Suppose real numbers are placed in the cells of a grid such that the sum of the numbers in each of the columns is . Prove that one can erase one of the two numbers in each column such that the sum of the remaining numbers in each of the rows does not exceed .
, 2012
Solution
Assume that the numbers in the first row are in some order. The numbers in the second row are , . Hence .
If , we are done (we can erase all the numbers in the second row).
Let be the least positive integer such that . Then
We show that
Observe
Hence
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.