Determine all integers n≥1 for which there exists n real numbers x1,x2,…,xn in the closed interval [−4,2] such that the following three conditions are fulfilled: - the sum of these real numbers is at least n; - the sum of their squares is at most 4n; - the sum of their fourth powers is at least 34n:
Solution
Since the data of the problem concern n real numbers x1,x2,…,xn in the closed interval [−4,2], we consider the polynomial P(x)=(x+4)(x−2)(x−1)2, which in [−4,2] satisfies the relation P(x)=(x+4)(x−2)(x−1)2≤0.(1) Adding by parts the inequalities coming from (1) for x=x1,x2,…,xn, and taking in mind the conditions of the problem, we find: 0≥P(x1)+⋯+P(xn)=i=1∑nxi4−11i=1∑nxi2+18i=1∑nxi−8n≥34n−11⋅4n+18n−8n=0.(2) Hence, since P(xi)≤0, for all i=1,2,…,n, from relation (2) we have: P(xi)=0, for all i=1,2,…,n, which means that xi∈{−4,1,2}, for all i=1,2,…,n. We suppose that from the integers x1,x2,…,xn, a are equal to −4, b are equal to 1 and c are equal to 2. Then we have a+b+c=n and from the data of the problems we have the inequalities ⎩⎨⎧−4a+b+2c≥a+b+c16a+b+4c≤4(a+b+c)256a+b+16c≥34(a+b+c)⎭⎬⎫⇔⎩⎨⎧c≥5ab≥4a222a≥33b+18c⎭⎬⎫. By multiplying both parts of the first inequality with 18 and the second with 33 and summing the produced inequalities by parts we get the inequality 33b+18c≥132a+90a=222a, which in combination with the inequality 222a≥33b+18c gives: 33b+18c=222a, which is valid, if and only if b=4a, c=5a, that is a+b+c=10a or 10a=n. Therefore the numbers x1,x2,…,xn there exist, if and only if, n is a multiple of 10. For n=10m, where m is a positive integer a possible solution arises by taking m times the number −4, 4m times the number 1 and 5m times the number 2.
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