# Extremum problem on regular simplex

I'm looking for a proof for the extremum problem on regular simplex.

Question. Let $\mathcal{A}=A_0A_1...A_n$ be a regular simplex in $\Bbb E^n$. $P$ is a point inside and on boundary of $\mathcal{A}$. Prove that the product $$\prod_{i=0}^n PA_i$$ attains maximum iff $P$ is one of the midpoints of edges of this simplex.

It looks like for small $n$, your assertion is true. For large $n$, there are symmetrically placed pairs on the side achieving the maximum. Please see this paper for details. (I do not have access to this paper yet.)

[Previuos comments] The result is clear for $n=1$ from the AM-GM inequality. The case $n=2$ can be shown by complex analysis: Represent the regular triangle by the roots of unity $1,\zeta,\zeta^2$, where $\zeta =-\frac 12+\frac {\sqrt{3}}2i$. Then the required function is represented by $$p(z)=|(z-1)(z-\zeta)(z-\zeta)|=|z^3-1|.$$ By the maximum modulus principle and by symmetry we may assume that $z$ lies on the side joining $\zeta$ to $\zeta^2$, i.e. $z$ is of the form $z=-\frac 12+ti,$ where $-\frac{\sqrt 3}2\leq t\leq\frac{\sqrt 3}2$. By calculus, the maximum happens when $t=0$ and $z=-1/2$, which is the midpoint of a side of the regular triangle.

EDIT. Here is a suggestion for the general case. Taking logarithm, the problem is equivalent to finding the maximum of the function $$f=\frac 12\sum_{i=0}^n \log [(x_1-a_1^i)^2+\cdots+(x_n-a_n^i)^2],$$ where $(x_1,\cdots,x_n)$ is the coordinates for $P$, and $(a_1^i,\cdots,a_n^i)$ represents the vertices with $i=0,\cdots,n$. If $n>2$, then $\Delta f>0$, so $f$ is a subharmonic function and the maximum principle applies. This does not solve the problem yet, but it follows that the maximum occurs on the boundary faces.

• Thank Mr Cherng-tiao, I think that the maximum occurs on boundary is consequence of the property: The continuos function on compact space will attain extremum on its boundary. – Tran Quang Hung Jul 8 '18 at 10:27
• Continuous functions attain extremum on compact set, but not necessarily on the boundary. For example, $f(x)=\sin(x)$ on $[-\pi,\pi]$ has its maximum and minimum in the interior. – Cherng-tiao Perng Jul 8 '18 at 11:31
• Thank you, you are right. I belive that this problem is true, the product attains maximum when $P$ is the midpoint of the edges. – Tran Quang Hung Jul 8 '18 at 13:01
• No problem. Yes, for small $n$, it is true. Please see my updates in the answer. – Cherng-tiao Perng Jul 8 '18 at 15:18