Olympiad Maths Prep

Library / /5 of 14

Number theory Difficulty 8.6 Shortlist Prove it IMO

Let a1,a2,,ana_{1}, a_{2}, \ldots, a_{n} be distinct positive integers, n3n \geq 3. Prove that there exist distinct indices ii and jj such that ai+aja_{i}+a_{j} does not divide any of the numbers 3a1,3a2,,3an3 a_{1}, 3 a_{2}, \ldots, 3 a_{n}.

Solution

Without loss of generality, let 0<a1<a2<<an0<a_{1}<a_{2}<\cdots<a_{n}. One can also assume that a1,a2,,ana_{1}, a_{2}, \ldots, a_{n} are coprime. Otherwise division by their greatest common divisor reduces the question to the new sequence whose terms are coprime integers.

Suppose that the claim is false. Then for each i<ni<n there exists a jj such that an+aia_{n}+a_{i} divides 3aj3 a_{j}. If an+aia_{n}+a_{i} is not divisible by 33 then an+aia_{n}+a_{i} divides aja_{j} which is impossible as 0<ajan<an+ai0<a_{j} \leq a_{n}<a_{n}+a_{i}. Thus an+aia_{n}+a_{i} is a multiple of 33 for i=1,,n1i=1, \ldots, n-1, so that a1,a2,,an1a_{1}, a_{2}, \ldots, a_{n-1} are all congruent (to an-a_{n}) modulo 33.

Now ana_{n} is not divisible by 33 or else so would be all remaining aia_{i}'s, meaning that a1,a2,,ana_{1}, a_{2}, \ldots, a_{n} are not coprime. Hence anr(mod3)a_{n} \equiv r \pmod{3} where r{1,2}r \in\{1,2\}, and ai3r(mod3)a_{i} \equiv 3-r \pmod{3} for all i=1,,n1i=1, \ldots, n-1.

Consider a sum an1+aia_{n-1}+a_{i} where 1in21 \leq i \leq n-2. There is at least one such sum as n3n \geq 3. Let jj be an index such that an1+aia_{n-1}+a_{i} divides 3aj3 a_{j}. Observe that an1+aia_{n-1}+a_{i} is not divisible by 33 since an1+ai2ai≢0(mod3)a_{n-1}+a_{i} \equiv 2 a_{i} \not\equiv 0 \pmod{3}. It follows that an1+aia_{n-1}+a_{i} divides aja_{j}, in particular an1+aiaja_{n-1}+a_{i} \leq a_{j}. Hence an1<ajana_{n-1}<a_{j} \leq a_{n}, implying j=nj=n. So ana_{n} is divisible by all sums an1+aia_{n-1}+a_{i}, 1in21 \leq i \leq n-2. In particular an1+aiana_{n-1}+a_{i} \leq a_{n} for i=1,,n2i=1, \ldots, n-2.

Let jj be such that an+an1a_{n}+a_{n-1} divides 3aj3 a_{j}. If jn2j \leq n-2 then an+an13aj<aj+2an1a_{n}+a_{n-1} \leq 3 a_{j}<a_{j}+2 a_{n-1}. This yields an<an1+aja_{n}<a_{n-1}+a_{j}; however an1+ajana_{n-1}+a_{j} \leq a_{n} for jn2j \leq n-2. Therefore j=n1j=n-1 or j=nj=n.

For j=n1j=n-1 we obtain 3an1=k(an+an1)3 a_{n-1}=k\left(a_{n}+a_{n-1}\right) with kk an integer, and it is straightforward that k=1k=1 (k0k \leq 0 and k3k \geq 3 contradict 0<an1<an0<a_{n-1}<a_{n}; k=2k=2 leads to an1=2an>an1a_{n-1}=2 a_{n}>a_{n-1}). Thus 3an1=an+an13 a_{n-1}=a_{n}+a_{n-1}, i.e. an=2an1a_{n}=2 a_{n-1}.

Similarly, if j=nj=n then 3an=k(an+an1)3 a_{n}=k\left(a_{n}+a_{n-1}\right) for some integer kk, and only k=2k=2 is possible. Hence an=2an1a_{n}=2 a_{n-1} holds true in both cases remaining, j=n1j=n-1 and j=nj=n.

Now an=2an1a_{n}=2 a_{n-1} implies that the sum an1+a1a_{n-1}+a_{1} is strictly between an/2a_{n}/2 and ana_{n}. But an1a_{n-1} and a1a_{1} are distinct as n3n \geq 3, so it follows from the above that an1+a1a_{n-1}+a_{1} divides ana_{n}. This provides the desired contradiction.

Looking for a route rather than an archive? The track puts 2,000 problems in a working order, from AMC 10 level to the IMO shortlist.

Source: MathNet, licensed CC-BY-4.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.