Maths Olympiad Prep

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Number theory Difficulty 6.8 National Olympiad Prove it United States

Problem:

Since 24=3+5+7+924=3+5+7+9, the number 2424 can be written as the sum of at least two consecutive odd positive integers.

a. Can 20052005 be written as the sum of at least two consecutive odd positive integers? If yes, give an example of how it can be done. If no, provide a proof why not.

b. Can 20062006 be written as the sum of at least two consecutive odd positive integers? If yes, give an example of how it can be done. If no, provide a proof why not.

Solution

Solution:

Let N=(2k+1)+(2k+3)++(2k+2n1)N = (2k+1) + (2k+3) + \cdots + (2k+2n-1) where nn and kk are integers, n2n \geq 2, k0k \geq 0. Then
N=[(2k+1)+(2k+2n1)]n2=(2k+n)n, N = [(2k+1) + (2k+2n-1)] \frac{n}{2} = (2k+n)n,
which is a product of two integers with the same parity, since adding the even number 2k2k to the integer nn does not change its parity.

1. Since 2005=40152005 = 401 \cdot 5, taking n=5n = 5 gives 2k+5=4012k+5 = 401, i.e. 2k+1=3972k+1 = 397. Checking, we see that 397+399+401+403+405=4015=2005397 + 399 + 401 + 403 + 405 = 401 \cdot 5 = 2005, so 20052005 can be represented as the sum of at least two consecutive odd positive integers.

2. Since 2006=21003=217592006 = 2 \cdot 1003 = 2 \cdot 17 \cdot 59 is divisible by 22 but not by 44, every pair of integers with a product of 20062006 consists of two integers with different parity (i.e. one odd and one even). Therefore 20062006 cannot be represented as the sum of at least two consecutive odd positive integers.

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