Maths Olympiad Prep

Library / /6 of 7

Algebra Difficulty 6.8 National olympiad Prove it Greece

Determine all integers n1n \ge 1 for which there exists nn real numbers x1,x2,,xnx_1, x_2, \dots, x_n in the closed interval [4,2][-4, 2] such that the following three conditions are fulfilled:
- the sum of these real numbers is at least nn;
- the sum of their squares is at most 4n4n;
- the sum of their fourth powers is at least 34n34n:

Solution

Since the data of the problem concern nn real numbers x1,x2,,xnx_1, x_2, \dots, x_n in the closed interval [4,2][-4, 2], we consider the polynomial
P(x)=(x+4)(x2)(x1)2, P(x) = (x+4)(x-2)(x-1)^2,
which in [4,2][-4, 2] satisfies the relation
P(x)=(x+4)(x2)(x1)20.(1) P(x) = (x+4)(x-2)(x-1)^2 \le 0. \quad (1)
Adding by parts the inequalities coming from (1) for x=x1,x2,,xnx = x_1, x_2, \dots, x_n, and taking in mind the conditions of the problem, we find:
0P(x1)++P(xn)=i=1nxi411i=1nxi2+18i=1nxi8n34n114n+18n8n=0.(2) 0 \ge P(x_1) + \dots + P(x_n) = \sum_{i=1}^{n} x_i^4 - 11 \sum_{i=1}^{n} x_i^2 + 18 \sum_{i=1}^{n} x_i - 8n \ge 34n - 11 \cdot 4n + 18n - 8n = 0. \quad (2)
Hence, since P(xi)0P(x_i) \le 0, for all i=1,2,,ni = 1, 2, \dots, n, from relation (2) we have: P(xi)=0P(x_i) = 0, for all i=1,2,,ni = 1, 2, \dots, n, which means that xi{4,1,2}x_i \in \{-4, 1, 2\}, for all i=1,2,,ni = 1, 2, \dots, n. We suppose that from the integers x1,x2,,xnx_1, x_2, \dots, x_n, aa are equal to 4-4, bb are equal to 11 and cc are equal to 22. Then we have a+b+c=na+b+c=n and from the data of the problems we have the inequalities
{4a+b+2ca+b+c16a+b+4c4(a+b+c)256a+b+16c34(a+b+c)}{c5ab4a222a33b+18c}. \left\{ \begin{array}{l} -4a+b+2c \ge a+b+c \\ 16a+b+4c \le 4(a+b+c) \\ 256a+b+16c \ge 34(a+b+c) \end{array} \right\} \Leftrightarrow \left\{ \begin{array}{l} c \ge 5a \\ b \ge 4a \\ 222a \ge 33b+18c \end{array} \right\}.
By multiplying both parts of the first inequality with 1818 and the second with 3333 and summing the produced inequalities by parts we get the inequality
33b+18c132a+90a=222a, 33b+18c \geq 132a+90a = 222a,
which in combination with the inequality 222a33b+18c222a \geq 33b+18c gives:
33b+18c=222a, 33b+18c = 222a,
which is valid, if and only if b=4ab = 4a, c=5ac = 5a, that is
a+b+c=10a or 10a=n. a+b+c=10a \text{ or } 10a=n.
Therefore the numbers x1,x2,,xnx_1, x_2, \dots, x_n there exist, if and only if, nn is a multiple of 1010. For n=10mn=10m, where mm is a positive integer a possible solution arises by taking mm times the number 4-4, 4m4m times the number 11 and 5m5m times the number 22.

Want a route through all this instead of an archive? The track puts 2,000 problems in a working order, from AMC 10 level to the IMO shortlist.

Source: MathNet, licensed CC-BY-4.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.