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Number theory Difficulty 7.8 National olympiad, round 2 Prove it

11. Let nN,n3n \in \mathbf{N}^{*}, n \geqslant 3, and the set M={1,2,,n1}M=\{1,2, \cdots, n-1\}. Color the numbers in MM according to the following rules:
(1) For 1in11 \leqslant i \leqslant n-1, the numbers ii and nin-i are the same color;
(2) There exists kM,(k,n)=1k \in M, (k, n)=1, such that for any iM,iki \in M, i \neq k, the numbers ii and ki|k-i| are the same color.

Prove: Any two numbers in MM are the same color.

Solution

11. Since 0,1,2,,n10,1,2, \cdots, n-1 form a complete residue system modulo nn, and (k,n)=1(k, n)=1, it follows that 0,k,2k,,(n1)k0, k, 2k, \cdots, (n-1)k is also a complete residue system modulo nn. If we denote aiik(modn),0ai<na_{i} \equiv i k \pmod{n}, 0 \leqslant a_{i}<n, then {a0,a1,,an1}={0,1,2,,n1}\left\{a_{0}, a_{1}, \cdots, a_{n-1}\right\}=\{0,1,2, \cdots, n-1\}. Therefore,
{a1,a2,,an1}={1,2,,n1}=M\left\{a_{1}, a_{2}, \cdots, a_{n-1}\right\}=\{1,2, \cdots, n-1\}=M

For any ii, if 1in21 \leqslant i \leqslant n-2, then
ai+1ai(i+1)kik=k(modn)a_{i+1}-a_{i} \equiv (i+1)k - ik = k \pmod{n}

Since 0<ai<n0 < a_{i} < n and 0<ai+1<n0 < a_{i+1} < n, it follows that ai+1=ai+ka_{i+1} = a_{i} + k or ai+1=ai+kna_{i+1} = a_{i} + k - n. If ai+1=ai+ka_{i+1} = a_{i} + k, then
ai=ai+1k=kai+1a_{i} = a_{i+1} - k = \left|k - a_{i+1}\right|

By condition (2), aia_{i} and ai+1a_{i+1} are the same color. If ai+1=ai+kna_{i+1} = a_{i} + k - n, then
ai+1=ai+kn=k(nai)a_{i+1} = \left|a_{i} + k - n\right| = \left|k - (n - a_{i})\right|

By condition (2), ai+1a_{i+1} and nain - a_{i} are the same color. If we further use (1), nain - a_{i} and aia_{i} are the same color, thus ai+1a_{i+1} and aia_{i} are also the same color. By sequentially setting i=1,2,,n2i=1,2, \cdots, n-2, we obtain the conclusion.

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Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.