Chapter

Rearrangement and Chebyshev

The module teaches students to recognize order in inequalities: rearrangement, Chebyshev, opposite order, power sums, and zero-sum problems.
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Theory

Key idea

If two sequences are sorted in the same order, pairing them term by term gives the largest possible product sum. If they are sorted in opposite orders, the product sum is smallest. Chebyshev's inequality turns this ordering idea into an estimate for the average product.

Basic facts

Rearrangement inequality. If \(a_1\le\cdots\le a_n\) and \(b_1\le\cdots\le b_n\), then for any permutation \(\sigma\)

\[\sum_{i=1}^n a_i b_i\ge \sum_{i=1}^n a_i b_{\sigma(i)}\ge \sum_{i=1}^n a_i b_{n+1-i}.\]

Chebyshev's inequality. For similarly ordered sequences,

\[\frac1n\sum_{i=1}^n a_i b_i\ge \left(\frac1n\sum_{i=1}^n a_i\right)\left(\frac1n\sum_{i=1}^n b_i\right).\]

When to use this method

Use the method when a problem involves ordering, permutations, a maximum or minimum product sum, or power sums such as \(\sum a_i^{m+1}\), which can be viewed as products \(a_i^m\cdot a_i\).

How to recognise the method

Look for two monotone sequences: \(a_i\) and \(a_i^2\), \(a_i^2\) and \(a_i^3\), numbers and their reciprocals in the opposite order, or coefficients and variables with zero sum. If the expression changes when letters are permuted, rearrangement is often worth testing.

Typical mistakes

Do not apply the inequality before checking the order. Reciprocals have the opposite order. In symmetric problems one may rename variables first, but in cyclic expressions this must be done carefully: after renaming, the cyclic sum is only some permutation of products.

Mini-checklist

1. Which two sequences should be ordered? 2. Are they similarly or oppositely ordered? 3. Is the goal a maximum, a minimum, or an average estimate? 4. Can the cyclic sum be treated as an arbitrary permutation? 5. When can equality occur?

Examples

Example 1. One swap

The first step of the method is understanding why the correct pairing is better than the incorrect one.

Problem. Let \(a\le b\) and \(x\le y\). Prove that \(ax+by\ge ay+bx\).

Solution.

Subtract the right side from the left side:

\[ax+by-ay-bx=(b-a)(y-x)\ge0.\]

One adjacent swap cannot increase the sum once the order is already correct.

Example 2. Maximum permutation

Any permutation can be repaired by a sequence of adjacent swaps.

Problem. If \(a\le b\le c\) and \(x\le y\le z\), show that the maximum of \(ap+bq+cr\), where \(p,q,r\) is a permutation of \(x,y,z\), is \(ax+by+cz\).

Solution.

If a larger coefficient is paired with a smaller variable and a smaller coefficient with a larger variable, swapping them increases the sum by \((b-a)(y-x)\ge0\). Repeating such swaps gives the same order. Hence the maximum is \(ax+by+cz\).

Example 3. Chebyshev's inequality

Chebyshev is the average form of rearrangement.

Problem. Let \(a\le b\le c\) and \(x\le y\le z\). Prove \[3(ax+by+cz)\ge(a+b+c)(x+y+z).\]

Solution.

Expanding the difference gives

\[3\sum ax-\sum a\sum x=(b-a)(y-x)+(c-a)(z-x)+(c-b)(z-y)\ge0.\]

Example 4. Opposite order

Reciprocals reverse the order.

Problem. Let \(0

Solution.

The sequence \(a,b,c\) is increasing, and \(\frac1c,\frac1b,\frac1a\) is also increasing. By rearrangement, the maximum sum is obtained by the same order: \(\frac{a}{c}+\frac{b}{b}+\frac{c}{a}\).

Example 5. Power sums

Powers automatically preserve the order.

Problem. Prove for \(x,y,z\ge0\): \[3(x^3+y^3+z^3)\ge(x+y+z)(x^2+y^2+z^2).\]

Solution.

Reorder the numbers so that \(x\le y\le z\). Then \(x^2\le y^2\le z^2\). By Chebyshev,

\[\frac{x^3+y^3+z^3}{3}\ge\frac{x+y+z}{3}\cdot\frac{x^2+y^2+z^2}{3}.\]

Example 6. Cyclic sum

A cyclic sum is often just one of the possible permutations.

Problem. Prove for \(a,b,c>0\): \[a^4+b^4+c^4\ge a^3b+b^3c+c^3a.\]

Solution.

Order \(a,b,c\) as \(u_1\le u_2\le u_3\). Then \(u_1^3\le u_2^3\le u_3^3\). The largest product sum \(u_i^3\cdot u_{\sigma(i)}\) is \(\sum u_i^4\). The right side is one of these permutations, so it is not larger than the left side.

Example 7. Zero sum

Chebyshev often turns a zero-sum condition into the sign of a dot product.

Problem. Let \(a\le b\le c\), \(x\le y\le z\), and \(x+y+z=0\). Prove that \(ax+by+cz\ge0\) if \(a+b+c\ge0\).

Solution.

By Chebyshev, \(3(ax+by+cz)\ge(a+b+c)(x+y+z)=0\). Hence \(ax+by+cz\ge0\).

Example 8. Keeping equality cases

In permutation problems, it is important to know when every swap gives zero gain.

Problem. For \(a\le b\le c\) and \(x\le y\le z\), find when \(ax+by+cz=az+by+cx\).

Solution.

The difference is \((c-a)(z-x)\). Therefore equality holds if and only if \(a=c\) or \(x=z\), meaning one of the sequences is constant at the extreme positions.

Problems

Problems

#4.1
#4.1

One incorrect swap

Rearrangement Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★☆☆☆

Let \(a\le b\) and \(x\le y\). Prove that \(ax+by\ge ay+bx\).

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M04-P001
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Rearrangement
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#4.2
#4.2

Extreme elements

Rearrangement Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★☆☆☆

Let \(a\le b\le c\) and \(x\le y\le z\). Prove that \(az+by+cx\le ax+by+cz\).

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M04-P002
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Rearrangement
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#4.3
#4.3

Two adjacent swaps

Rearrangement Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★☆☆☆

Let \(a\le b\le c\) and \(x\le y\le z\). Prove \[ay+bz+cx\le ax+by+cz.\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M04-P003
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Rearrangement
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#4.4
#4.4

Chebyshev for three terms

Ordered Sequences Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★☆☆☆

Let \(a\le b\le c\) and \(x\le y\le z\). Prove \[3(ax+by+cz)\ge(a+b+c)(x+y+z).\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M04-P004
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Ordered Sequences
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#4.5
#4.5

Squares versus mixed products

Rearrangement Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★☆☆☆

Prove for \(a,b,c\ge0\): \[a^2+b^2+c^2\ge ab+bc+ca.\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M04-P005
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Rearrangement
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#4.6
#4.6

Arbitrary permutation

Rearrangement Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★☆☆

Let \(a\le b\le c\le d\) and \(x\le y\le z\le t\). Prove that for any permutation \(p,q,r,s\) of \(x,y,z,t\), \[ap+bq+cr+ds\le ax+by+cz+dt.\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M04-P006
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Rearrangement
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#4.7
#4.7

Cubes and squares

Chebyshev Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★☆☆

Prove for \(x,y,z\ge0\): \[3(x^3+y^3+z^3)\ge(x+y+z)(x^2+y^2+z^2).\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M04-P007
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Chebyshev
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#4.8
#4.8

Four nonnegative numbers

Chebyshev Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★☆☆

Prove for \(a,b,c,d\ge0\): \[4(a^3+b^3+c^3+d^3)\ge(a+b+c+d)(a^2+b^2+c^2+d^2).\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M04-P008
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Chebyshev
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#4.9
#4.9

Cyclic cubes

Cyclic Sum Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★☆☆

Prove for \(a,b,c>0\): \[a^3+b^3+c^3\ge a^2b+b^2c+c^2a.\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M04-P009
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Cyclic Sum
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#4.10
#4.10

Fourth powers

Cyclic Sum Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★☆☆

Prove for \(a,b,c>0\): \[a^4+b^4+c^4\ge a^3b+b^3c+c^3a.\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M04-P010
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Cyclic Sum
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#4.11
#4.11

Cubic lower bound

AM-GM Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★★☆

Prove for \(a,b,c\ge0\): \[a^3+b^3+c^3\ge\frac{(a+b+c)^3}{9}.\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M04-P011
Difficulty: Level 4 of 5
Tag: AM-GM
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10
#4.12
#4.12

Dot product with zero sum

Ordered Sequences Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★★☆

Let \(a\le b\le c\), \(x\le y\le z\), \(x+y+z=0\), and \(a+b+c\ge0\). Prove that \(ax+by+cz\ge0\).

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M04-P012
Difficulty: Level 4 of 5
Tag: Ordered Sequences
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10
#4.13
#4.13

Reverse reciprocal order

Reciprocals Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★★☆

Let \(0

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M04-P013
Difficulty: Level 4 of 5
Tag: Reciprocals
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10
#4.14
#4.14

Maximum and minimum

Equality Case Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★★☆

Let \(a\le b\le c\) and \(x\le y\le z\). Among all permutations \(p,q,r\) of \(x,y,z\), find the maximum and minimum of \(ap+bq+cr\).

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M04-P014
Difficulty: Level 4 of 5
Tag: Equality Case
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10
#4.15
#4.15

Difference identity

Identity Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★★☆

Let \(a\le b\le c\) and \(x\le y\le z\). Prove the identity \[3(ax+by+cz)-(a+b+c)(x+y+z)=(b-a)(y-x)+(c-a)(z-x)+(c-b)(z-y).\] Deduce Chebyshev for three terms from it.

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M04-P015
Difficulty: Level 4 of 5
Tag: Identity
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10
#4.16
#4.16

Four-term cycle

Cyclic Sum Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★★☆

Prove for \(a,b,c,d>0\): \[a^4+b^4+c^4+d^4\ge a^3b+b^3c+c^3d+d^3a.\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M04-P016
Difficulty: Level 4 of 5
Tag: Cyclic Sum
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10
#4.17
#4.17

Two zero sums

Ordered Sequences Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★★★

Let \(a_1\le a_2\le\cdots\le a_n\), \(b_1\le b_2\le\cdots\le b_n\), and \(\sum_{i=1}^n a_i=\sum_{i=1}^n b_i=0\). Prove \[\sum_{i=1}^n a_i b_i\ge0.\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M04-P017
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Ordered Sequences
Grade: Grade 9, Grade 10
#4.18
#4.18

Fifth power and product of sums

Chebyshev Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★★★

Prove for \(a,b,c\ge0\): \[3(a^5+b^5+c^5)\ge(a^2+b^2+c^2)(a^3+b^3+c^3).\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M04-P018
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Chebyshev
Grade: Grade 9, Grade 10
#4.19
#4.19

General power form

Chebyshev Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★★★

Let \(x_1,\ldots,x_n\ge0\), and let \(m\) be a positive integer. Prove \[\sum_{i=1}^n x_i^{m+1}\ge\frac1n\left(\sum_{i=1}^n x_i^m\right)\left(\sum_{i=1}^n x_i\right).\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M04-P019
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Chebyshev
Grade: Grade 9, Grade 10
#4.20
#4.20

Fifth power in a cycle

Cyclic Sum Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★★★

Prove for \(a,b,c>0\): \[a^5+b^5+c^5\ge a^4b+b^4c+c^4a.\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M04-P020
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Cyclic Sum
Grade: Grade 9, Grade 10
#4.21
#4.21

Two powers in a permutation

Cyclic Sum Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★★★

Prove for \(a,b,c>0\): \[a^6+b^6+c^6\ge a^4b^2+b^4c^2+c^4a^2.\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M04-P021
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Cyclic Sum
Grade: Grade 9, Grade 10
#4.22
#4.22

Fifth power via the sum

AM-GM Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★★★

Prove for \(a,b,c\ge0\): \[a^5+b^5+c^5\ge\frac{(a+b+c)^5}{81}.\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M04-P022
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: AM-GM
Grade: Grade 9, Grade 10
#4.23
#4.23

Indices as coefficients

Ordered Sequences Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★★★

Let \(x_1\le x_2\le\cdots\le x_n\) and \(x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_n=0\). Prove \[\sum_{i=1}^n i\,x_i\ge0.\]

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M04-P023
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Ordered Sequences
Grade: Grade 9, Grade 10
#4.24
#4.24

Sum with an arbitrary cycle

Rearrangement Grade 9 Grade 10 ★★★★★

Let \(a_1,a_2,\ldots,a_n>0\), and let \(\sigma\) be any permutation of \(1,2,\ldots,n\). Prove \[\sum_{i=1}^n a_i^{m+1}\ge\sum_{i=1}^n a_i^m a_{\sigma(i)}\] for every positive integer \(m\).

Details
Problem: ALG-B2-M04-P024
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Rearrangement
Grade: Grade 9, Grade 10

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