Let be an even integer. In how many ways can one select four different positive integers , , so that the sum of two of the chosen numbers equals the sum of the other two?
Solution
Answer:
Solution:
Letting be the smallest and the largest of the chosen numbers, the sum in the problem has to be . So given and , the other numbers and have to satisfy and . For the smaller of , say , one can take any number larger than but smaller than the average of and , and the choice uniquely determines . So if or , there are possible choices of . Assume . Then the largest possible , and there is just one possible pair . For there are possible pairs . The possible choices of thus appear when and , or altogether in cases. So the total number of choices is
Using , the last sum is easily simplified into
The restriction "n even" can be removed, but then there are two essentially similar but slightly different sums to be done. "n odd" would be infinitesimally easier, because there would not be the single last term.