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Problem 1925

IMO P2/P5; hard shortlist
Number theory Difficulty 9.1 Prove it BMO 2019 Shortlist · Balkan Mathematical Olympiad · 2019

Let S{1,,n}S \subset \{1, \dots, n\} be a nonempty set, where nn is a positive integer. We denote by ss the greatest common divisor of the elements of the set SS. We assume that s1s \neq 1 and let dd be its smallest divisor greater than 11. Let T{1,,n}T \subset \{1, \dots, n\} be a set such that STS \subset T and T1+nd|T| \geq 1 + \lfloor \frac{n}{d} \rfloor. Prove that the greatest common divisor of the elements in TT is 11.

Let nn (n1n \geq 1) be a positive integer and U={1,,n}U = \{1, \dots, n\}. Let SS be a nonempty subset of UU and let dd (d1d \neq 1) be the smallest common divisor of all elements of the set SS. Find the smallest positive integer kk such that for any subset TT of UU, consisting of kk elements, with STS \subset T, the greatest common divisor of all elements of TT is equal to 11.

This one wants a proof. Work it on paper, read the official solution, then mark yourself honestly — the ladder only means something if the record is true.

Official solution

Let tt be the greatest common divisor of the elements in TT. Due to the fact that STS \subset T, we immediately get that t/st/s. Let us assume for the sake of contradiction that t1t \neq 1. From the previous observation we get that tdt \geq d.
By taking into account that T1+nd|T| \geq 1 + \lfloor \frac{n}{d} \rfloor, we infer that we can find at least 1+nd1 + \lfloor \frac{n}{d} \rfloor elements in TT. All of them will be divisible by tt, and the largest of them, which we shall denote by MM, will be at least t(1+nd)t \cdot (1 + \lfloor \frac{n}{d} \rfloor). On the other hand, tdt \geq d, hence
Mt(1+nd)d(1+nd)>dnd=n. M \geq t \cdot (1 + \lfloor \frac{n}{d} \rfloor) \geq d \cdot (1 + \lfloor \frac{n}{d} \rfloor) > d \cdot \frac{n}{d} = n.
Therefore, M>nM > n, which contradicts the fact that M{1,,n}M \in \{1, \dots, n\}.
In conclusion, t=1t = 1, as desired. \square

Solution:
We will show that kmin=1+ndk_{\min} = 1 + \lfloor \frac{n}{d} \rfloor (here \lfloor \cdot \rfloor denotes the integer part).
Obviously, the number of elements of SS is not greater than nd\lfloor \frac{n}{d} \rfloor, i.e. Snd|S| \leq \lfloor \frac{n}{d} \rfloor, and SUS \neq U.
If STS \subset T and the greatest common divisor of elements of TT is equal to 11, then TS+1|T| \geq |S| + 1.
1) Assume that S<nd|S| < \lfloor \frac{n}{d} \rfloor. Let TT be the subset of UU, consisting of all multiples of dd in UU. Thus, T=nd|T| = \lfloor \frac{n}{d} \rfloor and STS \subset T. Therefore, the greatest common divisor of all elements of TT is d>1d > 1. Thus, k1+ndk \geq 1 + \lfloor \frac{n}{d} \rfloor.
2) Assume S=nd|S| = \lfloor \frac{n}{d} \rfloor. Let TT be any subset of UU with ST,STS \subset T, S \neq T. Therefore, T1+nd|T| \geq 1 + \lfloor \frac{n}{d} \rfloor. Let qq be the greatest common divisor of all elements of TT. Assume that q>1q > 1. Therefore, qq is a common divisor of all elements of SS as well. Hence, qdq \geq d. It follows that Tnqnd|T| \leq \lfloor \frac{n}{q} \rfloor \leq \lfloor \frac{n}{d} \rfloor, contradiction. Hence, q=1q = 1.
Therefore, the minimal possible value of kk is 1+nd1 + \lfloor \frac{n}{d} \rfloor. \square

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