Number theoryDifficulty 6.2National olympiadFind the answer
For any set A={a1,a2,a3,a4} of four distinct positive integers with sum sA=a1+a2+a3+a4, let pA denote the number of pairs (i,j) with 1≤i<j≤4 for which ai+aj divides sA. Among all sets of four distinct positive integers, determine those sets A for which pA is maximal.
A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.
Solution
Firstly, we will prove that the maximum value of pA is at most 4. Without loss of generality, we may assume that a1a1+a3 and a3+a4>a1+a2. Hence a2+a4 and a3+a4 do not divide sA. This proves pA≤4. Now suppose pA=4. By the previous argument we have a1+a4∣a2+a3a1+a2∣a3+a4a1+a3∣a2+a4 and and and a2+a3∣a1+a4,a3+a4a1+a2,a2+a4a1+a3. Hence, there exist positive integers m and n with m>n≥2 such that ⎩⎨⎧a1+a4=a2+a3m(a1+a2)=a3+a4n(a1+a3)=a2+a4 Adding up the first equation and the third one, we get n(a1+a3)=2a2+a3−a1. If n≥3, then n(a1+a3)>3a3>2a2+a3>2a2+a3−a1. This is a contradiction. Therefore n=2. If we multiply by 2 the sum of the first equation and the third one, we obtain 6a1+2a3=4a2 while the sum of the first one and the second one is (m+1)a1+(m−1)a2=2a3. Adding up the last two equations we get (m+7)a1=(5−m)a2. It follows that 5−m≥1, because the left-hand side of the last equation and a2 are positive. Since we have m>n=2, the integer m can be equal only to either 3 or 4. Substituting (3,2) and (4,2) for (m,n) and solving the previous system of equations, we find the families of solutions {d,5d,7d,11d} and {d,11d,19d,29d}, where d is any positive integer.
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