IMO 1987 · Problem 3

Let \(x_1,x_2,\ldots,x_n\) be real numbers satisfying \(x_1^2+x_2^2+\cdots+x_n^2=1\). Prove that for every integer \(k\geq2\) there are integers \(a_1,a_2,\ldots,a_n\), not all \(0\), such that \(|a_i|\leq k-1\) for all \(i\) and \[ |a_1x_1+a_1x_2+\cdots+a_nx_n| \leq \frac{(k-1)\sqrt n}{k^n-1}. \]

Official text of the problem. Official problem paper (PDF)

Solution

The supplied paper prints \(a_1x_2\) in the second term; we read this typographical error as \(a_2x_2\). Thus the linear form to be bounded is \(\sum_{i=1}^n a_ix_i\).

Fix an integer \(k\geq2\). Consider all \(N=k^n\) distinct integer tuples \[ (b_1,\ldots,b_n)\in\{0,1,\ldots,k-1\}^n, \] and associate to each tuple the real number \(\sum_{i=1}^n b_ix_i\). Order the tuples as \[ \mathbf b^{(1)},\mathbf b^{(2)},\ldots,\mathbf b^{(N)} \] so that their associated numbers satisfy \[ s_1\leq s_2\leq\cdots\leq s_N, \qquad s_j=\sum_{i=1}^n b_i^{(j)}x_i. \] Equal values are allowed; their tuples are still distinct.

Since every coordinate lies between \(0\) and \(k-1\), the triangle inequality and Cauchy–Schwarz give \[ \begin{aligned} s_N-s_1 &=\left|\sum_{i=1}^n \bigl(b_i^{(N)}-b_i^{(1)}\bigr)x_i\right|\\ &\leq (k-1)\sum_{i=1}^n |x_i|\\ &\leq (k-1)\sqrt{n\sum_{i=1}^n x_i^2}\\ &=(k-1)\sqrt n. \end{aligned} \] The \(N-1\) nonnegative consecutive gaps satisfy \[ \sum_{j=1}^{N-1}(s_{j+1}-s_j)=s_N-s_1. \] Consequently, at least one index \(j\) satisfies \[ s_{j+1}-s_j \leq \frac{s_N-s_1}{N-1} \leq \frac{(k-1)\sqrt n}{k^n-1}. \]

For this index, set \[ a_i=b_i^{(j+1)}-b_i^{(j)} \qquad(1\leq i\leq n). \] These are integers with \(|a_i|\leq k-1\). They are not all zero because the two tuples are distinct. Finally, \[ \left|\sum_{i=1}^n a_ix_i\right| =|s_{j+1}-s_j| =s_{j+1}-s_j \leq\frac{(k-1)\sqrt n}{k^n-1}. \] This proves the assertion, including the cases of coincident sums and \(n=1\). \(\square\)

The solution was checked against John Scholes' IMO solution archive (Kalva).