Number theoryDifficulty 7.4National olympiad, round 2Prove it
Suppose that n numbers x1,x2,...,xn are chosen randomly from the set {1,2,3,4,5}. Prove that the probability that x12+x22+⋯+xn2≡0(mod5) is at least 51.
Solution
1. **Identify the possible values of xi2mod5:** Since xi is chosen from the set {1,2,3,4,5}, we compute xi2mod5: 1222324252≡1(mod5),≡4≡−1(mod5),≡9≡4≡−1(mod5),≡16≡1(mod5),≡25≡0(mod5). Therefore, xi2mod5∈{0,1,−1}.
2. Calculate the probabilities: P(xi2≡1(mod5))=P(xi2≡−1(mod5))=52,P(xi2≡0(mod5))=51.
3. **Define the sum Sn and probabilities pn,qn,rn:** Let Sn=∑i=1nxi2. Define: pnqnrn=P(Sn≡0(mod5)),=P(Sn≡1(mod5)),=P(Sn≡2(mod5)).
4. Key observation: If Sn≡1(mod5), then ∑i=1n(2xi)2≡−1(mod5). This implies: P(Sn≡−1(mod5))=qn. Similarly, P(Sn≡−2(mod5))=rn.
5. Set up the recursion relations: Using the law of total probability with respect to xn: pnqnrn=51pn−1+54qn−1,=52pn−1+51qn−1+52rn−1,=52qn−1+53rn−1.
6. Matrix form of the recursion: pnqnrn=5152054515205253pn−1qn−1rn−1.
7. Initial conditions: (p1,q1,r1)=(51,52,0).
8. Analyze the recursion: By studying the recursion, we find: pn=51 for every odd n,pn>51 for every even n. This can be shown by induction, considering the parity of n.
Conclusion: The probability that Sn≡0(mod5) is at least 51.
Want a route through all this instead of an archive? The track
puts 2,000 problems in a working order, from AMC 10 level to the IMO shortlist.
Source: NuminaMath-1.5,
licensed Apache-2.0.
Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.