# Range of $\sqrt{a^2 + (1 - b)^2} + \sqrt{b^2 + (1 - c)^2} + \sqrt{c^2 + (1 - d)^2} + \sqrt{d^2 + (1 - a)^2}$ on $0 \le a,$ $b,$ $c,$ $d \le 1.$

Let $$0 \le a,$$ $$b,$$ $$c,$$ $$d \le 1.$$ Find the possible values of the expression $$\sqrt{a^2 + (1 - b)^2} + \sqrt{b^2 + (1 - c)^2} + \sqrt{c^2 + (1 - d)^2} + \sqrt{d^2 + (1 - a)^2}.$$

I tried to use some inequalities to find the bounds of the expression, but it didn't really work. Also, I don't know calculus yet, so please keep the responses and hints non-calc.

Thanks in advance!!

• Take the square figure and reflect it in one of its sides. Keep reflecting until you get a grid of squares. The four chords appear in four different reflected patterns. There is a path from the point $(1-a, 0)$ to $(3-a,2)$ that includes a copy of all four chords. It is shortest when it is a straight line, at $45$ degrees. Apr 5 at 15:11

## 2 Answers

The max must be $$4$$ (while $$a=b=c=d=1$$) and min be $$a=c$$ and $$b=d$$).

Define

$$L(a_1,a_2,b_1,b_2,c_1,c_2,d_1,d_2,\lambda_1,\lambda_2,\lambda_3,\lambda_4)=\sqrt{a_1^2+b_2^2}+\sqrt{b_1^2+c_2^2}+\sqrt{c_1^2+d_2^2}+\sqrt{d_1^2+a_2^2}+\lambda_1(a_1+a_2-1)+\lambda_2(b_1+b_2-1)+\lambda_3(c_1+c_2-1)+\lambda_4(d_1+d_2-1).$$

Let $$\nabla L=0$$, we find $$a_1=b_2=c_1=d_2,a_2=b_1=c_2=d_1$$ are stationary points of L. Hence it could be the extremum of the function in question.

• That’s a good illustrative diagram, but it does t convince me the minimum is $2\sqrt2.$ Apr 5 at 2:06
• We can use Lagrange Multiplier to find the extremum. Apr 5 at 2:29
• Thanks!!! But is there a non-calc way? Apr 5 at 3:16
• $a^2+(1-b)^2\geq2a(1-b)$. The equation is valid if and only if $a=1-b$. So we can deduce that if and only if $a=c$ and $b=d$, the function gets its minimum. Apr 5 at 4:05

Denote the expression by $$P(a, b, c, d)$$.

First, using Minkowski inequality, we have \begin{align*} P &\ge \sqrt{(a + b + c + d)^2 + (1 - b + 1 - c + 1 - d + 1 - a)^2}\\ &= \sqrt{x^2 + (4 - x)^2}\\ &= \sqrt{2(x - 2)^2 + 8}\\ &\ge 2\sqrt 2 \end{align*} where $$x = a + b + c + d$$. Also, $$P(1/2, 1/2, 1/2, 1/2) = 2\sqrt 2$$. Thus, the minimum of $$P$$ is $$2\sqrt 2$$.

Second, using $$x + y + z + t \le \sqrt{4(x^2 + y^2 + z^2 + t^2)}$$ for all $$x, y, z, t \ge 0$$ (well-known, the so-called AM-QM), we have \begin{align*} P &\le \sqrt{4[a^2 + (1 - b)^2 + b^2 + (1 - c)^2 + c^2 + (1 - d)^2 + d^2 + (1 - a)^2]}\\ &= \sqrt{16 - 8a - 8b - 8c - 8d + 8a^2 + 8b^2 + 8c^2 + 8d^2}\\ &\le 4 \end{align*} where we have used $$a \ge a^2$$ etc. Also, $$P(1, 1, 1, 1) = 4$$. Thus, the maximum of $$P$$ is $$4$$.

Thus, the range of $$P$$ is $$[2\sqrt 2, 4]$$.