Solution: First, take a1=1,a2=−n−1n+1,ak=n−1n+1+(n−1)(n−2)2n(k−2),k=3, 4,⋯,n, then it satisfies a1+a2+⋯+an=0 and 2ak⩽ak−1+ak+1,k=2,3,⋯, n−1. At this point,
λ(n)⩾n−1n+1
Next, we prove that when λ(n)=n−1n+1, for all k∈{1,2,⋯,n}, we have
∣ak∣⩽λ(n)⋅max{∣a1∣,∣an∣}.
Since 2ak⩽ak−1+ak+1, it follows that ak+1−ak⩾ak−ak−1, thus
an−an−1⩾an−1−an−2⩾⋯⩾a2−a1
Therefore, (k−1)(an−a1)=(k−1)[(an−an−1)+(an−1−an−2)+⋯+(a2−a1)]
⩾(n−1)[(ak−ak−1)+(ak−1−ak−2)+⋯+(a2−a1)]=(n−1)(ak−a1)
Hence, ak⩽n−1k−1(an−a1)+a1=n−11[(k−1)an+(n−k)a1].
Similarly, for a fixed k,k=1,n, when 1⩽j⩽k,
aj⩽k−11[(j−1)ak+(k−j)a1]
When k⩽j⩽n,
aj⩽n−k1[(j−k)an+(n−j)ak]
Therefore, ∑j=1kaj⩽k−11∑j=1k[(j−1)ak+(k−j)a1]=2k(a1+ak),
j=k∑naj⩽n−k1j=k∑n[(j−k)an+(n−j)ak]=2n+1−k(ak+an)
Adding these, we get
ak=j=1∑kaj+j=k∑naj⩽2k(a1+ak)+2n+1−k(ak+an)=2ka1+2n+1ak+2n+1−kan
Thus,
ak⩾−n−11[ka1+(n+1−k)an]
From (1) and (2), we have
∣ak∣⩽max{n−11∣(k−1)an+(n−k)a1∣,n−11∣ka1+(n+1−k)an∣}⩽n−1n+1max{∣a1∣,∣an∣},k=2,3,⋯,n−1
In conclusion, λ(n)min=n−1n+1.