Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 5 / 314 of 400 #914 of 1964

Problem 914

AIME late
Combinatorics Difficulty 5.8 Prove it

11. The cellular figure "corner" consists of a central cell, to which horizontal and vertical rectangles 1×101 \times 10 are attached (the figure shows one of the four possible types of corners, the side of each cell is 1, and there are 21 cells in total in the figure). Prove that for any coloring of the cells of a 2017×20172017 \times 2017 square in 120 colors, it is possible to cut out a corner containing two cells of the same color. ( ( Karpov)

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

11. Consider an 11×1111 \times 11 square located "deep inside" a 2017×20172017 \times 2017 square (for example, a 11×1111 \times 11 square whose central cell coincides with the central cell of the 2017×20172017 \times 2017 square). Since the considered 11×1111 \times 11 square contains 121 cells, and there are only 120 colors, it must contain two cells of the same color. It is not difficult to understand that these two cells can always be covered by one corner piece that protrudes beyond the boundaries of the 11×1111 \times 11 square but lies entirely within the larger square.

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