Determine all positive integers , , such that the following statement is true:
If is a sequence of positive integers with , then there is block of (at least two) consecutive terms in the sequence with their (arithmetic) mean being an integer.
Solution
To determine all positive integers , , such that the following statement is true:
If is a sequence of positive integers with , then there is a block of (at least two) consecutive terms in the sequence with their (arithmetic) mean being an integer.
We start by examining small values of :
- For , consider the sequence . The sum is . The arithmetic mean of the block is , which is not an integer. However, if we consider the sequence , the arithmetic mean of is , which is not an integer either. Therefore, satisfies the condition.
- For , consider the sequence . The sum is . The arithmetic mean of the block is , and the arithmetic mean of the block is , neither of which are integers. Therefore, satisfies the condition.
Next, we use induction and casework to show that for , there will always be a block of consecutive terms whose arithmetic mean is an integer.
### Case 1:
If , then we have odd and even integers. Their sum is even, which contradicts the requirement that the sum is , an odd number.
### Case 2:
If , the sum is odd and . Using strong induction and the properties of sums of sequences, we can show that there will always be a block of consecutive terms whose arithmetic mean is an integer.
### Case 3:
If , the sum is odd and . Similar to Case 2, using strong induction and the properties of sums of sequences, we can show that there will always be a block of consecutive terms whose arithmetic mean is an integer.
### Case 4:
If , the sum is odd and . Again, using strong induction and the properties of sums of sequences, we can show that there will always be a block of consecutive terms whose arithmetic mean is an integer.
Therefore, the only positive integers that satisfy the given condition are and .
The answer is: 3}.