Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 7 / 235 of 300 #2275 of 2604

Problem 2275

National Olympiad second round; IMO P1/P4
Number theory Difficulty 7.7 Prove it Rioplatense Mathematical Olympiad · Argentina

We say that a positive integer NN is rioplatense if it satisfies the following two conditions:
* It is possible to find 34 consecutive integers such that their product is divisible by NN but none of them is divisible by NN.
It is not* possible to find 30 consecutive integers such that their product is divisible by NN but none of them is divisible by NN.
Find all rioplatense integers.

This one wants a proof. Work it on paper, then read the official solution and mark yourself. Be honest about it: the record is only any use to you if it is.

Next problem →

Official solution

Notice N>34N > 34 so that the first condition can hold.

First we will show that NN must be a prime power. Assume the contrary, so NN has two or more distinct prime factors. In this case, we can write N=abN = ab with a,ba, b relatively prime integers greater than 1. By the Chinese Remainder Theorem, there exists an integer xx such that x≡0(moda)x \equiv 0 \pmod a and x≡−1(modb)x \equiv -1 \pmod b. Thus xx and x+1x+1 are not divisible by NN, but their product is. Now, if we take 30 consecutive integers which include xx and x+1x+1 but none of them is divisible by NN (this can be done because N>30N > 30), we see the second condition is not fulfilled.

So N=pkN = p^k, with pp prime and kk a positive integer. In fact, k≥2k \ge 2, because a product of integers is divisible by pp if and only if one of the factors is divisible by pp. Hence if k=1k = 1 the first condition will not be fulfilled. Now let us find the possible values for pp.

If p≥37p \ge 37, in any set of 34 consecutive integers there is at most one of them which is divisible by pp. Therefore, the product of 34 consecutive integers can only be divisible by N=pkN = p^k if one of those integers is divisible by NN, because all factors pp must come from the same number. In conclusion, we need p<37p < 37 in order for the first condition to be plausible.

On the other hand, if p≥29p \ge 29, we consider the 30 consecutive integers
pk−1,pk−1+1,…,pk−1+29. p^{k-1}, p^{k-1} + 1, \dots, p^{k-1} + 29.
Since this list contains at least one more multiple of pp besides pkp^k, the product of these numbers is divisible by N=pkN = p^k. This contradicts the second desired condition unless one of these numbers is divisible by NN. This can only happen if pk≤pk−1+29p^k \le p^{k-1} + 29, or equivalently,
pk−1(p−1)≤29.(∗) p^{k-1}(p-1) \le 29. \quad (*)
This rules out p≥7p \ge 7, as the left hand side of (∗)(*) would be at least 7⋅6=427 \cdot 6 = 42 (recall that kk is at least 2). If p=5p=5, for N>34N > 34 to hold, it must be k≥3k \ge 3. But in this case, the left hand side of (∗)(*) is at least 52⋅4=100>295^2 \cdot 4 = 100 > 29. If p=3p=3, it must be k≥4k \ge 4 and the left hand side of (∗)(*) is at least 33⋅2=54>293^3 \cdot 2 = 54 > 29. Finally, if p=2p=2, then k≥6k \ge 6 and the left hand side of (∗)(*) is at least 25=32>292^5 = 32 > 29. Having exhausted all cases, we conclude that the required conditions cannot hold if p≥29p \ge 29.

So we have 29<p<3729 < p < 37, and there is exactly one prime number in this range, which is 31. We will now prove that all numbers of the form 31k31^k, where k≥2k \ge 2, are solutions. The second condition is satisfied, as we explained previously, because in any set of 30 consecutive integers there is at most one of them which is divisible by 31. For the first one, consider the 34 consecutive integers 31k−1,31k−1+1,…,31k−1+3331^{k-1}, 31^{k-1} + 1, \dots, 31^{k-1} + 33. As before, we know that their product is divisible by 31k31^k because there is another multiple of 31 besides 31k−131^{k-1} in the set (namely 31k−1+3131^{k-1} + 31). To prove that none of these numbers is divisible by 31k31^k, it is enough to check that 31k−1+33<31k31^{k-1} + 33 < 31^k. This is equivalent to 31k−1(31−1)>3331^{k-1}(31-1) > 33, which is true for k≥2k \ge 2.

In conclusion, rioplatense numbers are those of the form 31k31^k for k≥2k \ge 2.

Source: MathNet, licensed CC-BY-4.0. Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty, ordering) added by this project.