Number theoryDifficulty 6.5National OlympiadProve itSerbia
Problem:
For a given natural number k, let nk be the smallest natural number such that there exists a finite set A of integers with the following properties: - for every a∈A there exist x,y∈A (not necessarily distinct) such that nk∣a−x−y - there does not exist a subset B of the set A for which ∣B∣⩽k and nk∣∑b∈Bb. Prove that for all k,k⩾3, it holds that nk<(813)k+2
Solution
Solution:
We denote by Fi the Fibonacci numbers: F1=F2=1,Fi+1=Fi+Fi−1. Let us consider the set A={a1,a2,…,ak+1} with n=Fk+2+3, where ai=(−1)k−1−iFi+1 for i=1,2,…,k−1,ak=Fk+1andak+1=Fk+2 In the case of even k we see that ai=ai+1+ai+2(1⩽i⩽k−3),ak−2≡ak+ak+1(modn),ak−1=ak+1+a2,ak=ak−1+a1 and ak+1=ak+a1, so the set A satisfies the first condition of the problem. This condition is checked similarly for odd k.
Let us prove by induction on k (the base case k=3 is checked directly) that the second condition is also satisfied, i.e., that there does not exist a subset B⊊A such that n∣∑b∈Bb. Since the sum of the elements of the set A equals zero, we may assume without loss of generality (by replacing B with A\B if necessary) that B contains at most one of the elements Fk,Fk+1,Fk+2. Then 1−Fk=−(Fk−1+Fk−3+⋯)⩽∑b∈Bb⩽(Fk+2)+Fk−2+Fk−4+⋯=Fk+1+1, so it must be that ∑b∈Bb=0. Based on the induction hypothesis for k−1, the set B cannot be a subset of the set {a1,a2,…,ak−2}, i.e., it must be that ak−1=Fk∈B. However, then ∑b∈Bb⩾Fk−Fk−1−Fk−3−⋯=1, which is a contradiction. The proof is complete.
Therefore, nk⩽Fk+2+3<ϕk−3(F5+3)<ϕk+2<(813)k+2, where ϕ=21+5.
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Source: MathNet,
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