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Combinatorics Difficulty 7.7 National Olympiad, round 2 Prove it Baltic Way

The real numbers x1,,x2011x_1, \dots, x_{2011} satisfy
x1+x2=2x1,x2+x3=2x2,,x2011+x1=2x2011 x_1 + x_2 = 2x'_1, \quad x_2 + x_3 = 2x'_2, \quad \dots, \quad x_{2011} + x_1 = 2x'_{2011}
where x1,x2,,x2011x'_1, x'_2, \dots, x'_{2011} is a permutation of x1,x2,,x2011x_1, x_2, \dots, x_{2011}. Prove x1=x2==x2011x_1 = x_2 = \dots = x_{2011}.

Solutions — 2

Solution 1

For convenience we call x2011x_{2011} also x0x_0. Let kk be the largest of the numbers x1,,x2011x_1, \dots, x_{2011}, and consider an equation xn1+xn=2kx_{n-1} + x_n = 2k, where 1n20111 \le n \le 2011. Hence we get 2max(xn1,xn)xn1+xn=2k2 \max(x_{n-1}, x_n) \ge x_{n-1} + x_n = 2k, so either xn1x_{n-1} or xnx_n is k\ge k. Since xn1kx_{n-1} \le k, we then have xn1=kx_{n-1} = k, and then also xn=2kxn1=2kk=kx_n = 2k - x_{n-1} = 2k - k = k. That is, in such an equation both variables on the left equal kk. Now let E\mathcal{E} be the set of such equations, and let S\mathcal{S} be the set of subscripts on the left of these equations. From xn=knSx_n = k \forall n \in \mathcal{S} we get SE|\mathcal{S}| \le |\mathcal{E}|. On the other hand, since the total number of appearances of these subscripts is 2E2|\mathcal{E}| and each subscript appears on the left in no more than two equations, we have 2E2S2|\mathcal{E}| \le 2|\mathcal{S}|. Thus 2E=2S2|\mathcal{E}| = 2|\mathcal{S}|, so for each nSn \in \mathcal{S} the set E\mathcal{E} contains both equations with the subscript nn on the left. Now assume 1S1 \in \mathcal{S} without loss of generality. Then the equation x1+x2=2kx_1 + x_2 = 2k belongs to E\mathcal{E}, so 2S2 \in \mathcal{S}. Continuing in this way we find that all subscripts belong to S\mathcal{S}, so x1=x2==x2011=kx_1 = x_2 = \dots = x_{2011} = k.

Solution 2

Again we call x2011x_{2011} also x0x_0. Taking the square on both sides of all the equations and adding the results, we get
n=12011(xn1+xn)2=4n=12011xn2=4n=12011xn2, \sum_{n=1}^{2011} (x_{n-1} + x_n)^2 = 4 \sum_{n=1}^{2011} x_n'^2 = 4 \sum_{n=1}^{2011} x_n^2,
which can be transformed with some algebra into
n=12011(xn1xn)2=0. \sum_{n=1}^{2011} (x_{n-1} - x_n)^2 = 0.
Hence the assertion follows.

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