Problem

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Tags: inequality system, algebra, inequalities, IMO Shortlist



Suppose that ${x_1, x_2, \dots , x_n}$ are positive integers for which $x_1 + x_2 + \cdots+ x_n = 2(n + 1)$. Show that there exists an integer $r$ with $0 \leq r \leq n - 1$ for which the following $n - 1$ inequalities hold: \[x_{r+1} + \cdots + x_{r+i} \leq 2i+ 1, \qquad \qquad \forall i, 1 \leq i \leq n - r; \] \[x_{r+1} + \cdots + x_n + x_1 + \cdots+ x_i \leq 2(n - r + i) + 1, \qquad \qquad \forall i, 1 \leq i \leq r - 1.\] Prove that if all the inequalities are strict, then $r$ is unique and that otherwise there are exactly two such $r.$