A non-empty subset of is called arabic if arithmetic mean of its elements is an integer. Show that the number of arabic subsets of has the same parity as .
, 2018
Solution
The solution is based on a simple fact, that if you add the arithmetic mean of the sequence to the sequence, then the arithmetic mean of the sequence will not change, since
Denote by the arithmetic mean of the elements of . Denote
and
We need to prove that is even. For that we will prove . Really, take any set from and remove its arithmetic mean. We will get an element from . Take any set from and add its arithmetic mean. We will get an element from . Since arithmetic mean of the set is defined uniquely, so we have bijection between and .
Want a route through all this instead of an archive? The track
puts 2,000 problems in a working order, from AMC 10 level to the IMO shortlist.