Let $x_{1},x_{2},x_{3},x_{4},x_{5}$ be $5$ distinct postive real numbers, show that :
There exist four distinct postive real numbers $x_{i},x_{j},x_{k},x_{l}$ where $i,j,k,l\in \{1,2,3,4,5\}$,such that $$\left|\frac{x_{i}}{x_{j}}-\frac{x_{k}}{x_{l}}\right|<\frac{1}{2}$$
It seems to use pigeonhole-principle to solve it. But How to use it?
Assume WLOG that the numbers are sorted $0 \lt x_1 \lt x_2 \lt x_3 \lt x_4 \lt x_5\,$. Then all fractions $\,x_k/x_{k+j} \in (0,1)\,$ for $\,k=1,2,3,4\,$ and $\,j \ge 1\,$.
If any of them $\,x_k/x_{k+j}=1/2\,$ then all the other fractions will be within $\,\lt 1/2\,$ of it, so the inequality is obviouly satisfied.
Otherwise, $\,x_1/x_2\,$ must lie either strictly in $\,(0,1/2)\,$, or strictly in $\,(1/2,1)\,$. Suppose WLOG the former, then if either of the two fractions $\,x_3/x_4,x_4/x_5\,$ which don't involve $\,x_1,x_2\,$ lies in $\,(0,1/2)\,$ as well, then it would be within $\,\lt 1/2\,$ of $\,x_1/x_2\,$. Suppose then that both $\,x_3/x_4,x_4/x_5 \in (1/2,1)$. By the same reasoning as before:
$\,x_3/x_4 \in (1/2,1)\,$ requires that $\,x_2/x_5 \in (0,1/2)\,$, otherwise $\,\big|x_3/x_4 - x_2/x_5\big| \lt 1/2\,$
$\,x_4/x_5 \in (1/2,1)\,$ requires that $\,x_1/x_3 \in (0,1/2)\,$, otherwise $\,\big|x_4/x_5 - x_1/x_3\big| \lt 1/2\,$
But then both $x_2/x_5$ and $x_1/x_3$ belong to $\,(0,1/2)\,$, so $\,\big|x_1/x_3 - x_2/x_5\big| \lt 1/2\,$.