Do there exist two bounded sequences and such that for each positive integers and at least one of the two inequalities holds?
Solution
Suppose such sequences and exist. For each pair of real numbers we consider the corresponding point in the coordinate plane. Let for each denote the point . The condition in the problem requires that the square does not contain for . For each point we construct its private square . The condition implies that private squares of points and are disjoint when . Let for all . Then all private squares of points lie in the square with area . However private squares do not intersect, and the private square of has area . The series diverges; in particular, it contains some finite number of terms with sum greater than , which is impossible if the respective private square lie inside a square with area and do not intersect. This contradiction shows that the desired sequences and do not exist.