Problem

Source: XIV Rioplatense Mathematical Olympiad (2005), Level 3

Tags: algebra unsolved, algebra



Consider all finite sequences of positive real numbers each of whose terms is at most $3$ and the sum of whose terms is more than $100$. For each such sequence, let $S$ denote the sum of the subsequence whose sum is the closest to $100$, and define the defect of this sequence to be the value $|S-100|$. Find the maximum possible value of the defect.