Maths Olympiad Prep

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, 2019

Number theory Difficulty 6.2 National olympiad Prove it Romania

Let nn be a nonnegative integer and M={n3,n3+1,n3+2,,n3+n}M = \{n^3, n^3 + 1, n^3 + 2, \dots, n^3 + n\}. Consider AA and BB two nonempty, disjoint subsets of MM such that the sum of elements of the set AA divides the sum of elements of the set BB. Prove that the number of elements of the set AA divides the number of elements of the set BB.

Solution

Denote A={n3+n1,n3+n2,,n3+na}A = \{n^3 + n_1, n^3 + n_2, \dots, n^3 + n_a\}, B={n3+m1,n3+m2,,n3+mb}B = \{n^3 + m_1, n^3 + m_2, \dots, n^3 + m_b\} and kNk \in \mathbb{N} such that n3+m1+n3+m2++n3+mb=k(n3+n1+n3+n2++n3+na)n^3 + m_1 + n^3 + m_2 + \dots + n^3 + m_b = k(n^3 + n_1 + n^3 + n_2 + \dots + n^3 + n_a). Then n3(kab)=m1+m2++mbk(n1+n2++na)n^3(ka - b) = m_1 + m_2 + \dots + m_b - k(n_1 + n_2 + \dots + n_a).

The case n=1n = 1 is obviously true since M={1,2}M = \{1, 2\} and we can only have A={1}A = \{1\} and B={2}B = \{2\}.

Now let's prove that n>1n > 1 implies k<n+1k < n + 1 (so knk \le n). Indeed, supposing kn+1k \ge n + 1, we would get n3+1+n3+2++n3+nn3+m1+n3+m2++n3+mb(n+1)(n3+n1+n3+n2++n3+na)(n+1)n3n^3 + 1 + n^3 + 2 + \dots + n^3 + n \ge n^3 + m_1 + n^3 + m_2 + \dots + n^3 + m_b \ge (n+1)(n^3 + n_1 + n^3 + n_2 + \dots + n^3 + n_a) \ge (n+1)n^3, therefore n4+n(n+1)2n4+n3n^4 + \frac{n(n+1)}{2} \ge n^4 + n^3. This would imply n2+n2n3n^2 + n \ge 2n^3 which is false.

We are left with the case knk \le n. Now we have m1+m2++mbk(n1+n2++na)<1+2++n=n(n+1)2<n3m_1 + m_2 + \dots + m_b - k(n_1 + n_2 + \dots + n_a) < 1 + 2 + \dots + n = \frac{n(n+1)}{2} < n^3 and m1+m2++mbk(n1+n2++na)n(n1+n2++na)n(1+2++n)=n2(n+1)2>n3m_1 + m_2 + \dots + m_b - k(n_1 + n_2 + \dots + n_a) \ge -n(n_1 + n_2 + \dots + n_a) \ge -n(1 + 2 + \dots + n) = -\frac{n^2(n+1)}{2} > -n^3.

To summarize, we have the inequalities n3<n3(kab)<n3-n^3 < n^3(ka - b) < n^3, therefore kab=0ka - b = 0 showing that aa divides bb.

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Source: MathNet, licensed CC-BY-4.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.