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Algebra Difficulty 6.1 National olympiad Prove it Japan

Let n2n \ge 2 be an integer. Find all sets of real numbers (a1,a2,,an)(a_1, a_2, \dots, a_n) such that a12a2,a22a3,,an12an,an2a1a_1 - 2a_2, a_2 - 2a_3, \dots, a_{n-1} - 2a_n, a_n - 2a_1 is a permutation of a1,a2,,ana_1, a_2, \dots, a_n. Note that a1,a2,,ana_1, a_2, \dots, a_n itself is also a permutation of a1,a2,,ana_1, a_2, \dots, a_n.

Solution

Let an+1=a1a_{n+1} = a_1, a0=ana_0 = a_n, and let MM and mm denote the maximum and minimum values of a1,a2,,ana_1, a_2, \dots, a_n, respectively. Remark that the maximum and minimum values of a12a2,a22a3,,an2a1a_1 - 2a_2, a_2 - 2a_3, \dots, a_n - 2a_1 are also MM and mm, respectively. Take ss satisfying as=ma_s = m. Then, from Mas12asm2mM \ge a_{s-1} - 2a_s \ge m - 2m, we have M+m0M + m \ge 0. Therefore, if we choose tt satisfying at=Ma_t = M, then from at12atma_{t-1} - 2a_t \ge m, it follows that at12at+m=2M+mMa_{t-1} \ge 2a_t + m = 2M + m \ge M, implying at1=Ma_{t-1} = M. Hence, by induction, we conclude that ai=Ma_i = M for any ii. Consequently, from the assumption, we have M=M2MM = M - 2M, which implies M=0M = 0. Thus, it is necessary for ai=0a_i = 0 for any ii. Conversely, the problem assumption is satisfied for this case. Therefore, the solution is (a1,a2,,an)=(0,0,,0)(a_1, a_2, \dots, a_n) = (0, 0, \dots, 0).

Another Solution. Let an+1=a1a_{n+1} = a_1, then from the assumption, we have:
0=i=1n(ai2ai+1)2i=1nai2=i=1nai24i=1naiai+1+4i=1nai+12i=1nai2=2(i=1nai22i=1naiai+1+i=1nai+12)=2i=1n(aiai+1)2 \begin{align*} 0 &= \sum_{i=1}^{n} (a_i - 2a_{i+1})^2 - \sum_{i=1}^{n} a_i^2 \\ &= \sum_{i=1}^{n} a_i^2 - 4 \sum_{i=1}^{n} a_i a_{i+1} + 4 \sum_{i=1}^{n} a_{i+1}^2 - \sum_{i=1}^{n} a_i^2 \\ &= 2 \left( \sum_{i=1}^{n} a_i^2 - 2 \sum_{i=1}^{n} a_i a_{i+1} + \sum_{i=1}^{n} a_{i+1}^2 \right) \\ &= 2 \sum_{i=1}^{n} (a_i - a_{i+1})^2 \end{align*}
Hence, a1=a2==ana_1 = a_2 = \dots = a_n. The subsequent steps are the same as the main solution.

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