For which natural number is it possible to place natural numbers from to on the edges of a right -angled prism (on each edge there is exactly one number placed and each one is used exactly 1 time) in such a way that the sum of all the numbers that surround each face is the same?
Solution
The only possible is .
We call those edges which are the sides of a base the base edges, and call the remaining edges the lateral edges. Let be the sum of all numbers surrounding each face, and let be the sum of all numbers on the lateral edges.
Firstly, we consider the sum of all numbers on the base edges. Since they are the sides of the two bases, this is equal to . Also, they are the numbers not used on the lateral edges, and hence this is equal to . This yields
Secondly, we consider the sides of the lateral faces. Each base edge is a side of lateral face, while each lateral edge is a side of lateral faces. The total sum of numbers on all these edges is . These edges together surround faces, and so the total sum is . It follows that
By (1) and (2), we obtain
As , we have . This implies .
Next, we have the bound since there are only lateral edges. Now,
Thus, we have . Together with and the trivial bound , we easily obtain the only possibilities .
For , we have and .
* If the numbers on the lateral edges are , , , then the numbers surrounding the three lateral surfaces are , , , ; , , , and , , , respectively. Since , we must have and . But then has no solution with .
* If the numbers on the lateral edges are , , , then the numbers surrounding the three lateral surfaces are , , , ; , , , and , , , respectively. Since , we must have and . But then has no solution with .
* If the numbers on the lateral edges are , , , then the numbers surrounding the three lateral surfaces are , , , ; , , , and , , , respectively. Since , and , none of , , , , , is equal to , which is impossible.
Therefore, it is not possible to have .
For , we have and . An example is given below.
