Let $n$ and $r$ be two integers such that $0 < r \le n$; we denote by $\gamma(n,r)$ [$\eta(n,r)$] the minimum [maximum] number of the non-negative partial sums of a sum $\sum_{1=1}^n a_i \ge 0$, where $a_1, \cdots, a_n$ are $n$ real numbers arbitrarily chosen in such a way that $r$ of them are non-negative and the remaining $n-r$ are negative. Inspired by some interesting extremal combinatorial sum problems raised by Manickam and Mikl\"os \cite{ManMik87} we study the following two problems:\noindent$(P1)$ {\it which are the values of $\gamma(n,r)$ and $\eta(n,r)$ for each $n$ and $r$, $0 < r \le n$?}\noindent$(P2)$ {\it if $q$ is an integer such that $\gamma(n,r) \le q \le \eta(n,r)$, can we find $n$ real numbers $a_1, \cdots, a_n$, such that $r$ of them are non-negative and the remaining $n-r$ are negative with $\sum_{1=1}^n a_i \ge 0$, such that the number of the non-negative sums formed from these numbers is exactly $q$?}

### A minimum problem for finite sets of real numbers with non-negative sum

#### Abstract

Let $n$ and $r$ be two integers such that $0 < r \le n$; we denote by $\gamma(n,r)$ [$\eta(n,r)$] the minimum [maximum] number of the non-negative partial sums of a sum $\sum_{1=1}^n a_i \ge 0$, where $a_1, \cdots, a_n$ are $n$ real numbers arbitrarily chosen in such a way that $r$ of them are non-negative and the remaining $n-r$ are negative. Inspired by some interesting extremal combinatorial sum problems raised by Manickam and Mikl\"os \cite{ManMik87} we study the following two problems:\noindent$(P1)$ {\it which are the values of $\gamma(n,r)$ and $\eta(n,r)$ for each $n$ and $r$, $0 < r \le n$?}\noindent$(P2)$ {\it if $q$ is an integer such that $\gamma(n,r) \le q \le \eta(n,r)$, can we find $n$ real numbers $a_1, \cdots, a_n$, such that $r$ of them are non-negative and the remaining $n-r$ are negative with $\sum_{1=1}^n a_i \ge 0$, such that the number of the non-negative sums formed from these numbers is exactly $q$?}
##### Scheda breve Scheda completa Scheda completa (DC)
2012
COMBINATORIAL SUM PROBLEM; MANICKAM-MIKLOS CONJECTURE; PARTIAL ORDER
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11770/135551
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