Find the maximum of the following function of summation. f(sigma)=sum_{i=sigma-1}^{n-1}((sigma-1)/(i))^2

Kailey Vargas

Kailey Vargas

Answered question

2022-09-05

Find the maximum of the following function of summation
I ran into this problem:
f ( σ ) = i = σ 1 n 1 ( σ 1 i ) 2
Find the maximum of this function with 1 < σ < n, n > 4. My conjecture is that it achieves max with σ = n 2 + 1 when n is even and σ = n 1 2 + 1 when n is odd (according to a simulation). However I cannot prove this. Any hint on what I can do?

Answer & Explanation

Aubrie Conley

Aubrie Conley

Beginner2022-09-06Added 13 answers

Step 1
Let σ 1 = p, so
S = i = p n 1 p 2 i 2 i = p n 1 p 2 i ( i 1 ) = p 2 i = p n 1 ( 1 i 1 1 i ) = p 2 ( 1 p 1 1 n 2 )
Step 2
Lastly we have used telescopic summing, so
S ( p ) p 2 ( 1 p 1 1 n 2 ) , p = σ 1 , σ 1.
when n , S ( p ) < p 2 p 1 = p + 1 + 1 / ( p 1 )

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