We start with some observations. First, from the definition of xi it follows that for each positive integer k we have
x4k−3=x2k−1=−x4k−2andx4k−1=x4k=−x2k=xk.
Hence, denoting Sn=∑i=1nxi, we have
S4k=i=1∑k((x4k−3+x4k−2)+(x4k−1+x4k))=i=1∑k(0+2xk)=2Sk,S4k+2=S4k+(x4k+1+x4k+2)=S4k.
Observe also that Sn=∑i=1nxi≡∑i=1n1=n(mod2). Now we prove by induction on k that Si≥0 for all i≤4k. The base case is valid since x1=x3=x4=1 and x2=−1. For the induction step, assume that Si≥0 for all i≤4k. Using the relations (1)-(3), we obtain
S4k+4=2Sk+1≥0,S4k+2=S4k≥0,S4k+3=S4k+2+x4k+3=2S4k+2+S4k+4≥0.
So, we are left to prove that S4k+1≥0. If k is odd, then S4k=2Sk≥0; since k is odd, Sk is odd as well, so we have S4k≥2 and hence S4k+1=S4k+x4k+1≥1. Conversely, if k is even, then we have x4k+1=x2k+1=xk+1, hence S4k+1=S4k+x4k+1=2Sk+xk+1=Sk+Sk+1≥0. The step is proved.