Let be a positive integer. Each cell of an table contains an integer. Suppose that the following conditions are satisfied: (i) Each number in the table is congruent to 1 modulo ; (ii) The sum of numbers in any row, as well as the sum of numbers in any column, is congruent to modulo . Let be the product of the numbers in the row, and be the product of the numbers in the column. Prove that the sums and are congruent modulo . (Indonesia)
Solution
Let be the entry in the row and the column; let be the product of all entries. For convenience, denote and . We show that
Due to symmetry of the problem conditions, the sum of all the is also congruent to modulo , whence the conclusion.
By condition , the number divides for all and . So, every product of at least two of the is divisible by , hence
for every index . Using condition (ii), we obtain , and so .
Therefore, every product of at least two of the is divisible by . Repeating the same argument, we obtain
whence
as desired.
Comment. The original version of the problem statement contained also the condition
(iii) The product of all the numbers in the table is congruent to 1 modulo .
This condition appears to be superfluous, so it was omitted.