A finite set of distinct positive integers is called a -set if each of its members divides the sum of them all. Prove that every finite set of positive integers is a subset of some -set.
Solution
Clearly, any set containing only one element is a -set. Also, since is a -set, any of its subsets is certainly contained in a -set.
Now let be a finite set of positive integers with at least two elements, and let be the largest element in . Let denote the sum of the elements of .
Let . Note that . Let . Then .
Finally we add another integers
to obtain . Again, it is clear that the integers are pairwise distinct and greater than . Now
Hence by our construction, is a -set, and since , we are done.
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