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Exercise 1017Algebra › InequalitiesL1Added 3 Nov 2026

Jensen's inequality for the square function

#Jensen#convexity#square function

Statement

Prove that for all x1,…,xn∈Rx_1,\ldots,x_n\in\mathbb{R}:
(x1+⋯+xnn)2≤x12+⋯+xn2n.\left(\frac{x_1+\cdots+x_n}{n}\right)^2\le\frac{x_1^2+\cdots+x_n^2}{n}.

Hint

Expand ∑i<j(xi−xj)2≥0\sum_{i<j}(x_i-x_j)^2\ge0.

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Solution

Expansion. Compute
∑i<j(xi−xj)2=∑i<j(xi2+xj2−2xixj).\sum_{i<j}(x_i-x_j)^2=\sum_{i<j}(x_i^2+x_j^2-2x_ix_j).
Each xi2x_i^2 appears n−1n-1 times, so
∑i<j(xi−xj)2=(n−1)∑ixi2−2∑i<jxixj.\sum_{i<j}(x_i-x_j)^2=(n-1)\sum_i x_i^2-2\sum_{i<j}x_ix_j.
Now (n−1)∑xi2=n∑xi2−∑xi2(n-1)\sum x_i^2= n\sum x_i^2-\sum x_i^2 and 2∑i<jxixj=(∑xi)2−∑xi22\sum_{i<j}x_ix_j=(\sum x_i)^2-\sum x_i^2, so
∑i<j(xi−xj)2=n∑xi2−(∑xi)2.\sum_{i<j}(x_i-x_j)^2= n\sum x_i^2-(\sum x_i)^2.

Inequality. Since the LHS is ≥0\ge0, we get n∑xi2≥(∑xi)2n\sum x_i^2\ge(\sum x_i)^2, i.e.
x12+⋯+xn2n≥(x1+⋯+xnn)2.\frac{x_1^2+\cdots+x_n^2}{n}\ge\left(\frac{x_1+\cdots+x_n}{n}\right)^2.

Conclusion. The square function is convex, so Jensen's inequality applies.