Let a1>a2>a3>a4 be the four largest elements in A. Let a=a1a2+a3a4, b=a1a3+a2a4 and c=a1a4+a2a3. Then a>b>c by the rearrangement inequality. We also know that a,b,c∈A.
If there is a fifth term a5, then as before, the 4 terms a2,a3,a4,a5 generate 3 numbers a′>b′>c′ and we have c=a1a4+a2a3>a′=a2a3+a4a5. Thus we have 6 distinct numbers. In general, if we have n+4 terms, n≥1, then every 4 consecutive terms generate 3 distinct elements, giving a total of ≥3(n+1)>n+4=∣A∣. Thus A={a1,a2,a3,a4}.
Suppose a4>0. If c=a4, then
(1−a1)a4=a2a3⇒1−a1>a2⇒a2<21⇒a4<21⇒a<2a1+a3<a1.
Hence a=a2. Therefore
1=a1+a2a3a4=a1+a4a2a3⇒a2=a4, contradiction.
If c>a4, then a1=a=a1a2+a3a4, a2=b=a1a3+a2a4, a3=c=a1a4+a2a3. Therefore
1=a2+a1a3a4=a2+a3a1a4⇒a4=0, contradiction.
Hence a4=0 and since c>0, c=a3, b=a2 and a=a1. Thus
a3=a4a1+a2a3=a2a3⇒a2=1;a2=a1a3+a2a4⇒a1a3=1.
It is easy to check that A={x,1,x1,0}, satisfies the conditions given.