Let us number the concentric circles in order as 1,2,…,2021, and number the rays in order as 0,1,…,N−1, and let Ai∈{0,1,…,N−1}:=N be the set of ray indices for which there is a red point on the i-th concentric circle. The coincidence condition in the problem statement is equivalent to: for all (x1,…,x2021)∈N2021, there exists (y1,…,y2021)∈A1×⋯×A2021 such that
x1−y1≡⋯≡x2021−y2021modN.(1)
The number of red points that the problem asks us to compute is then equal to ∑i=12021∣Ai∣. For convenience of explanation, we say below that (x1,…,x2021) and (y1,…,y2021) satisfying (1) are congruent.
First we prove the lower bound. Note that any (y1,…,y2021)∈A1×⋯×A2021 can be congruent to at most N elements (x1,…,x2021)∈N2021, and since ∣N2021∣=N2021, we must have ∣A1×⋯×A2021∣=∏i=12021∣Ai∣ at least N2021/N=N2020, and therefore
i=1∑2021∣Ai∣≥2021(i=1∏2021∣Ai∣)1/2021≥2021N2020/2021=2021n2020.
Next we prove that this lower bound is attainable; to this end, we construct A1,…,A2021 satisfying the required condition, each of size n2020. Define Si={0,ni−1,2ni−1,…,(n−1)ni−1}, and let Ai={0,1,…,N−1}∖Si. The following lemma proves that this collection of Ai indeed satisfies the requirement of the problem (just substitute s=2021).
Lemma: For all s≤2021, let Bs,i={0}∪S1∪⋯∪Ss, and
As,i={Bs,iBs,i−Si+s−20211≤i≤2021−s,2022−s≤i≤2021.
Then for all (x1,…,x2021)∈{0,…,ns−1}2021, there exists (a1,…,a2021)∈As,1×As,2×⋯×As,2021 satisfying a1−x1≡a2−x2≡⋯≡a2021−x2021modns.
Proof: When s=0, this is obvious. Assume the statement holds for s−1. Now consider any (x1,⋯,x2021)∈{0,⋯,ns−1}2021. Since translation does not affect the congruence relation, without loss of generality assume x2022−s=0.
By the division principle, take xi=qin+ri, where ri∈S1. Note that (q1,⋯,q2021)∈{0,⋯,ns−1−1}2021, so by the induction hypothesis, there exists (a1′,⋯,a2021′)∈As−1,1×⋯×As−1,2021 such that a1′−q1≡⋯≡a2021′−q2021modns−1. By construction, for all i=2022−s, we have As,i=S1+nAs−1,i, so nai′+ri∈As,i; and for i=2022−s, since x2022−s=0 implies r2022−s=0, and the construction guarantees As,2022−s=nAs−1,2022−s, we have na2022−s′+r2022−s∈As,2022−s.
Finally note that
(nai′+ri−xi)−(na2022−s′+r2022−s−x2022−s)≡n(ai′−a2022−s′)+ri−r2022−s−(xi−x2022−s)≡n(qi−q2022−s)+ri−r2022−s−(qin+ri−q2022−sn−r2022−s)≡0modns,
we know there exists (a1,⋯,a2021)∈As,1×⋯×As,2021 satisfying a1−x1≡a2−x2≡⋯≡a2021−x2021modns. This completes the proof.