Maths Olympiad Prep

Library / /7 of 52

Number theory Difficulty 7.5 National Olympiad, round 2 Prove it Romania

a) Let nn be a composite positive integer. Show that there exist integers a1,a2,,ana_1, a_2, \dots, a_n whose sum is not divisible by nn, but nn divides (at least) one of the numbers
ak,ak+ak+1,,ak+ak+1++ak+n1, a_k, \quad a_k + a_{k+1}, \quad \dots, \quad a_k + a_{k+1} + \dots + a_{k+n-1},
for all positive integers knk \le n; ak=akna_k = a_{k-n} if k>nk > n.

b) Let pp be prime and let a1,a2,,apa_1, a_2, \dots, a_p be integers whose sum is not divisible by pp. Show that there exists a positive integer kpk \le p such that pp divides none of the numbers
ak,ak+ak+1,,ak+ak+1++ak+p1, a_k, \quad a_k + a_{k+1}, \quad \dots, \quad a_k + a_{k+1} + \dots + a_{k+p-1},
where ak=akpa_k = a_{k-p} if k>pk > p.

Solution

a) Write n=abn = ab, where aa and bb both are integers greater than 11, and let a1=a2==an1=aa_1 = a_2 = \dots = a_{n-1} = a and an=0a_n = 0. The sum a1+a2++an=a(n1)a_1 + a_2 + \dots + a_n = a \cdot (n-1) is clearly not divisible by nn. Consider any positive integer knk \le n: If knbk \le n-b, then ak+ak+1++ak+b1a_k + a_{k+1} + \dots + a_{k+b-1} is divisible by nn; otherwise, ak+ak+1++ak+ba_k + a_{k+1} + \dots + a_{k+b} is divisible by nn.

b) Suppose, if possible, that for each positive integer kpk \le p there exists a positive integer p\ell \le p such that ak+ak+1++ak+1a_k + a_{k+1} + \dots + a_{k+\ell-1} is divisible by pp; to make a choice, let f(k)f(k) be the least such \ell (any choice will do). Notice that f(k)p1f(k) \le p-1, since ak+ak+1++ak+p1=a1+a2++apa_k + a_{k+1} + \dots + a_{k+p-1} = a_1 + a_2 + \dots + a_p is not divisible by pp.

Define integers 0=k0<k1<k2<<kp0 = k_0 < k_1 < k_2 < \dots < k_p such that ki+1kip1k_{i+1} - k_i \le p-1, i=0,1,,p1i = 0, 1, \dots, p-1, and
aki+1+aki+2++aki+10(modp),i=0,1,,p1. a_{k_i+1} + a_{k_i+2} + \dots + a_{k_{i+1}} \equiv 0 \pmod{p}, \quad i = 0, 1, \dots, p-1.
The kik_i are recursively defined by ki+1=ki+f(kipki/p+1)k_{i+1} = k_i + f(k_i - p\lfloor k_i / p \rfloor + 1), i=0,1,,p1i = 0, 1, \dots, p-1.

Consider any integers mm and nn such that 0m<np0 \le m < n \le p. Since ki+1kip1k_{i+1} - k_i \le p-1 for all ii, it follows that knkm(nm)(p1)p(p1)k_n - k_m \le (n-m)(p-1) \le p(p-1). Moreover,
akm+1+akm+2++akn=i=mn1(aki+1+aki+2++aki+1)0(modp).() a_{k_m+1} + a_{k_m+2} + \dots + a_{k_n} = \sum_{i=m}^{n-1} (a_{k_i+1} + a_{k_i+2} + \dots + a_{k_{i+1}}) \equiv 0 \pmod{p}. \quad (*)
Amongst the p+1p+1 integers k0,k1,k2,,kpk_0, k_1, k_2, \dots, k_p, there exist two, say km<knk_m < k_n, such that kmkn(modp)k_m \equiv k_n \pmod{p}. Then
akm+1+akm+2++akn=knkmp(a1+a2++ap)≢0(modp), a_{k_m+1} + a_{k_m+2} + \dots + a_{k_n} = \frac{k_n - k_m}{p} \cdot (a_1 + a_2 + \dots + a_p) \not\equiv 0 \pmod{p},
since (knkm)/p(k_n - k_m)/p is a positive integer less than pp, the sum a1+a2++apa_1 + a_2 + \dots + a_p is not divisible by pp, and pp is prime. This contradicts ()(*) and concludes the proof.

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.

Source: MathNet, licensed CC-BY-4.0. Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty) added by this project.