MathDB
Traces of matrices

Source: SEEMOUS 2019, problem 2

March 18, 2019
linear algebracollege contests

Problem Statement

Let A1,A2,,AmMn(R)A_1, A_2,\dots,A_m\in \mathcal{M}_n(\mathbb{R}). Prove that there exist ε1,ε2,,εm{1,1}\varepsilon_1,\varepsilon_2,\dots,\varepsilon_m\in \{-1,1\} such that: tr((ε1A1+ε2A2++εmAm)2)tr(A12)+tr(A22)++tr(Am2)\rm{tr}\left( (\varepsilon_1 A_1+\varepsilon_2A_2+\dots+\varepsilon_m A_m)^2\right)\geq \rm{tr}(A_1^2)+\rm{tr}(A_2^2)+\dots+\rm{tr}(A_m^2)