IMO 1997 · Problem 3

Let \(x_1,x_2,\ldots,x_n\) be real numbers satisfying the conditions \[ |x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_n|=1 \] and \[ |x_i|\leq \frac{n+1}{2}\qquad i=1,2,\ldots,n. \] Show that there exists a permutation \(y_1,y_2,\ldots,y_n\) of \(x_1,x_2,\ldots,x_n\) such that \[ |y_1+2y_2+\cdots+ny_n|\leq \frac{n+1}{2}. \]

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

Solution

Put \(c=(n+1)/2\). Negating all the numbers preserves the hypotheses and the desired conclusion, so we may assume \[ x_1+\cdots+x_n=1. \]

For an ordering \(a=(a_1,\ldots,a_n)\) of the given numbers, write \[ F(a)=\sum_{i=1}^{n}i a_i. \] Its reverse \(a^{\mathrm{rev}}=(a_n,\ldots,a_1)\) satisfies \[ F(a)+F(a^{\mathrm{rev}}) =\sum_{i=1}^{n}\bigl(i+(n+1-i)\bigr)a_i =(n+1)\sum_{i=1}^{n}a_i =2c. \] Consequently, either \(F(a)=c\), which proves the result immediately, or one of these two orderings has weighted sum greater than \(c\) and the other has weighted sum less than \(c\).

Start with the ordering whose weighted sum is greater than \(c\), and transform it into the other ordering through finitely many swaps of adjacent entries. Such a transformation is always possible: move the entry required in the first position there by adjacent swaps, then do the same for the second position, and continue.

If adjacent entries \(u,v\), in positions \(i,i+1\), are interchanged, the change in the weighted sum is \[ \bigl(iv+(i+1)u\bigr)-\bigl(iu+(i+1)v\bigr)=u-v. \] Thus every swap changes the weighted sum by at most \[ |u-v|\leq |u|+|v|\leq 2c. \]

Since the initial weighted sum is greater than \(c\) and the final one is less than \(c\), there is a first swap after which the weighted sum is at most \(c\). Denote the sums immediately before and after this swap by \(U\) and \(V\). Then \[ U>c,\qquad V\leq c,\qquad |V-U|\leq 2c, \] so \[ V\geq U-2c>-c. \] Therefore \(-c<V\leq c\). The ordering at this stage is the required permutation, since \[ |y_1+2y_2+\cdots+ny_n|\leq c=\frac{n+1}{2}. \] \(\square\)

The solution was checked against Evan Chen's published IMO solution notes.