Problem

Source: Chinese MO 2004

Tags: function, induction, algebra proposed, algebra



For a given real number $a$ and a positive integer $n$, prove that: i) there exists exactly one sequence of real numbers $x_0,x_1,\ldots,x_n,x_{n+1}$ such that \[\begin{cases} x_0=x_{n+1}=0,\\ \frac{1}{2}(x_i+x_{i+1})=x_i+x_i^3-a^3,\ i=1,2,\ldots,n.\end{cases}\] ii) the sequence $x_0,x_1,\ldots,x_n,x_{n+1}$ in i) satisfies $|x_i|\le |a|$ where $i=0,1,\ldots,n+1$. Liang Yengde