MHB Proving Inequality in Mathematics: Vacation Edition

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The discussion centers on proving the inequality involving positive numbers \( a_i \) that sum to 1, specifically the inequality \( \sum_{i=1}^{n}\frac{a_{i}}{a_{i+1}}\ge\sum_{i=1}^{n}\frac{1-a_{i+1}}{1-a_{i}} \). Participants are encouraged to engage with the problem collaboratively, as the original poster is on vacation for four days. The problem is framed as a challenge for the community, emphasizing the educational aspect of tackling inequalities in mathematics. The setting is informal, allowing for a range of solutions and insights to emerge. Overall, the thread aims to foster a collaborative learning environment around this mathematical inequality.
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Re: inequality

The actual problem statement here may be written as:

Given $$a_i>0$$, $$\sum_{i=1}^n a_i=1$$ and $$a_{n+1}=a_{1}$$

Prove:

$$\sum_{i=1}^{n}\dfrac{a_{i}}{a_{i+1}}\ge\sum_{i=1}^{n}\dfrac{1-a_{i+1}}{1-a_{i}}$$

Note: Normally, when a problem is posted in this sub-forum, the OP is expected to have a solution ready to post. However, the OP did not originally post the topic here and during a staff discussion, it was felt that this sub-forum would be best as it really does not fit into any neat category. So, consider this problem a challenge for our membership as a whole. (Cool)
 
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I have been insisting to my statistics students that for probabilities, the rule is the number of significant figures is the number of digits past the leading zeros or leading nines. For example to give 4 significant figures for a probability: 0.000001234 and 0.99999991234 are the correct number of decimal places. That way the complementary probability can also be given to the same significant figures ( 0.999998766 and 0.00000008766 respectively). More generally if you have a value that...

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