Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 5 / 330 of 400 #930 of 1964

Problem 930

AIME late
Combinatorics Difficulty 5.8 Prove it

16. Does there exist an arrangement of integers in the cells of an infinite sheet of graph paper such that in any rectangle 1918×19781918 \times 1978 the sum of the numbers is 60?

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.

Official solution

78.16. Yes, such an arrangement exists. To describe it, let's introduce a standard coordinate system on the plane. Now, in cells where the sum of the coordinates is divisible by 1918, we will place ones, and in cells where the sum of the coordinates is divisible by 1978, we will place the number -1. If a cell needs to have both numbers, we will write their sum, which is 0, in it. In all other cells of the sheet, we need to write zeros.

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