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Number theory Difficulty 8.2 Shortlist Prove it China

Let a1,a2,a_1, a_2, \dots be a permutation of all positive integers. Prove that there exist infinite positive integers ii's, such that (ai,ai+1)34i(a_i, a_{i+1}) \le \frac{3}{4}i. (posed by Chen Yonggao)

Solution

We prove this problem by contradiction. If the conclusion of the problem is not true, then there exists i0i_0, and we have (ai,ai+1)>34i(a_i, a_{i+1}) > \frac{3}{4}i for ii0i \ge i_0.

Take a positive number M>i0M > i_0, so if i4Mi \ge 4M, then (ai,ai+1)>34i3M(a_i, a_{i+1}) > \frac{3}{4}i \ge 3M.

So, if i4Mi \ge 4M, ai(ai,ai+1)>3Ma_i \ge (a_i, a_{i+1}) > 3M, then {1,2,,3M}{a1,a2,,a4M1}\{1, 2, \dots, 3M\} \subseteq \{a_1, a_2, \dots, a_{4M-1}\}.

Hence
{1,2,,3M}{a2M,a2M+1,,a4M1}3M(2M1)=M+1. \left| \{1, 2, \dots, 3M\} \cap \{a_{2M}, a_{2M+1}, \dots, a_{4M-1}\} \right| \ge 3M - (2M - 1) = M + 1.
By Dirichlet's Drawer Principle, there exists 2Mj0<4M2M \le j_0 < 4M such that aj0,aj0+13Ma_{j_0}, a_{j_0+1} \le 3M. Thus,
(aj0,aj0+1)12max{aj0,aj0+1}3M2=342M34j0, (a_{j_0}, a_{j_0+1}) \le \frac{1}{2} \max\{a_{j_0}, a_{j_0+1}\} \le \frac{3M}{2} = \frac{3}{4} \cdot 2M \le \frac{3}{4} j_0,
which is a contradiction. □

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