Prove that if the function \(f (x)\) is convex upwards on the line \([a, b]\), then for any distinct points \(x_1, x_2\) in \([a; b]\) and for any positive \(\alpha_{1}, \alpha_{2}\) such that \(\alpha_{1} + \alpha_ {2} = 1\) the following inequality holds: \(f(\alpha_1 x_1 + \alpha_2 x_2 ) > \alpha_1 f (x_1) + \alpha_2 f(x_2)\).
Inequality of Jensen. Prove that if the function \(f (x)\) is convex upward on \([a, b]\), then for any distinct points \(x_1, x_2, \dots , x_n\) (\(n \geq 2\)) from \([a; b]\) and any positive \(\alpha_{1}, \alpha_{2}, \dots , \alpha_{n}\) such that \(\alpha_ {1} + \alpha_{2} + \dots + \alpha_{n} = 1\), the following inequality holds: \(f (\alpha_{1} x_1 + \dots + \alpha_{n} x_n) > \alpha_{1} f (x_1) + \dots + \alpha_{n} f (x_n)\).
Let \(p\) and \(q\) be positive numbers where \(1 / p + 1 / q = 1\). Prove that \[a_1b_1 + a_2b_2 + \dots + a_nb_n \leq (a_1^p + \dots a_n^p)^{1/p}(b_1^q +\dots + b_n^q)^{1/q}\] The values of the variables are considered positive.
Draw all of the stairs made from four bricks in descending order, starting with the steepest \((4, 0, 0, 0)\) and ending with the shallowest \((1, 1, 1, 1)\).
Let the sequences of numbers \(\{a_n\}\) and \(\{b_n\}\), that are associated with the relation \(\Delta b_n = a_n\) (\(n = 1, 2, \dots\)), be given. How are the partial sums \(S_n\) of the sequence \(\{a_n\}\) \(S_n = a_1 + a_2 + \dots + a_n\) linked to the sequence \(\{b_n\}\)?
Definition. Let the function \(f (x, y)\) be valid at all points of a plane with integer coordinates. We call a function \(f (x, y)\) harmonic if its value at each point is equal to the arithmetic mean of the values of the function at four neighbouring points, that is: \[f (x, y) = 1/4 (f (x + 1, y) + f (x-1, y) + f(x, y + 1) + f (x, y-1)).\] Let \(f(x, y)\) and \(g (x, y)\) be harmonic functions. Prove that for any \(a\) and \(b\) the function \(af (x, y) + bg (x, y)\) is also harmonic.
Let \(f (x, y)\) be a harmonic function. Prove that the functions \(\Delta_{x} f (x, y) = f (x + 1, y) - f (x, y)\) and \(\Delta_{y}f(x , y) = f(x, y + 1) - f(x, y)\) will also be harmonic.
Liouville’s discrete theorem. Let \(f (x, y)\) be a bounded harmonic function (see the definition in problem number 11.28), that is, there exists a positive constant \(M\) such that \(\forall (x, y) \in \mathbb {Z}^2\) \(| f (x, y) | \leq M\). Prove that the function \(f (x, y)\) is equal to a constant.
Definition. The sequence of numbers \(a_0, a_1, \dots , a_n, \dots\), which, with the given \(p\) and \(q\), satisfies the relation \(a_{n + 2} = pa_{n + 1} + qa_n\) (\(n = 0,1,2, \dots\)) is called a linear recurrent sequence of the second order.
The equation \[x^2-px-q = 0\] is called a characteristic equation of the sequence \(\{a_n\}\).
Prove that, if the numbers \(a_0\), \(a_1\) are fixed, then all of the other terms of the sequence \(\{a_n\}\) are uniquely determined.
A frog jumps over the vertices of the triangle \(ABC\), moving each time to one of the neighbouring vertices.
How many ways can it get from \(A\) to \(A\) in \(n\) jumps?