of the amazing AoPS team members who have helped build AoPS. We’ve come a long way from here:IMAGE
1571 replies
rrusczyk
Mar 24, 2025
SmartGroot
Mar 26, 2025
k a March Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
Mar 2, 2025
March is the month for State MATHCOUNTS competitions! Kudos to everyone who participated in their local chapter competitions and best of luck to all going to State! Join us on March 11th for a Math Jam devoted to our favorite Chapter competition problems! Are you interested in training for MATHCOUNTS? Be sure to check out our AMC 8/MATHCOUNTS Basics and Advanced courses.

Are you ready to level up with Olympiad training? Registration is open with early bird pricing available for our WOOT programs: MathWOOT (Levels 1 and 2), CodeWOOT, PhysicsWOOT, and ChemWOOT. What is WOOT? WOOT stands for Worldwide Online Olympiad Training and is a 7-month high school math Olympiad preparation and testing program that brings together many of the best students from around the world to learn Olympiad problem solving skills. Classes begin in September!

Do you have plans this summer? There are so many options to fit your schedule and goals whether attending a summer camp or taking online classes, it can be a great break from the routine of the school year. Check out our summer courses at AoPS Online, or if you want a math or language arts class that doesn’t have homework, but is an enriching summer experience, our AoPS Virtual Campus summer camps may be just the ticket! We are expanding our locations for our AoPS Academies across the country with 15 locations so far and new campuses opening in Saratoga CA, Johns Creek GA, and the Upper West Side NY. Check out this page for summer camp information.

Be sure to mark your calendars for the following events:
[list][*]March 5th (Wednesday), 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, HCSSiM Math Jam 2025. Amber Verser, Assistant Director of the Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics, will host an information session about HCSSiM, a summer program for high school students.
[*]March 6th (Thursday), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Free Webinar on Math Competitions from elementary through high school. Join us for an enlightening session that demystifies the world of math competitions and helps you make informed decisions about your contest journey.
[*]March 11th (Tuesday), 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, 2025 MATHCOUNTS Chapter Discussion MATH JAM. AoPS instructors will discuss some of their favorite problems from the MATHCOUNTS Chapter Competition. All are welcome!
[*]March 13th (Thursday), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Free Webinar about Summer Camps at the Virtual Campus. Transform your summer into an unforgettable learning adventure! From elementary through high school, we offer dynamic summer camps featuring topics in mathematics, language arts, and competition preparation - all designed to fit your schedule and ignite your passion for learning.[/list]
Our full course list for upcoming classes is below:
All classes run 7:30pm-8:45pm ET/4:30pm - 5:45pm PT unless otherwise noted.

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0 replies
jlacosta
Mar 2, 2025
0 replies
k i Adding contests to the Contest Collections
dcouchman   1
N Apr 5, 2023 by v_Enhance
Want to help AoPS remain a valuable Olympiad resource? Help us add contests to AoPS's Contest Collections.

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


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


More specifically:

For new threads:


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

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


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

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


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


For answers to already existing threads:


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

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



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


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

The above rules will be applied from next monday (5. march of 2007).
Feel free to discuss on this here.
49 replies
ZetaX
Feb 27, 2007
NoDealsHere
May 4, 2019
something like MVT
mqoi_KOLA   1
N 11 minutes ago by Mathzeus1024
If $F$ is a continuous function on $[0,1]$ such that $F(0) = F(1)$, then there exists a $c \in (0,1)$ such that:

\[
F(c) = \frac{1}{c} \int_0^c F(x) \,dx
\]
1 reply
+1 w
mqoi_KOLA
4 hours ago
Mathzeus1024
11 minutes ago
A number theory problem from the British Math Olympiad
Rainbow1971   5
N 14 minutes ago by Rainbow1971
Source: British Math Olympiad, 2006/2007, round 1, problem 6
I am a little surprised to find that I am (so far) unable to solve this little problem:

[quote]Let $n$ be an integer. Show that, if $2 + 2 \sqrt{1+12n^2}$ is an integer, then it is a perfect square.[/quote]

I set $k := \sqrt{1+12n^2}$. If $2 + 2 \sqrt{1+12n^2}$ is an integer, then $k (=\sqrt{1+12n^2})$ is at least rational, so that $1 + 12n^2$ must be a perfect square then. Using Conway's topograph method, I have found out that the smallest non-negative pairs $(n, k)$ for which this happens are $(0,1), (2,7), (28,97)$ and $(390, 1351)$, and that, for every such pair $(n,k)$, the "next" such pair can be calculated as
$$
\begin{bmatrix}
7 & 2 \\
24 & 7 
\end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix}
n \\
k 
\end{bmatrix}
.$$The eigenvalues of that matrix are irrational, however, so that any calculation which uses powers of that matrix is a little cumbersome. There must be an easier way, but I cannot find it. Can you?

Thank you.




5 replies
1 viewing
Rainbow1971
Yesterday at 8:39 PM
Rainbow1971
14 minutes ago
Finding maximum sum of consecutive ten numbers in circle.
Goutham   3
N 26 minutes ago by FarrukhKhayitboyev
Each of $999$ numbers placed in a circular way is either $1$ or $-1$. (Both values appear). Consider the total sum of the products of every $10$ consecutive numbers.
$(a)$ Find the minimal possible value of this sum.
$(b)$ Find the maximal possible value of this sum.
3 replies
Goutham
Feb 8, 2011
FarrukhKhayitboyev
26 minutes ago
The Chile Awkward Party
vicentev   0
36 minutes ago
Source: TST IMO CHILE 2025
At a meeting, there are \( N \) people who do not know each other. Prove that it is possible to introduce them in such a way that no three of them have the same number of acquaintances.
0 replies
vicentev
36 minutes ago
0 replies
Sharygin CR P20
TheDarkPrince   37
N 39 minutes ago by E50
Source: Sharygin 2018
Let the incircle of a nonisosceles triangle $ABC$ touch $AB$, $AC$ and $BC$ at points $D$, $E$ and $F$ respectively. The corresponding excircle touches the side $BC$ at point $N$. Let $T$ be the common point of $AN$ and the incircle, closest to $N$, and $K$ be the common point of $DE$ and $FT$. Prove that $AK||BC$.
37 replies
TheDarkPrince
Apr 4, 2018
E50
39 minutes ago
Fibonacci sequence and primes
vicentev   0
39 minutes ago
Source: TST IMO CHILE 2025
Let \( u_n \) be the \( n \)-th term of the Fibonacci sequence (where \( u_1 = u_2 = 1 \) and \( u_{n+1} = u_n + u_{n-1} \) for \( n \geq 2 \)). For each prime \( p \), let \( n(p) \) be the smallest integer \( n \) such that \( u_n \) is divisible by \( p \). Find the smallest possible value of \( p - n(p) \).
0 replies
vicentev
39 minutes ago
0 replies
Gheorghe Țițeica 2025 Grade 7 P3
AndreiVila   1
N 40 minutes ago by Rainbow1971
Source: Gheorghe Țițeica 2025
Out of all the nondegenerate triangles with positive integer sides and perimeter $100$, find the one with the smallest area.
1 reply
AndreiVila
Yesterday at 8:41 PM
Rainbow1971
40 minutes ago
functional equations
sefatod628   6
N 40 minutes ago by pco
Source: Oral ENS
Hello guys, here is a fun functional equation !
Find all functions from $\mathbb{R^*_+}$ to $\mathbb{R^*_+}$ such that for all $x$ : $$f(f(x))=-f(x)+6x$$
Hint : Click to reveal hidden text
6 replies
sefatod628
Oct 28, 2024
pco
40 minutes ago
A number theory about divisors which no one fully solved at the contest
nAalniaOMliO   19
N 42 minutes ago by Bluecloud123
Source: Belarusian national olympiad 2024
Let's call a pair of positive integers $(k,n)$ interesting if $n$ is composite and for every divisor $d<n$ of $n$ at least one of $d-k$ and $d+k$ is also a divisor of $n$
Find the number of interesting pairs $(k,n)$ with $k \leq 100$
M. Karpuk
19 replies
+1 w
nAalniaOMliO
Jul 24, 2024
Bluecloud123
42 minutes ago
CDF of normal distribution
We2592   2
N an hour ago by rchokler
Q) We know that the PDF of normal distribution of $X$ id defined by
\[
f(x) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi} \sigma} e^{-\frac{(x-\mu)^2}{2\sigma^2}}
\]now what is CDF or cumulative distribution function $F_X(x)=P[X\leq x]$

how to integrate ${-\infty} \to x$
please help
2 replies
We2592
Today at 2:09 AM
rchokler
an hour ago
hard problem
Cobedangiu   3
N an hour ago by lyllyl
problem
3 replies
Cobedangiu
2 hours ago
lyllyl
an hour ago
Gheorghe Țițeica 2025 Grade 9 P1
AndreiVila   1
N an hour ago by AlgebraKing
Source: Gheorghe Țițeica 2025
Let there be $2n+1$ distinct points on a circle. Consider the set of distances between any two out of the $2n+1$ points. What is the smallest size of this set?

Radu Bumbăcea
1 reply
AndreiVila
Yesterday at 9:06 PM
AlgebraKing
an hour ago
Gheorghe Țițeica 2025 Grade 11 P1
AndreiVila   1
N 2 hours ago by Mathzeus1024
Source: Gheorghe Țițeica 2025
Find all continuous functions $f:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ such that $f(x+y)=f(x+f(y))$ for all $x,y\in\mathbb{R}$.
1 reply
AndreiVila
Yesterday at 9:40 PM
Mathzeus1024
2 hours ago
An Integral Inequality from the Chinese Internet
Blast_S1   1
N 2 hours ago by MS_asdfgzxcvb
Source: Xiaohongshu
Let $f(x)\in C[0,3]$ satisfy $f(x) \ge 0$ for all $x$ and
$$\int_0^3 \frac{1}{1 + f(x)}\,dx = 1.$$Show that
$$\int_0^3\frac{f(x)}{2 + f(x)^2}\,dx \le 1.$$
1 reply
Blast_S1
Today at 2:39 AM
MS_asdfgzxcvb
2 hours ago
Integral inequality
joybangla   22
N Mar 11, 2025 by anudeep
Source: ISI Entrance 2014, P7
Let $f: [0,\infty)\to \mathbb{R}$ a non-decreasing function. Then show this inequality holds for all $x,y,z$ such that $0\le x<y<z$.
\begin{align*} & (z-x)\int_{y}^{z}f(u)\,\mathrm{du}\ge (z-y)\int_{x}^{z}f(u)\,\mathrm{du} \end{align*}
22 replies
joybangla
May 11, 2014
anudeep
Mar 11, 2025
Source: ISI Entrance 2014, P7
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joybangla
836 posts
#1 • 8 Y
Y by tensor, integrated_JRC, adityaguharoy, ratatuy, HWenslawski, Adventure10, Mango247, Random_Name100
Let $f: [0,\infty)\to \mathbb{R}$ a non-decreasing function. Then show this inequality holds for all $x,y,z$ such that $0\le x<y<z$.
\begin{align*} & (z-x)\int_{y}^{z}f(u)\,\mathrm{du}\ge (z-y)\int_{x}^{z}f(u)\,\mathrm{du} \end{align*}
Z K Y
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subham1729
1479 posts
#2 • 4 Y
Y by ratatuy, HWenslawski, Adventure10, Random_Name100
First of all wlog we can take $f(0)\geq 0$ and now just note $\int_{x}^{y} f(u) du \leq (y-x)f(z)$ and $\int_{y}^{z} f(u) du \leq (z-y) f(z) $ so if $f(z)\neq 0$ then done, else obvious.
Z K Y
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randomusername
1059 posts
#3 • 10 Y
Y by pranshu211, Devarka, ADEWADE, SD2018_, adityaguharoy, ratatuy, Adventure10, Mango247, Danny_Thomas, Random_Name100
The inequality is
$(z-x)\int_y^z f(u)du\ge (z-y)\int_x^yf(u)du+(z-y)\int_y^zf(u)du$,
which can be rewritten as
$(y-x)\int_y^z f(u)du\ge (z-y)\int_x^y f(u)du$.
Now since $\forall u\le y$ we have $f(u)\le f(y)$ and $\forall u\ge y$ $f(u)\ge f(y)$, we have
$\int_x^y f(u)du\le \int_x^y f(y)du=(y-x)f(y)$
and similarly
$\int_y^z f(u)du\ge (z-y)f(y)$.
(Here we used that $y-x$ and $z-y$ are positive.) Therefore we have
$(z-y)\int_x^y f(u)du\le (z-y)(y-x)f(y)\le (y-x)\int_y^z f(u)du$,
as required.
Equality holds iff $f$ is constant in the interval $[x;z]$.
Z K Y
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pranshu211
8 posts
#4 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Note that $ 0\le x<y<z $
implies that $ 0\ge -x>-y>-z $
which means that $ z\ge z-x>z-y>0 $

As $ f(u) $ is non decreasing
$ \int_{x}^{z}f(u)\,\mathrm{du}\ge \int_{x}^{z}f(u)\,\mathrm{du} $

Apply rearrangement inequality and we're done.

Tell me if I'm doing something wrong!
Z K Y
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BBAI
563 posts
#5 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
It is same as to prove:
$ z\int _ {x} ^{y} f(u) du + x \int_ {y}^{z} f(u) du - y\int_ {x}^{z} f(u) du \leq 0$
Now writing $\int_ {x}^{z} f(u) du = \int_ {x}^{y} f(u) du + \int_ {y}^{z} f(u) du$,
we get,
$ (z-y)\int _ {x} ^{y} f(u) du + (x-y) \int_ {y}^{z} f(u) du \leq 0$
Now,
$\int _ {x} ^{y} f(u) du \leq (y-x)f(z)$
and $\int _ {y} ^{z} f(u) du \leq (z-y)f(z) $
using these two inequalities we get the expression to be less than equal to
$f(z) ((x-y)(z-y) + (y-x)(z-y)) = 0 $
Hence proved
Z K Y
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Thorin
1 post
#6 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
We define $\forall t \in [0, \infty )$, $A(t) = \int_{0}^{t} f(u)du$. Thus, we have to prove that \[(z-x)(A(z)-A(y)) \geq (z-y)(A(z)-A(x)).\]
Shuffling terms and dividing by the positive number $(z-x)$, we see that the given inequality is equivalent to \[A(y) \leq \frac {z-y}{z-x}A(x) + \frac {y-x}{z-x}A(z).\]
Now, since $x < y < z $, there exists a unique $\alpha \in (0,1)$ such that $y = \alpha x + (1-\alpha)z.$ Substituting this value in the last one we see that the given inequality is equivalent to proving \[A(\alpha x+(1-\alpha) z) \leq \alpha A(x) +(1-\alpha)A(z).\]
Since, $f$ is non-decreasing, this is true due to convexity.
Z K Y
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WWW
3489 posts
#7 • 3 Y
Y by Koukai, Adventure10, Mango247
Rewriting, we want \[(1)\,\,\,\,\frac{1}{z-y}\int_{y}^{z}f(u)\,du \ge \frac{1}{z-x}\int_{x}^{z}f(u)\,du.\] This is the comparison of two averages. The second average is over a larger range of $f$-values. And each additional $f$-value is $\le$ every $f$-value in the first average. Intuitively the second average is less than or equal to the first. (And if I were grading this "solution", I would give it a perfect score.)

To be more rigorous, we can prove (1) this way: On the left side of (1), let $u = y+t(z-y).$ On the right side of (1), let $u = x+t(z-x).$ (1) becomes\[\int_0^1 f(y+t(z-y))\,dt \ge \int_0^1 f(x+t(z-x))\,dt.\]Is this true? Sure, simply because $y+t(z-y)\ge x+t(z-x)$ for all $t \in [0,1].$
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DwaipayanSarkar
1 post
#8 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
it can be reduced to a following graph
Attachments:
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saager
491 posts
#9 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
how integral x to y f(u) is less than (y-x)f(z)
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saager
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#10 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Please can anyone give the detailed soln
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Chandrachur
385 posts
#11 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Thorin wrote:
Substituting this value in the last one we see that the given inequality is equivalent to proving \[A(\alpha x+(1-\alpha) z) \leq \alpha A(x) +(1-\alpha)A(z).\]
Since, $f$ is non-decreasing, this is true due to convexity.

How does non-decreasing nature of $f$ imply that its integral is convex??
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Lang_Tu_Mua_Bui
157 posts
#12 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
joybangla wrote:
Let $f: [0,\infty)\to \mathbb{R}$ a non-decreasing function. Then show this inequality holds for all $x,y,z$ such that $0\le x<y<z$.
\begin{align*} & (z-x)\int_{y}^{z}f(u)\,\mathrm{du}\ge (z-y)\int_{x}^{z}f(u)\,\mathrm{du} \end{align*}
My solution
$$ (z-x)\int_{y}^{z}f(u)du\geq (z-y)\int_{x}^{z}f(u)du$$With $$F(z)=(z-x)\int_{y}^{z}f(u)du- (z-y)\int_{x}^{z}f(u)du $$$$ F'(z)=-\int_{x}^{y}f(u)du +(y-x)f(z)=(y-x)(f(z)-f(c)) (c\in (x;y));f(z)<f(c) $$
$\Rightarrow F'(z)>0\forall 0 \leq  x\leq y< z$

$$z=y\Rightarrow F(y)=0 \Rightarrow F(z)>0 \Leftrightarrow (z-x)\int_{y}^{z}f(u)du\geq (z-y)\int_{x}^{z}f(u)du $$
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hsbhatt
432 posts
#13 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
We will prove that \begin{align*} & \frac{\int_{y}^{z}f(u)\,\mathrm{du}}{z-y} \ge \frac{\int_{x}^{z}f(u)\,\mathrm{du} }{z-x} \end{align*}Let $F(t) = \int_{y}^t f(u) du$ and $G(t) = \int_{x}^t f(u) du$
Then $\frac{F(z) - F(y)} {z-y} = f(a)$ for some $a \in (y,z)$ by Lagrange Mean Value Theorem
Similarly, $\frac{G(z) - F(x)} {z-x} = f(b)$ for some $b \in (x,y)$
Since $b<a$ and $f(x)$ is non-decreasing we have $f(b) \le f(a)$
which proves the given statement
[Pardon me if this is a repeat of any proof given already in this thread]
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integrated_JRC
3465 posts
#16 • 4 Y
Y by B_U_B_A, avrilblackstar, Adventure10, Mango247
\begin{align*}
\mathfrak{I}
&=(z-x)\int_y^z f -(z-y)\int_x^z f\\
&=(z-x)\int_y^zf-\Big[(z-x)-(y-x)\Big]\int_x^z f\\
&=(y-x)\int_x^zf-(z-x)\int_x^y f\\
&=\Big[(y-x)-(z-x)\Big]\int_x^yf+(y-x)\int_y^z f\\
&=(y-x)\int_y^z f-(z-y)\int_x^y f\\
\end{align*}Now, it's given that $f$ is non-decreasing, so $f(z)\geqslant f(y)\geqslant f(x)$ . Therefore, \begin{align*}
(y-x)\int_y^z f&\geqslant (y-x)(z-y)f(y)\\
&=(z-y)\Big[(y-x)f(y)\Big]\\
&\geqslant (z-y)\int_x^y f\\
\end{align*}This implies that $\mathfrak{I}\geqslant 0$ , i.e. $$\boxed{(z-x)\int_y^z f\geqslant (z-y)\int_x^z f}$$Equality holds when $f(x)=f(y)=f(z)=f(0)~\forall x,y,z$ and $x<y<z$ , i.e. $f$ is a constant function. :)
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by integrated_JRC, Oct 15, 2018, 3:19 PM
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ftheftics
651 posts
#17 • 3 Y
Y by Gerninza, Adventure10, Mango247
Consider a funtion,

$g(r) = \frac{1}{z-r} \int_{r}^{z} f(u) du$ .

where domain of $g$ is $[0,z)$.


Since ,$f(u)$ is non decreasing,
$\implies f(0)\le f(x) \le f(y) \le f(z)$.

So,$g'(r) =\frac{1}{(z-r)^2}  \int_{r}^{z} f(u) du-\frac{f(r)}{z-r}$.

Clearly $f(u)\ge f(0)$ in domain of$g$.


$\implies g'(r)\ge \frac{1}{(z-r)^2}  \int_{r}^{z} f(0) du-\frac{f(r)}{z-r}\ge 0$.

$\implies g$ is non decreasing.

$g(y)\ge g(x)$ for $x<y$.


$\implies $\begin{align*} & (z-x)\int_{y}^{z}f(u)\,\mathrm{du}\ge (z-y)\int_{x}^{z}f(u)\,\mathrm{du} \end{align*}.
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stranger_02
337 posts
#18
Y by
subham1729 wrote:
First of all wlog we can take $f(0)\geq 0$ and now just note $\int_{x}^{y} f(u) du \leq (y-x)f(z)$ and $\int_{y}^{z} f(u) du \leq (z-y) f(z) $ so if $f(z)\neq 0$ then done, else obvious.

How can both simultaneously be $f(z)$? From your solution it looks like you have used the mean value theorem for integrals, obviously a very clever step towards the problem. But you have to use different variables for that, since, the LHS lies in some different domain than the RHS (obviously, or else what's the use of inequality here :)).

And since, $0\le x<y<z$ and it's given that function is non-decreasing it immediately follows that $f(m)\geq f(n)$, where $m$ is in $(y,z)$ and $n$ in $(x,z)$.
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by stranger_02, Jun 21, 2020, 5:50 PM
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Maths_1729
390 posts
#20
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joybangla wrote:
Let $f: [0,\infty)\to \mathbb{R}$ a non-decreasing function. Then show this inequality holds for all $x,y,z$ such that $0\le x<y<z$.
\begin{align*} & (z-x)\int_{y}^{z}f(u)\,\mathrm{du}\ge (z-y)\int_{x}^{z}f(u)\,\mathrm{du} \end{align*}
It suffice to Prove that
$(y-x)\int_{y}^{z} f(u)du \geq (z-y)\int_{x}^{y} f(u)du$
Now let $F(x)=\int f(x)dx$ Now as it is given that $f$ is continuous So By Fundamental theorem of Calculus $F'(x)=f(x)$
Hence $\frac{\int_{y}^{z} f(u)du}{z-y}=\frac{F(z)-F(y)}{z-y}, \frac{\int_{x}^{y} f(u)du}{y-x}=\frac{F(y)-F(x)}{y-x}$
Hence by LMVT there exist $c_1\in (x, y)$ and $c_2\in (y, z)$ such that
$\frac{F(y)-F(x)}{y-x}= f(c_1), \frac{F(z)-F(y)}{z-y}=f(c_2)$ as $f$ is non decreasing and $0\leq x<y<z$ So $f(c_2)\geq f(c_1)$. This implies the result.
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amar_04
1915 posts
#22 • 1 Y
Y by SatisfiedMagma
Here's a different approach with Riemann Sums
ISI Entrance 2014 P7 wrote:
Let $f: [0,\infty)\to \mathbb{R}$ a non-decreasing function. Then show this inequality holds for all $x,y,z$ such that $0\le x<y<z$.
\begin{align*} & (z-x)\int_{y}^{z}f(u)\,\mathrm{du}\ge (z-y)\int_{x}^{z}f(u)\,\mathrm{du} \end{align*}

$\textbf{Proposition:}$ (Well known) Let $\{x_n\}$ and $\{y_n\}$ be two converging sequences such that $x_n\ge y_n\forall n\in\mathbb{N}$, then $\lim_{n\to\infty} x_n\ge \lim_{n\to\infty} y_n$.

\begin{align*} 
(z-x)\int_{y}^{z} f(u) \mathrm{du}\ge (z-y)\int_{x}^{z} f(u)\mathrm{du}
&\iff (z-y)\int_{y}^{z} f(u)\mathrm{du} +(y-x)\int_{y}^{z}f(u)\mathrm{du}\ge (z-y)\int_{x}^{y}f(u)\mathrm{du} +(z-y)\int_{y}^{z} f(u)\mathrm{du}\\
&\iff (y-x)\int_{y}^{z}f(u)\mathrm{du}\ge (z-y)\int_{x}^{y}f(u)\mathrm{du}\\
&\iff\left(\frac{\int_{y}^{z}f(u)\mathrm{du}}{z-y}\right)\ge\left(\frac{\int_{x}^{y}f(u)\mathrm{du}}{y-x}\right)\qquad [\text{as } z-y>0 \text { and } y-x>0]\\
&\iff \lim_{n\to\infty} \frac{1}{n}\sum_{i=1}^{n} f\left(y+\left(\frac{z-y}{n}\right)i\right)\ge\lim_{n\to\infty} \frac{1}{n}\sum_{i=1}^{n} f\left(x+\left(\frac{y-x}{n}\right)i\right) \cdots\cdots\cdots(\bigstar) (\text{ Riemann sum})
\end{align*}
Now, as $f$ is non-decreasing, so $\forall n\in\mathbb{N}$ we have, $\sum_{i=1}^{n} f\left(x+\left(\frac{y-x}{n}\right)i\right)\ge\sum_{i=1}^{n} f\left(x+\left(\frac{y-x}{n}\right)i\right)\implies\frac{1}{n}\sum_{i=1}^{n} f\left(x+\left(\frac{y-x}{n}\right)i\right)\ge\frac{1}{n}\sum_{i=1}^{n} f\left(x+\left(\frac{y-x}{n}\right)i\right)\overset{\textbf{Proposition}}{\implies}(\bigstar)$ is true, and hence the original inequality is true. $\blacksquare$
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leibnitz
1430 posts
#23 • 1 Y
Y by amar_04
I have a different approach that was surprisingly not posted before.
Use $x\rightarrow a+ (b-a)t$ substitution which gives $\int _a^bf\left(t\right)dt=\left(b-a\right)\int _0^1f\left(a+\left(b-a\right)t\right)dt $. Now we see that we essentially want to compare the two integrals $\int _0^1f\left(y+\left(z-y\right)t\right)dt$ and $\int _0^1f\left(x+\left(z-x\right)t\right)dt$ which is simple since we are given $y>x \Rightarrow y + (z-y)t > x+ (z-x)t$ and the fact that $f$ is non decreasing.
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by leibnitz, Mar 15, 2022, 1:03 PM
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SatisfiedMagma
453 posts
#24
Y by
Okay the experienced people understand this technical point, but I'll add it for the beginners...

You can't invoke Mean Value Theorem for integrals in this problem because you are not given the fact that $f$ is continuous! Mean Value Theorems has an assumption that $f$ is continuous on the closed interval. So indeed applying Fundamental Theorem of Calculus is flawed. Continuity is a very strong condition which everyone should acknowledge.

Here, we're merely given monotonicity of $f$ which is a sufficient criteria for integrability. As a matter of fact, via Daboux's equivalent definition of Riemann Integrals, the proof is fairly simple as well!
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by SatisfiedMagma, May 7, 2024, 5:17 AM
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NS2k7
68 posts
#25
Y by
SatisfiedMagma wrote:
Okay the experienced people understand this technical point, but I'll add it for the beginners...

You can't invoke Mean Value Theorem for integrals in this problem because you are not given the fact that $f$ is continuous! Mean Value Theorems has an assumption that $f$ is continuous on the closed interval. So indeed applying Fundamental Theorem of Calculus is flawed. Continuity is a very strong condition which everyone should acknowledge.

Here, we're merely given monotonicity of $f$ which is a sufficient criteria for integrability. As a matter of fact, via Daboux's equivalent definition of Riemann Integrals, the proof is fairly simple as well!

Weirdly enough, in TOMATO, $f$ is explicitly given to be continuous, but not in this post. So applying MVT is justified.
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NS2k7
68 posts
#26 • 1 Y
Y by SatisfiedMagma
Also, I have a doubt, what is the significance of $x$, $y$, and $z$ being nonnegative? Is it just to make them stay in the domain?
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by NS2k7, Jan 13, 2025, 3:15 PM
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anudeep
117 posts
#27
Y by
I see many of you have abused $f$ in the most brutal way mankind has ever witnessed, some people making substitutions, differentiating, Mean Value theorem, like wtf. Riemann be crying in the coffin. Anyways here is a solution (if my solution is wrong, ppl have complete authority to criticize me), anyways, lets not talk BS.

Solution. If $f$ were continuous, then intuitively this makes sense as it reminds us of the continuous version of `Averages'. This idea is the main theme of the solution.
Using the fact that $\int_{a}^{b}f=\int_{c}^{b}f+\int_{a}^{c}f$ for any $a\le c\le b$, we have
\begin{align*}
		(z-x)\int_{y}^{z}f &\ge (z-y)\int_{x}^{z}f\\
		&= (z-y)\int_{y}^{z}f+(z-y)\int_{x}^{y}f.
	\end{align*}Rearranging the above yields the following inequality which is easier to deal with, you'll soon find out why,
$$\cfrac{1}{z-y}\int_{y}^{z}f\ge \cfrac{1}{y-x}\int_{x}^{y}f.$$Replace the integrals by a silly appoximation in such a way that it preserves the condition, which is achieved as follows
$$\cfrac{1}{z-y}\int_{y}^{z}f\ge \cfrac{z-y}{z-y}\inf_{y< \alpha< z}f(\alpha)\ge \cfrac{y-x}{y-x}\sup_{x<\alpha<y}f(\alpha)\ge\cfrac{1}{y-x}\int_x^{y}f.$$This follows from the fact that $f$ is non-decreasing. $\square$
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by anudeep, Mar 14, 2025, 2:02 PM
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