Problem

Source:

Tags: algebra, system of equations, IMO Shortlist



Find all solutions of the following system of $n$ equations in $n$ variables: \[\begin{array}{c}\ x_1|x_1| - (x_1 - a)|x_1 - a| = x_2|x_2|,x_2|x_2| - (x_2 - a)|x_2 - a| = x_3|x_3|,\ \vdots \ x_n|x_n| - (x_n - a)|x_n - a| = x_1|x_1|\end{array}\] where $a$ is a given number.