Problem

Source: Romanian National Olympiad 2000, Grade IX, Problem 3

Tags: algebra



Let be a natural number $ n\ge 2 $ and an expression of $ n $ variables $$ E\left( x_1,x_2,...,x_n\right) =x_1^2+x_2^2+\cdots +x_n^2-x_1x_2-x_2x_3-\cdots -x_{n-1}x_n -x_nx_1. $$Determine $ \sup_{x_1,...,x_n\in [0,1]} E\left( x_1,x_2,...,x_n\right) $ and the specific values at which this supremum is attained.