Determine the smallest integer , from which any different integers, 4 different integers can be selected such that is divisible by 20.
(39th International Mathematical Olympiad Preliminary Question, 1998)
Solution
[Solution] Since ,
it follows that from 7 different integers, one can definitely select a pair of integers that are congruent modulo 20. Let this pair of integers be , then .
After selecting from the 7 different integers, there are still 5 different integers left. Adding 2 more integers that are different from the above 7 integers, we again form a set of 7 different integers. By the same analysis, we can select another pair of integers (let them be ), such that .
From (1) and (2), we get .
Thus,
Therefore,
Hence, from any 9 different integers, one can select 4 different numbers such that .
On the other hand, we can find 8 numbers, for example,
In these 8 numbers, no 4 numbers can satisfy
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