IMO 1975 · Problem 1

Let \(x_i,y_i\) \((i=1,2,\ldots,n)\) be real numbers such that \[ x_1\ge x_2\ge\cdots\ge x_n \quad\text{and}\quad y_1\ge y_2\ge\cdots\ge y_n. \] Prove that, if \(z_1,z_2,\ldots,z_n\) is any permutation of \(y_1,y_2,\ldots,y_n\), then \[ \sum_{i=1}^{n}(x_i-y_i)^2 \le \sum_{i=1}^{n}(x_i-z_i)^2. \]

Official text of the problem. Official problem paper (PDF)

Solution

We prove the assertion by induction on \(n\). For \(n=1\), we have \(z_1=y_1\), so equality holds.

Suppose \(n\ge2\) and the assertion holds for \(n-1\). Choose an index \(j\) such that \(z_j=y_1\), and obtain \(w_1,\ldots,w_n\) by exchanging \(z_1\) and \(z_j\). Thus \(w_1=y_1\).

This exchange cannot increase the sum of squared differences. Indeed, if \(j=1\), nothing changes. Otherwise, \[ \begin{aligned} &\sum_{i=1}^{n}(x_i-z_i)^2 -\sum_{i=1}^{n}(x_i-w_i)^2\\ &\quad=(x_1-z_1)^2+(x_j-y_1)^2 -(x_1-y_1)^2-(x_j-z_1)^2\\ &\quad=2(x_1-x_j)(y_1-z_1)\ge0, \end{aligned} \] because \(x_1\ge x_j\) and \(y_1\) is the largest of the values being permuted.

After removing the first entry \(w_1=y_1\), the remaining entries \(w_2,\ldots,w_n\) form a permutation of \(y_2,\ldots,y_n\), including their multiplicities. The induction hypothesis therefore gives \[ \sum_{i=2}^{n}(x_i-w_i)^2 \ge \sum_{i=2}^{n}(x_i-y_i)^2. \] Consequently, \[ \begin{aligned} \sum_{i=1}^{n}(x_i-z_i)^2 &\ge \sum_{i=1}^{n}(x_i-w_i)^2\\ &=(x_1-y_1)^2+\sum_{i=2}^{n}(x_i-w_i)^2\\ &\ge \sum_{i=1}^{n}(x_i-y_i)^2. \end{aligned} \] This completes the induction. \(\square\)

The solution was checked against John Scholes' IMO solution archive (Kalva).