Solution:
We denote Sn=x1+…+xn and carry out a proof by induction. Direct computation gives x1=1, x2=−1, x3=1, x4=1 and hence Sn≥0 for 1≤n≤4.
Now we assume that Sk≥0 holds for all natural numbers k<n, and we claim Sn≥0.
For this we distinguish four cases.
Case 1: n=4m. We have
Sn=i=1∑m(x4i−3+x4i−2+x4i−1+x4i)=i=1∑m(x2i−1−x2i−1−x2i−x2i)
=−2i=1∑mx2i=2i=1∑mxi=2Sm≥0.
Case 2: n=4m+1. We have Sn=2Sm+x4m+1=2Sm+x2m+1=2Sm+(−1)mxm+1.
Case 2.1: m is odd. Then Sm is also odd, so 2Sm≥2 and Sn≥1>0.
Case 2.2: m is even. We have Sn=2Sm+xm+1=Sm+Sm+1≥0.
Case 3: n=4m+2. We have Sn=Sn−2+x4m+1+x4m+2=Sn−2+x2m+1−x2m+1=Sn−2≥0.
Case 4: n=4m+3. We have Sn=Sn+1−xn+1=2Sm+1+x2m+2=2Sm+1−xm+1=Sm+Sm+1≥0.