Problem

Source: 2022 China TST, Test 4 P5

Tags: algebra, Inequality, combinatorics



Let $n$ be a positive integer, $x_1,x_2,\ldots,x_{2n}$ be non-negative real numbers with sum $4$. Prove that there exist integer $p$ and $q$, with $0 \le q \le n-1$, such that \[ \sum_{i=1}^q x_{p+2i-1} \le 1 \mbox{ and } \sum_{i=q+1}^{n-1} x_{p+2i} \le 1, \]where the indices are take modulo $2n$. Note: If $q=0$, then $\sum_{i=1}^q x_{p+2i-1}=0$; if $q=n-1$, then $\sum_{i=q+1}^{n-1} x_{p+2i}=0$.