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edited Dec 3 2011 at 8:23
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Thanks to the comments of George Lowther and Greg Martin (for which I am most grateful), I can now show that the answer is YES for infinitely many primes $q$.
Theorem 1. Let $(t_i)_{i=0}^{n-1}$ t_1\dots,t_{n-1}$ be a any finite sequence set of nonzero real numbers
such that $t_0$ is rational. Then numbers.Then for any $\epsilon>0$ and any integer $r>0$ there are infinitely many primes $q$ q\equiv 1\pmod{r}$ such that
$$\|(q-1)t_i\|<\epsilon,\qquad i=0,\dots,n-1.\tag{1}$$
i=1,\dots,n-1.\tag{1}$$
Here $\|x\|$ stands for the distance of $x$ to the nearest integer.
Proof. Without loss of generality, the elements of numbers $(t_i)_{i=0}^{n-1}$ 1,t_1,\dots,t_{n-1}$ are linearly independent over $\mathbb{Q}$. Indeed, we can express each element of them as a $\mathbb{Z}$-linear combination from a suitable basis $(t_j^*)_{i=0}^{m-1}$ \frac{1}{s},t_1^*,\dots,t_{m-1}^*$ of their $\mathbb{Q}$-linear span, and without loss of generality where $t_0^*$ s>0$ is rationalan integer. Then the statement for $(t_i)_{i=0}^{n-1}$ t_1,\dots,t_{n-1}$ follows from the statement for $(t_j^*)_{i=0}^{m-1}$. t_1^*,\dots,t_{m-1}^*$ (with $\mathrm{lcm}(r,s)$ in place of $r$). When the elements of $(t_i)_{i=0}^{n-1}$ 1,t_1,\dots,t_{n-1}$ are linearly independent over $\mathbb{Q}$,
the statement follows from the stronger result that the vectors $(qt_1,\dots,qt_{n-1})$ are dense modulo $1$, as $q$ runs through the primes in any arithmetic progression of the form such that $q\equiv 1\pmod{m}$1\pmod{r}$. This result is essentially due to Vinogradov, with technical improvements by Vaughan and Harman. See Theorem 4 in Harman: Diophantine approximation with primes, J. London Math. Soc. (2) 39 (1989), 405–413. Well, Harman does not have the condition $q\equiv 1\pmod{m}$1\pmod{r}$, but it seems straightforward to include incorporate it.
Theorem 2. Let $t_i$, $f_i$, $F$ be as in the original question but without the assumption $f_i\in\mathbb{Z}$. Then for any $\epsilon>0$ there is a prime $q$ such that
$$\left|\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)\right|<
\epsilon.$$
In particular, if $F$ is integer valued and $\epsilon=1$, then the left hand side is zero.
Proof. Assume that $\epsilon>0$ is sufficiently small, namely
$$\epsilon<\|t_i\|,\qquad i=1,\dots,n-1.\tag{2}$$
By Theorem 1, there is a prime $q$ such that (1) holds.
Observe that
$$\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)=\sum_{i=0}^{n-2}f_i\bigl([qt_{i+1}]-[qt_i]\bigr)+f_{n-1}\bigl(q-1-[qt_{n-1}]\bigr),$$
where $[x]$ stands for the integral part of $x$. Here we used that no $\frac{j}{q}$ coincides with any $t_i$, as follows from (1) and (2). We subtract
$$0=(q-1)\int_0^1 F(t)dt=\sum_{i=0}^{n-1}f_i\bigl((q-1)t_{i+1}-(q-1)t_i\bigr),$$
then with the notation
$$\tilde t_i:=[qt_i]-(q-1)t_i,\qquad i=0,\dots,n-1,$$
we get
$$\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)=\sum_{i=0}^{n-2}f_i\bigl(\tilde t_{i+1}-\tilde t_i\bigr)-f_{n-1}\tilde t_{n-1}=\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}(f_{i-1}-f_i)\tilde t_i.$$
By (1) we can write $(q-1)t_i=n_i+e_i$ with $n_i\in\mathbb{Z}$ and $|e_i|<\epsilon$. Then
$$qt_i = n_i+t_i+e_i,\qquad i=1,\dots,n-1,$$
whence by (2), that is by $\epsilon<\min(t_1,1-t_{n-1})$, we have
$[qt_i]=n_i$, so that $\tilde t_i=-e_i$. It follows that
$$\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)=\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}(f_i-f_{i-1})e_i,$$
whence
$$\left|\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)\right|<\epsilon\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}|f_i-f_{i-1}|.$$
The right hand side can be made arbitrary small, so we are done.
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edited Dec 3 2011 at 8:07
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Thanks to the comments of George Lowther and Greg Martin (for which I am most grateful), I can now show that the answer is YES for infinitely many primes $q$.
Theorem 1. Let $(t_i)_{i=1}^{n-1}$ (t_i)_{i=0}^{n-1}$ be an arbitrary a finite sequence of nonzero real numbers
such that $t_0$ is rational. Then for any $\epsilon>0$ there are infinitely many primes $q$ such that
$$\|(q-1)t_i\|<\epsilon,\qquad i=1,\dots,n-1.\tag{1}$$
i=0,\dots,n-1.\tag{1}$$
Here $\|x\|$ stands for the distance of $x$ to the nearest integer.
Proof. Without loss of generality, the numbers elements of $1,t_1,\dots,t_{n-1}$ (t_i)_{i=0}^{n-1}$ are linearly independent over $\mathbb{Q}$. Indeed, it suffices to establish the result for we can express each element as a $\mathbb{Z}$-linear combination from a suitable basis $(t_j^*)_{i=0}^{m-1}$ of the linear their $\mathbb{Q}$-linear span, then and without loss of generality $t_0^*$ is rational. Then the general case statement for $(t_i)_{i=0}^{n-1}$ follows . from the statement for $(t_j^*)_{i=0}^{m-1}$. When the numbers elements of $1,t_1,\dots,t_{n-1}$ (t_i)_{i=0}^{n-1}$ are linearly independent over $\mathbb{Q}$,
the statement follows from the stronger result that the vectors $(qt_1,\dots,qt_{n-1})$ are dense modulo $1$, as $q$ runs through the primes in any arithmetic progression of the form $q\equiv 1\pmod{m}$. This result is essentially due to Vinogradov, with technical improvements by Vaughan and Harman. See Theorem 4 in Harman: Diophantine approximation with primes, J. London Math. Soc. (2) 39 (1989), 405–413. Well, Harman does not have the condition $q\equiv 1\pmod{m}$, but it seems straightforward to include it.
Theorem 2. Let $t_i$, $f_i$, $F$ be as in the original question but without the assumption $f_i\in\mathbb{Z}$. Then for any $\epsilon>0$ there is a prime $q$ such that
$$\left|\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)\right|<
\epsilon.$$
In particular, if $F$ is integer valued and $\epsilon=1$, then the left hand side is zero.
Proof. Assume that $\epsilon>0$ is sufficiently small, namely
$$\epsilon<\|t_i\|,\qquad i=1,\dots,n-1.\tag{2}$$
By Theorem 1, there is a prime $q$ such that (1) holds.
Observe that
$$\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)=\sum_{i=0}^{n-2}f_i\bigl([qt_{i+1}]-[qt_i]\bigr)+f_{n-1}\bigl(q-1-[qt_{n-1}]\bigr),$$
where $[x]$ stands for the integral part of $x$. Here we used that no $\frac{j}{q}$ coincides with any $t_i$, as follows from (1) and (2). We subtract
$$0=(q-1)\int_0^1 F(t)dt=\sum_{i=0}^{n-1}f_i\bigl((q-1)t_{i+1}-(q-1)t_i\bigr),$$
then with the notation
$$\tilde t_i:=[qt_i]-(q-1)t_i,\qquad i=0,\dots,n-1,$$
we get
$$\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)=\sum_{i=0}^{n-2}f_i\bigl(\tilde t_{i+1}-\tilde t_i\bigr)-f_{n-1}\tilde t_{n-1}=\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}(f_{i-1}-f_i)\tilde t_i.$$
By (1) we can write $(q-1)t_i=n_i+e_i$ with $n_i\in\mathbb{Z}$ and $|e_i|<\epsilon$. Then
$$qt_i = n_i+t_i+e_i,\qquad i=1,\dots,n-1,$$
whence by (2), that is by $\epsilon<\min(t_1,1-t_{n-1})$, we have
$[qt_i]=n_i$, so that $\tilde t_i=-e_i$. It follows that
$$\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)=\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}(f_i-f_{i-1})e_i,$$
whence
$$\left|\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)\right|<\epsilon\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}|f_i-f_{i-1}|.$$
The right hand side can be made arbitrary small, so we are done.
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edited Dec 3 2011 at 7:05
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Thanks to the comments of George Lowther and Greg Martin (for which I am most grateful), I can now show that the answer is YES for infinitely many primes $q$.
Theorem 1. Let $(t_i)_{i=1}^{n-1}$ be an arbitrary finite sequence of real numbers. Then for any $\epsilon>0$ there are infinitely many primes $q$ such that
$$\|(q-1)t_i\|<\epsilon,\qquad i=1,\dots,n-1.\tag{1}$$
Here $\|x\|$ stands for the distance of $x$ to the nearest integer.
Proof. Without loss of generality, the numbers $1,t_1,\dots,t_{n-1}$ are linearly independent over $\mathbb{Q}$. Indeed, it suffices to establish the result for a basis of the linear span, then the general case follows. When the numbers $1,t_1,\dots,t_{n-1}$ are linearly independent over $\mathbb{Q}$, the statement follows from the stronger result that the vectors $(qt_1,\dots,qt_{n-1})$ are dense modulo $1$, as $q$ runs through the primes. This result is essentially due to Vinogradov, with technical improvements by Vaughan and Harman. See Theorem 4 in Harman: Diophantine approximation with primes, J. London Math. Soc. (2) 39 (1989), 405–413.
Theorem 2. Let $t_i$, $f_i$, $F$ be as in the original question but without the assumption $f_i\in\mathbb{Z}$. Then for any $\epsilon>0$ there is a prime $q$ such that
$$\left|\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)\right|<
\epsilon.$$
In particular, if $F$ is integer valued and $\epsilon=1$, then the left hand side is zero.
Proof. Assume that $\epsilon>0$ is sufficiently small, namely
$$\epsilon<\|t_i\|,\qquad i=1,\dots,n-1.\tag{2}$$
By Theorem 1, there is a prime $q$ such that (1) holds.
Observe that
$$\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)=\sum_{i=0}^{n-2}f_i\bigl([qt_{i+1}]-[qt_i]\bigr)+f_{n-1}\bigl(q-1-[qt_{n-1}]\bigr),$$
where $[x]$ stands for the integral part of $x$. Here we used that no $\frac{j}{q}$ coincides with any $t_i$, as follows from (1) and (2). We subtract
$$0=(q-1)\int_0^1 F(t)dt=\sum_{i=0}^{n-1}f_i\bigl((q-1)t_{i+1}-(q-1)t_i\bigr),$$
then with the notation
$$\tilde t_i:=[qt_i]-(q-1)t_i,\qquad i=0,\dots,n-1,$$
we get
$$\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)=\sum_{i=0}^{n-2}f_i\bigl(\tilde t_{i+1}-\tilde t_i\bigr)-f_{n-1}\tilde t_{n-1}=\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}(f_{i-1}-f_i)\tilde t_i.$$
By (2) 1) we can write $(q-1)t_i=n_i+e_i$ with $n_i\in\mathbb{Z}$ and $|e_i|<\epsilon$. Then
$$qt_i = n_i+t_i+e_i,\qquad i=1,\dots,n-1,$$
whence by (2), that is by $\epsilon<\min(t_1,1-t_{n-1})$, we have
$[qt_i]=n_i$, so that $\tilde t_i=-e_i$. It follows that
$$\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)=\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}(f_i-f_{i-1})e_i,$$
whence
$$\left|\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)\right|<\epsilon\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}|f_i-f_{i-1}|.$$
The right hand side can be made arbitrary small, so we are done.
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edited Dec 3 2011 at 6:59
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This is my second response in which I establish a rather general sufficient condition, extending Thanks to the OP's original obervation comments of George Lowther and Greg Martin (for rational $t_i$'s. In particular, in combination with the pigeon-hole principlewhich I am most grateful), the theorem below implies I can now show that the answer is yes if YES for infinitely many primes $q-1$ is allowed to q$. Theorem 1. Let $(t_i)_{i=1}^{n-1}$ be a difference from an arbitrary finite sequence of real numbers. Then for any infinite set $\epsilon>0$ there are infinitely many primes $q$ such that$$\|(q-1)t_i\|<\epsilon,\qquad i=1,\dots,n-1.\tag{1}$$Here $\|x\|$ stands for the distance of integers$x$ to the nearest integer.For example Proof. Without loss of generality, the numbers $1,t_1,\dots,t_{n-1}$ are linearly independent over $\mathbb{Q}$. Indeed, it suffices to establish the result for any prime a basis of the linear span, then the general case follows. When the numbers $p$ one can take 1,t_1,\dots,t_{n-1}$ are linearly independent over $q=p^k-p^l+1$ with some \mathbb{Q}$, the statement follows from the stronger result that the vectors $k>l\geq 0$(qt_1,\dots,qt_{n-1})$ are dense modulo $1$, as $q$ runs through the primes. This result is essentially due to Vinogradov, with technical improvements by Vaughan and Harman. See Theorem 4 in Harman: Diophantine approximation with primes, J. London Math. Soc. (2) 39 (1989), 405–413. Theorem 2. Let $t_i$, $f_i$, $F$ be as in the original question but without the assumption $f_i\in\mathbb{Z}$. Assume that Then for any $\epsilon>0$ there is sufficiently small, namely$$\epsilon<\|t_i\|,\qquad i=1,\dots,n-1,\tag{1}$$and the integer $q>0$ satisfies$$\|(q-1)t_i\|<\epsilon,\qquad i=1,\dots,n-1.\tag{2}$$Here $\|x\|$ stands for the distance of a prime $x$ to the nearest integer.q$ such thatIn particular, if $F$ is integer valued and $\epsilon>0$ is sufficiently small, \epsilon=1$, then the left hand side is zero. Proof. Our starting point Assume that $\epsilon>0$ is sufficiently small, namely$$\epsilon<\|t_i\|,\qquad i=1,\dots,n-1.\tag{2}$$By Theorem 1, there is a prime $q$ such that (1) holds.whence by (1), 2), that is by $\epsilon<\min(t_1,1-t_{n-1})$, we haveas stated<\epsilon\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}|f_i-f_{i-1}|.$$The right hand side can be made arbitrary small, so we are done.
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edited Dec 3 2011 at 1:12
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This is my second response in which I establish a rather general sufficient condition, extending the OP's original obervation for rational $t_i$'s. In particular, in combination with the pigeon-hole principle, the theorem below implies that the answer is yes if $q-1$ is allowed to be a difference from any infinite set of integers. For example, for any prime $p$ one can take $q=p^k-p^l$ q=p^k-p^l+1$ with some $k>l\geq 0$.
Theorem. Let $t_i$, $f_i$, $F$ be as in the original question but without the assumption $f_i\in\mathbb{Z}$. Assume that $\epsilon>0$ is sufficiently small, namely
$$\epsilon<\|t_i\|,\qquad i=1,\dots,n-1,\tag{1}$$
and the integer $q>0$ satisfies
$$\|(q-1)t_i\|<\epsilon,\qquad i=1,\dots,n-1.\tag{2}$$
Here $\|x\|$ stands for the distance of $x$ to the nearest integer.
Then
$$\left|\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)\right|<
\epsilon\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}|f_i-f_{i-1}|.$$
In particular, if $F$ is integer valued and $\epsilon>0$ is sufficiently small, then the left hand side is zero.
Proof. Our starting point is
$$\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)=\sum_{i=0}^{n-2}f_i\bigl([qt_{i+1}]-[qt_i]\bigr)+f_{n-1}\bigl(q-1-[qt_{n-1}]\bigr),$$
where $[x]$ stands for the integral part of $x$. Here we used that no $\frac{j}{q}$ coincides with any $t_i$, as follows from (1) and (2). We subtract
$$0=(q-1)\int_0^1 F(t)dt=\sum_{i=0}^{n-1}f_i\bigl((q-1)t_{i+1}-(q-1)t_i\bigr),$$
then with the notation
$$\tilde t_i:=[qt_i]-(q-1)t_i,\qquad i=0,\dots,n-1,$$
we get
$$\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)=\sum_{i=0}^{n-2}f_i\bigl(\tilde t_{i+1}-\tilde t_i\bigr)-f_{n-1}\tilde t_{n-1}=\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}(f_{i-1}-f_i)\tilde t_i.$$
By (2) we can write $(q-1)t_i=n_i+e_i$ with $n_i\in\mathbb{Z}$ and $|e_i|<\epsilon$. Then
$$qt_i = n_i+t_i+e_i,\qquad i=1,\dots,n-1,$$
whence by (1), that is by $\epsilon<\min(t_1,1-t_{n-1})$, we have
$[qt_i]=n_i$, so that $\tilde t_i=-e_i$. It follows that
$$\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)=\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}(f_i-f_{i-1})e_i,$$
whence
$$\left|\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)\right|<\epsilon\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}|f_i-f_{i-1}|$$
as stated.
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edited Dec 3 2011 at 0:31
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This is my second response as the first one was not all right.
The following result does not answer the question, but it extends the case of rational $t_i$'s by providing in which I establish a more rather general sufficient condition. , extending the OP's original obervation for rational $t_i$'s. In particular, in combination with the pigeon-hole principleit shows , the theorem below implies that the answer is yes if $q$ q-1$ is allowed to be $p^k-p^l+1$ a difference from any infinite set of integers. For example, for any prime $p$ one can take $q=p^k-p^l$ with some $k>l\geq 0$.
Theorem. Let $t_i$, $f_i$, $F$ be as in the original question but without the assumption $f_i\in\mathbb{Z}$. Assume that $\epsilon>0$ is sufficiently small, namely
$$\epsilon<\|t_i\|,\qquad i=1,\dots,n-1,\tag{1}$$
and the integer $q>0$ satisfies
$$\|(q-1)t_i\|<\epsilon,\qquad i=1,\dots,n-1.\tag{2}$$
Here $\|x\|$ stands for the distance of $x$ to the nearest integer.
Then
$$\left|\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)\right|<
\epsilon\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}|f_i-f_{i-1}|.$$
In particular, if $F$ is integer valued and $\epsilon>0$ is sufficiently small, then the left hand side is zero.
Proof. Our starting point is
$$\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)=\sum_{i=0}^{n-2}f_i\bigl([qt_{i+1}]-[qt_i]\bigr)+f_{n-1}\bigl(q-1-[qt_{n-1}]\bigr),$$
where $[x]$ stands for the integral part of $x$. Here we used that no $\frac{j}{q}$ coincides with any $t_i$, as follows from (1) and (2). We subtract
$$0=(q-1)\int_0^1 F(t)dt=\sum_{i=0}^{n-1}f_i\bigl((q-1)t_{i+1}-(q-1)t_i\bigr),$$
then with the notation
$$\tilde t_i:=[qt_i]-(q-1)t_i,\qquad i=0,\dots,n-1,$$
we get
$$\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)=\sum_{i=0}^{n-2}f_i\bigl(\tilde t_{i+1}-\tilde t_i\bigr)-f_{n-1}\tilde t_{n-1}=\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}(f_{i-1}-f_i)\tilde t_i.$$
By (2) we can write $(q-1)t_i=n_i+e_i$ with $n_i\in\mathbb{Z}$ and $|e_i|<\epsilon$. Then
$$qt_i = n_i+t_i+e_i,\qquad i=1,\dots,n-1,$$
whence by (1), that is by $\epsilon<\min(t_1,1-t_{n-1})$, we have
$[qt_i]=n_i$, so that $\tilde t_i=-e_i$. It follows that
$$\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)=\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}(f_i-f_{i-1})e_i,$$
whence
$$\left|\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)\right|<\epsilon\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}|f_i-f_{i-1}|$$
as stated.
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edited Dec 2 2011 at 23:04
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This is my second response as the first one was not all right.
The following result does not answer the question, but it extends the case of rational $t_i$'s by providing a more general sufficient condition. In particular, in combination with the pigeon-hole principle it shows that the answer is yes if $q$ is allowed to be $p^k-p^l+1$ for any $k>l\geq 0$.
Theorem. Let $t_i$, $f_i$, $F$ be as in the original question but without the assumption $f_i\in\mathbb{Z}$. Assume that $\epsilon>0$ is sufficiently small, namely
$$\epsilon<\|t_i\|,\qquad i=1,\dots,n-1,\tag{1}$$
and the integer $q>0$ satisfies
$$\|(q-1)t_i\|<\epsilon,\qquad i=1,\dots,n-1.\tag{2}$$
Here $\|x\|$ stands for the distance of $x$ to the nearest integer.
Then
$$\left|\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)\right|<
\epsilon\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}|f_i-f_{i-1}|.$$
In particular, if $F$ is integer valued and $\epsilon>0$ is sufficiently small, then the left hand side is zero.
Proof. Our starting point is
$$\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)=\sum_{i=0}^{n-2}f_i\bigl([qt_{i+1}]-[qt_i]\bigr)+f_{n-1}\bigl(q-1-[qt_{n-1}]\bigr),$$
where $[x]$ stands for the integral part of $x$. Here we used that no $\frac{j}{q}$ coincides with any $t_i$, as follows from (1) and (2). We subtract
$$0=(q-1)\int_0^1 F(t)dt=\sum_{i=0}^{n-1}f_i\bigl((q-1)t_{i+1}-(q-1)t_i\bigr),$$
then with the notation
$$\tilde t_i:=[qt_i]-(q-1)t_i$$
t_i:=[qt_i]-(q-1)t_i,\qquad i=0,\dots,n-1,$$
we get
$$\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)=\sum_{i=0}^{n-2}f_i\bigl(\tilde t_{i+1}-\tilde t_i\bigr)-f_{n-1}\tilde t_{n-1}=\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}(f_{i-1}-f_i)\tilde t_i.$$
By (2) we can write $(q-1)t_i=n_i+e_i$ with $n_i\in\mathbb{Z}$ and $|e_i|<\epsilon$. Then
$$qt_i = n_i+t_i+e_i,\qquad i=1,\dots,n-1,$$
whence by (1), that is by $\epsilon<\min(t_1,1-t_{n-1})$, we have
$[qt_i]=n_i$, so that $\tilde t_i=-e_i$. It follows that
$$\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)=\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}(f_i-f_{i-1})e_i,$$
whence
$$\left|\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)\right|<\epsilon\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}|f_i-f_{i-1}|$$
as stated.
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answered Dec 2 2011 at 22:38
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This is my second response as the first one was not all right.
The following result does not answer the question, but it extends the case of rational $t_i$'s by providing a more general sufficient condition. In particular, in combination with the pigeon-hole principle it shows that the answer is yes if $q$ is allowed to be $p^k-p^l+1$ for any $k>l\geq 0$.
Theorem. Let $t_i$, $f_i$, $F$ be as in the original question but without the assumption $f_i\in\mathbb{Z}$. Assume that $\epsilon>0$ is sufficiently small, namely
$$\epsilon<\|t_i\|,\qquad i=1,\dots,n-1,\tag{1}$$
and the integer $q>0$ satisfies
$$\|(q-1)t_i\|<\epsilon,\qquad i=1,\dots,n-1.\tag{2}$$
Here $\|x\|$ stands for the distance of $x$ to the nearest integer.
Then
$$\left|\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)\right|<
\epsilon\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}|f_i-f_{i-1}|.$$
In particular, if $F$ is integer valued and $\epsilon>0$ is sufficiently small, then the left hand side is zero.
Proof. Our starting point is
$$\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)=\sum_{i=0}^{n-2}f_i\bigl([qt_{i+1}]-[qt_i]\bigr)+f_{n-1}\bigl(q-1-[qt_{n-1}]\bigr),$$
where $[x]$ stands for the integral part of $x$. Here we used that no $\frac{j}{q}$ coincides with any $t_i$, as follows from (1) and (2). We subtract
$$0=(q-1)\int_0^1 F(t)dt=\sum_{i=0}^{n-1}f_i\bigl((q-1)t_{i+1}-(q-1)t_i\bigr),$$
then with the notation
$$\tilde t_i:=[qt_i]-(q-1)t_i$$
we get
$$\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)=\sum_{i=0}^{n-2}f_i\bigl(\tilde t_{i+1}-\tilde t_i\bigr)-f_{n-1}\tilde t_{n-1}=\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}(f_{i-1}-f_i)\tilde t_i.$$
By (2) we can write $(q-1)t_i=n_i+e_i$ with $n_i\in\mathbb{Z}$ and $|e_i|<\epsilon$. Then
$$qt_i = n_i+t_i+e_i,\qquad i=1,\dots,n-1,$$
whence by (1), that is by $\epsilon<\min(t_1,1-t_{n-1})$, we have
$[qt_i]=n_i$, so that $\tilde t_i=-e_i$. It follows that
$$\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)=\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}(f_i-f_{i-1})e_i,$$
whence
$$\left|\sum_{j=1}^{q-1}F\left(\frac{j}{q}\right)\right|<\epsilon\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}|f_i-f_{i-1}|$$
as stated.
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