Solutions to the Shortlisted Problems of IMO 2002

4.43 Solutions to the Shortlisted Problems of IMO 2002

1. Consider the given equation modulo 9. Since each cube is congruent to either −1, 0 or 1, whereas 2002 2002 ≡4 2002 = 4 · 64 667 ≡ 4 (mod 9), hence t ≥ 4. On the other hand,

is a solution with t = 4. Hence the answer is 4.

2. Set S =d 1 d 2 + ··· + d k −1 d k 1 . Since d i /n = 1/d k +1−i , we have S n 2 = d k d k −1 + ··· +

d 2 d 1 . Hence

or (since d = 1) 1 < n 2 1 S ≤d 2 . This shows that S <n 2 .

Also, if S is a divisor of n 2 , then n 2 /S is a nontrivial divisor of n 2 not exceeding

d 2 . But d 2 is obviously the least prime divisor of n (and also of n 2 ), so we must have n 2 /S = d 2 , which holds if and only if n is prime.

3. We observe that if a , b are coprime odd numbers, then gcd(2 a + 1, 2 b + 1) = 3. In fact, this g.c.d. divides gcd (2 2a 2b gcd (2a,2b)

− 1,2 2 −1) = 2 −1 = 2 − 1 = 3, while

3 obviously divides both 2 a + 1 and 2 b + 1. In particular, if 3 ∤ b, then 3 2 ∤2 b + 1, so 2 a + 1 and (2 b + 1)/3 are coprime; consequently 2 ab + 1 (being divisible by

2 a (2 a +1)(2 + 1, 2 b b + 1) is divisible by +1) 3 .

Now we prove the desired result by induction on n. For n = 1, 2 p 1 + 1 is divisible by 3 and exceeds 3 2 , so it has at least 4 divisors. Assume that 2 a +1 = 2 p 1 ···p n −1 +

ab

1 has at least 4 n −1 divisors and consider N

b =2 +1=2 p 1 ···p n + 1 (where b = p n ). As above, 2 a + 1 and 2 3 +1 are coprime, and thus Q = (2 a + 1)(2 b + 1)/3

has at least 2 ·4 n −1 divisors. Moreover, N is divisible by Q and is greater than Q 2 (indeed, N >2 ab >2 2a 2 2b >Q 2 if a , b ≥ 5). Then N has at least twice as many divisors as Q (because for every d | Q both d and N/d are divisors of N), which counts up to 4 n divisors, as required.

Remark. With some knowledge of cyclotomic polynomials, one can show that

p 1 ···p n

2 n 2 −1 + 1 has at least 2 divisors, far exceeding 4 n .

4. For a = b = c = 1 we obtain m = 12. We claim that the given equation has infinitely many solutions in positive integers a , b, c for this value of m.

After multiplication by abc (a + b + c) the equation 1 a 1 + 1 b + 1 c 12 + abc − a +b+c =0 becomes

a 2 (b + c) + b 2 (c + a) + c 2 (a + b) + a + b + c − 9abc = 0. (1) Suppose that (a, b, c) is one such solution with a ≤ b ≤ c. Regarding (1) as a

quadratic equation in a, we see by Vieta’s formula that b , c, bc a +1 also satisfies (1).

692 4 Solutions Define (a n ) ∞

for each n > 1. We show that all a n ’s are integers. This procedure is fairly standard. The above relation for n and n − 1 gives a n +1 a n −2 =a n a n −1 + 1 and a n −1 a n −2 +1=

a n a n , so that adding yields a n (a n +a n +1 )=a n (a n +a n ). Therefore

= ··· , from which it follows that

( +a

a n +1 +a

2 −1 0 = 2 for n odd;

a 2 = 3 for n even. It is now an immediate consequence that every a n is integral. Also, the above

3 +a 1

consideration implies that (a n −1 ,a n ,a n +1 ) is a solution of (1) for each n ≥ 1. Since a n is strictly increasing for n ≥ 2, this gives an infinity of solutions in integers.

Remark. There are infinitely many values of m ∈ N for which the given equation has at least one solution in integers, and each of those values admits an infinity of solutions.

5. Consider all possible sums c 1 a 1 +c 2 a 2 + ··· + c n a n , where each c i is an integer with 0 ≤c i < m. There are m n such sums, and if any two of them give the same remainder modulo m n , say ∑c i a i ≡ ∑d i a i (mod m n ), then ∑(c i −d i )a i is divisible by m n , and since |c i −d i | < m, we are done. We claim that two such sums must exist.

Suppose to the contrary that the sums ∑ i c i a i (0 ≤c i < m) give all the different remainders modulo m n . Consider the polynomial

P (x) =

x c 1 a 1 +···+c n a ∑ n ,

where the sum is taken over all (c 1 ,...,c n ) with 0 ≤ c i < m. If ξ is a primitive m n th root of unity, then by the assumption we have

P n ( ξ )=1+ ξ + ··· + ξ m −1 = 0. On the other hand, P (x) can be factored as

1 ∏ −x

ma i

, so that none of its factors is zero at x = ξ because ma i is not divisible by m n .

(m−1)a i

i =1 1 −x a i

i =1

This is obviously a contradiction. Remark. The example a i =m i −1 for i = 1, . . . , n shows that the condition that no

a i is a multiple of m n −1 cannot be removed.

6. Suppose that (m, n) is such a pair. Assume that division of the polynomial F(x) = x m + x − 1 by G(x) = x n +x 2 − 1 gives the quotient Q(x) and remainder R(x). Since deg R (x) < deg G(x), for x large enough |R(x)| < |G(x)|; however, R(x) is divisible by G (x) for infinitely many integers x, so it is equal to zero infinitely often. Hence R ≡ 0, and thus F(x) is exactly divisible by G(x).

4.43 Shortlisted Problems 2002 693

The polynomial G (x) has a root α in the interval (0, 1), because G(0) = −1 and

G (1) = 1. Then also F( α ) = 0, so that

α m + α = α n + α 2 = 1.

If m ≥ 2n, then 1 − α = α m ≤( α n ) 2 = (1 − α 2 ) 2 , which is equivalent to α ( α −

1 )( α 2 + α − 1) ≥ 0. But this last is not possible, because α 2 + α −1> α m + α − 1 = 0; hence m < 2n. Now we have F (x)/G(x) = x m −n − (x m −n+2 −x m −n − x + 1)/G(x), so H(x) = x m −n+2 −x m −n − x + 1 is also divisible by G(x); but degH(x) = m− n + 2 ≤ n +

1 = deg G(x) + 1, from which we deduce that either H(x) = G(x) or H(x) = (x −

a )G(x) for some a ∈ Z. The former case is impossible. In the latter case we must have m

= 2n − 1, and thus H(x) = x n −x −1 − x+ 1; on the other hand, putting x

n +1

= 1 gives a = 1, so H(x) = (x − 1)(x n +x 2 n +1 − 1) = x n −x +x 3 −x 2 − x + 1. This is possible only if n = 3 and m = 5. Remark. It is an old (though difficult) result that the polynomial x n ±x k ± 1 is

either irreducible or equals x 2 ± x + 1 times an irreducible factor.

7. To avoid working with cases, we use oriented angles modulo 180 ◦ . Let K be the circumcenter of △BCD, and X any point on the common tangent to the cir- cles at D. Since the tangents at the ends of a chord are equally inclined to the chord, we have ∠BAC = ∠ABD+∠BDC +∠DCA = ∠BDX +∠BDC +∠XDC = 2∠BDC = ∠BKC. It follows that B,C, A, K are concyclic, as required.

8. Construct equilateral triangles ACP and ABQ outside the triangle ABC. Since ∠APC + ∠AFC = 60 ◦ + 120 ◦ = 180 ◦ , the points A ,C, F, P lie on a circle; hence ∠AFP = ∠ACP = 60 ◦ = ∠AFD, so D lies on the segment FP; similarly, E lies on FQ. Further, note that

with equality if F is the midpoint of the smaller arc AC: hence FD 1 ≤ 4 FP and FE ≤ 1 4 FQ . Then by the law of cosines,

DE = FD 2 + FE 2 + FD · FE

≤ FP 2 + FQ 2 + FP · FQ = PQ ≤ AP + AQ = AB + AC.

Equality holds if and only if △ABC is equilateral.

9. Since ∠BCA = 1 2 ∠BOA = ∠BOD, the lines CA and OD are parallel, so that ODAI is a parallelogram. It follows that AI = OD = OE = AE = AF. Hence

∠IFE = ∠IFA − ∠EFA = ∠AIF − ∠ECA = ∠AIF − ∠ACF = ∠CFI. Also, from AE = AF we get that CI bisects ∠ECF. Therefore I is the incenter

of △CEF.

694 4 Solutions

10. Let O be the circumcenter of A 1 A 2 C , and O 1 ,O 2 the centers of S 1 ,S 2 respect- ively. First, from

1 ∠A 1 QA 2 = 180 ◦ − ∠PA 1 Q − ∠QA 2 P = (360 ◦

2 − ∠PO 1 Q − ∠QO 2 P )

= ∠O 1 QO 2 we obtain ∠A 1 QA 2 = ∠B 1 QB 2 = ∠O 1 QO 2 .

We now have ∠A 1 QA 2 = ∠B 1 QP +

∠PQB C

2 = ∠CA 1 P + ∠CA 2 P = 180 ◦ −

∠A 1 CA 2 , from which we conclude that B 1 O

Q lies on the circumcircle of △A 1 A 2 C .

Hence OA 1 = OQ. However, we also P A 2 have O 1 A 2 =O 1 Q . Consequently, O,

O 1 both lie on the perpendicular bisec- O 1 O 2

B tor of A 2

1 Q , so OO 1 ⊥A 1 Q . Similarly,

OO 2 ⊥A 2 Q , leading to Q S 1 S 2

∠O 2 OO 1 = 180 ◦ − ∠A 1 QA 2 = 180 ◦ − ∠O 1 QO 2 . Hence, O lies on the circle through O 1 ,O 2 , Q, which is fixed.

11. When S is the set of vertices of a regular pentagon, then it is easily verified that

2 = α . We claim that this is the best possible. Let A , B,C, D, E be five arbitrary points, and assume that △ABC has the area M(S). We claim that some triangle has area less than or equal to M (S)/ α .

M (S)

m (S) = 1 +

Construct a larger triangle A ′ B ′ C ′ with C ∈A ′ B ′ k AB, A ∈ B ′ C ′ k BC, B ∈ C ′ A ′ k CA . The point D, as well as E, must lie on the same side of B ′ C ′ as BC, for otherwise △DBC would have greater area than △ABC. A similar result holds for the other edges, and therefore D , E lie inside the triangle A ′ B ′ C ′ or on its boundary. Moreover, at least one of the triangles A ′ BC , AB ′ C , ABC ′ , say ABC ′ , contains neither D nor E. Hence we can assume that D , E are contained inside

the quadrilateral A ′ B ′ AB .

An affine linear transformation does not change the ratios between areas. Thus if we apply such an affine transformation mapping A , B,C into the vertices ABMCN of a regular pentagon, we won’t change M (S)/m(S). If now D or E lies inside ABMCN , then we are done. Suppose that both D and E are inside the triangles

CMA ′ , CNB ′ . Then CD ,CE ≤ CM (because CM = CN = CA ′ = CB ′ ) and ∠DCE is either less than or equal to 36 ◦ or greater than or equal to 108 ◦ , from which we obtain that the area of △CDE cannot exceed the area of △CMN = M(S)/ α . This completes the proof.

12. Let l (MN) denote the length of the shorter arc MN of a given circle. Lemma. Let PR , QS be two chords of a circle k of radius r that meet each other at a point X , and let ∠PX Q = ∠RXS = 2 α . Then l (PQ) + l(RS) = 4 α r .

4.43 Shortlisted Problems 2002 695 Proof. Let O be the center of the circle. Then l (PQ) + l(RS) = ∠POQ · r +

∠ROS · r = 2(∠QSP + ∠RPS)r = 2∠QXP · r = 4 α r . Consider a circle k, sufficiently large, whose interior contains all the given circles. For any two circles C i ,C j , let their exterior common tangents PR , QS

(P , Q, R, S ∈ k) form an angle 2 α . Then O i O j = 2 sin α , so α > sin α = 2 O i O j . By the lemma we have l (PQ) + l(RS) = 4 α r

≥ 8r

O i O j , and hence

1 l (PQ) + l(RS)

8r

Now sum all these inequalities for i < j. The result will follow if we show that every point of the circle k belongs to at most n − 1 arcs such as PQ,RS. Indeed, that will imply that the sum of all the arcs is at most 2 (n − 1) π r , hence from (1)

we conclude that ∑ 1 O (n−1)π i O j ≤ 4 .

Consider an arbitrary point T of k. We prove by induction (the basis n = 1 is trivial) that the number of pairs of circles that are simultaneously intercepted by

a ray from T is at most n − 1. Let Tu be a ray touching k at T . If we let this ray rotate around T , it will at some moment intercept a pair of circles for the first time, say C 1 ,C 2 . At some further moment the interception with one of these circles, say C 1 , is lost and never established again. Thus the pair (C 1 ,C 2 ) is the only pair containing C 1 that is intercepted by some ray from T . On the other hand, by the inductive hypothesis the number of such pairs not containing C 1 does not exceed n − 2, justifying our claim.

13. Let k be the circle through B ,C that is tangent to the circle Ω at point N ′ . We must prove that K , M, N ′ are collinear. Since the statement is trivial for AB = AC, we may assume that AC > AB. As usual, R, r, α , β , γ denote the circumradius and the inradius and the angles of △ABC, respectively.

We have tan ∠BKM = DM/DK. Straightforward calculation gives DM = 1 2 AD = R sin β sin γ and DK = DC −DB 2 − KC −KB 2 = R sin( β − γ ) − R(sin β − sin γ )= 4R sin β −γ 2 sin β 2 sin γ 2 , so we obtain

cos β cos γ tan ∠BKM =

sin β sin γ

4 sin β −γ 2 sin β 2 sin γ 2 sin β −γ 2

To calculate the angle BKN ′ , we apply

the inversion ψ with center at K and

power BK ·CK. For each object X, we

−→ bk

denote by b X its image under ψ . The in-

circle Ω maps to a line b Ω parallel to

B b U b C b Bb b C , at distance BK ·CK 2r from b Bb C . Thus the point b N ′ is the projection of the mid- point b U of b Bb C onto b Ω . Hence

Ub b N

tan ∠BKN ′ = tan ∠ b BK b N ′

BK ·CK

. UK b r (CK − BK)

696 4 Solutions Again, one easily checks that KB

2 · sin 2 · sin 2 , which implies

2 · KC = bcsin α

2 and r = 4R sin α

bc sin 2 α

tan ∠BKN ′

2 r (b − c)

4R 2 sin β sin γ sin 2 α 2 cos β cos γ =

. 4R sin 2 sin 2 sin 2 · 2R(sin β − sin γ )

sin 2 Hence ∠BKM = ∠BKN ′ , which implies that K , M, N ′ are indeed collinear; thus

N ′ ≡ N.

14. Let G be the other point of intersection of the line FK with the arc BAD. Since BN /NC = DK/KB and ∠CEB =

C G ∠BGD the triangles CEB and BGD are

A M similar. Thus BN D /NE = DK/KG =

K From BN = MK and BK = MN it follows that MN

FK /KB. N

/NE = FK/KM. But F we also have that ∠MNE = 90 ◦ +

S 1 E B S 2 ∠MNB = 90 ◦ +∠MKB = ∠FKM, and hence △MNE ∼ △FKM.

Now ∠EMF = ∠NMK − ∠NME − ∠KMF = ∠NMK − ∠NME − ∠NEM = ∠NMK − 90 ◦ + ∠BNM = 90 ◦ as claimed.

15. Notice that f is surjective. Indeed, setting y = − f (x) gives f ( f (− f (x)) − x) =

f (0) − 2x, where the right-hand expression can take any real value. In particular, there exists x 0 for which f (x 0 ) = 0. Now setting x = x 0 in the functional equation yields f (y) = 2x 0 + f ( f (y) − x 0 ), so we obtain

f (z) = z − x 0 for z = f (y) − x 0 . Since f is surjective, z takes all real values. Hence for all z, f (z) = z + c for some

constant c, and this is indeed a solution.

16. For n ≥ 2, let (k 1 ,k 2 ,...,k n ) be the permutation of {1,2,...,n} with a k 1 ≤a k 2 ≤ ··· ≤ a k n . Then from the condition of the problem, using the Cauchy–Schwarz

inequality, we obtain

n +n−3 n +2

4.43 Shortlisted Problems 2002 697 Therefore c ≥1− 3 n +2 for every positive integer n. But if c < 1, this inequality

is obviously false for all n > 3 1 −c − 2. We conclude that c ≥ 1. Remark. The least value of c is not greater than 2 ln 2. An example of a se-

quence {a n } with 0 ≤ a n ≤ 2ln2 can be constructed inductively as follows: Given a 1 ,a 2 ,...,a n −1 , then a n can be any number from [0, 2 ln 2] that does not belong to any of the intervals a

i − i +n ,a i + i +n (i = 1, 2, . . . , n − 1), and the total length of these intervals is always less than or equal to

17. Let x , y be distinct integers satisfying xP(x) = yP(y); this is equivalent to a(x 4 − y 4 ) + b(x 3 −y 3 ) + c(x 2 −y 2 ) + d(x − y) = 0. Dividing by x − y we obtain

a (x 3 +x 2 y + xy 2 +y 3 ) + b(x 2 + xy + y 2 ) + c(x + y) + d = 0.

2 2 2 2 p Putting x 2 +q + y = p, x +y = q leads to x + xy + y =

2 , so the above equality becomes

b apq + (p 2 + q) + cp + d = 0,

i.e.

2 (2ap + b)q = −(bp Since q ≥p 2 /2, it follows that p 2 |2ap + b| ≤ 2|bp 2 + 2cp + 2d|, which is pos-

2 + 2cp + 2d).

sible only for finitely many values of p, although there are infinitely many pairs (x, y) with xP(x) = yP(y). Hence there exists p such that xP(x) = (p −x)P(p−x) for infinitely many x, and therefore for all x.

If p 6= 0, then p is a root of P(x). If p = 0, the above relation gives P(x) = −P(−x). This forces b = d = 0, so P(x) = x(ax 2 + c). Thus 0 is a root of P(x).

18. Putting x = z = 0 and t = y into the given equation gives 4 f (0) f (y) = 2 f (0) for all y. If f

2 , i.e., f is identically equal to 1 2 . Now we suppose that f (0) = 0. Setting z = t = 0 we obtain

(0) 6= 0, then we deduce f (y) = 1

f (xy) = f (x) f (y) for all x , y ∈ R. (1) Thus if f (y) = 0 for some y 6= 0, then f is identically zero. So, assume f (y) 6= 0

whenever y 6= 0. Next, we observe that f is strictly increasing on the set of positive reals. Actually, √

it follows from (1) that f (x) = f ( x ) 2 ≥ 0 for all x ≥ 0, so that the given equation for t = x and z = y yields f (x 2 +y 2 ) = ( f (x) + f (y)) 2 ≥ f (x 2 ) for all x, y ≥ 0. Using (1) it is easy to get f (1) = 1. Now plugging t = y into the given equation, we are led to

2 [ f (x) + f (z)] = f (x − z) + f (x + z) for all x , z. (2) In particular, f (z) = f (−z). Further, it is easy to get by induction from (2) that

f (nx) = n 2 f (x) for all integers n (and consequently for all rational numbers as well). Therefore f

(q) = f (−q) = q 2 for all q ∈ Q. But f is increasing for x > 0,

so we must have f (x) = x 2 for all x.

It is easy to verify that f (x) = 0, f (x) = 1 2 and f (x) = x 2 are indeed solutions.

698 4 Solutions √

19. Write m =[ 3 n ]. To simplify the calculation, we shall assume that [b] = 1. Then √ 3 1 1 2 √ 3 √ 3 2 1 √ 3 √ 3

b −1 =u+v n +w n for certain rational numbers u , v, w. Obviously, integers r, s,t with ra+ sb+tc = 0

a = n ,b= √ 3 n −m = n −m 3 m +m n + n ,c=

2 √ √ 3 (b − 1)(m w +v 3 n +w n 2 ) = 1 for some rational v , w.

exist if (and only if) u =m 2 w , i.e., if

When the last equality is expanded and simplified, comparing the coefficients at √

√ 3 n , n 2 one obtains

1: v + ((m 2 +m 3 − n)m 2 + m)w = n − m 3 , √ 3

− n)v+

(2m 2 +m 3 − n)w = 0. In order for the system (1) to have a solution v , w, we must have (2m 2 +m 3 −

n )(m 2 +m 3 − n) = m(m 3 + n). This quadratic equation has solutions n = m 3 and n =m 3 + 3m 2

+ m. The former is not possible, but the latter gives a − [a] > 1

2 , so [b] = 1, and the system (1) in v, w is solvable. Hence every number n = m 3 +

3m 2 + m, m ∈ N, satisfies the condition of the problem.

20. Assume to the contrary that 1 b 1 1 + ··· + b n > 1. Certainly n ≥ 2 and A is in- finite. Define f i :A → A as f i (x) = b i x +c i for each i. By condition (ii),

f i (x) = f j (y) implies i = j and x = y; iterating this argument, we deduce that

f i 1 (. . . f i m (x) . . . ) = f j 1 (. . . f j m (x) . . . ) implies i 1 =j 1 ,...,i m =j m and x = y. As an illustration, we shall consider the case b 1 =b 2 =b 3 = 2 first. If a is large enough, then for any i 1 ,...,i m ∈ {1,2,3} we have f i 1 ◦···◦ f i m (a) ≤ 2.1 m a . How- ever, we obtain 3 m values in this way, so they cannot be all distinct if m is suffi- ciently large, a contradiction. In the general case, let real numbers d i >b i ,i = 1, 2 . . . ,n, be chosen such that

d 1 +···+ d n > 1: for a large enough, f i (x) < d i a for each x ≥ a. Also, let k i > 0 be arbitrary rational numbers with sum 1; denote by N 0 the least common multiple

of their denominators. Let N be a fixed multiple of N 0 , so that each k j N is an integer. Consider all com- binations f i 1 ◦ ··· ◦ f i N of N functions, among which each f i appears exactly k i N times. There are F N =

(k 1 N )!···(k n N )! such combinations, so they give F N distinct values when applied to a. On the other hand, f

i 1 ◦ ··· ◦ f i N (a) ≤ (d 1 1 ··· d k n n ) N a . Therefore

for all N, N 0 | N. (1) It remains to find a lower estimate for F N . In fact, it is straightforward to verify

(d k 1 k n ) N

1 ···d n a ≥F N

that F

0 /F N tends to Q , where Q = 1/ k 1 ··· k n . Consequently, for every q < Q there exists p > 0 such that F N > pq N . Then (1) implies that

N +N

d k 1 ···d k n

for every multiple N of N

4.43 Shortlisted Problems 2002 699 and hence d k 1 1 ··· d k n n /q ≥ 1. This must hold for every q < Q, and so we have

d k 1 1 ···d k n n ≥ Q, i.e.,

(k 1 d 1 ) k 1 k ···(k n n d n ) ≥ 1.

However, if we choose k 1 ,...,k n such that k 1 d 1 = ··· = k n d n = u, then we must have u

1 ≥ 1. Therefore 1

d 1 + ··· + d n ≤k 1 + ··· + k n = 1, a contradiction.

21. Let a i

be the number of blue points with x-coordinate i, and b i the number of blue points with y-coordinate i. Our task is to show that a 0 a 1 ···a n −1 =b 0 b 1 ···b n −1 . Moreover, we claim that a 0 ,...,a n −1 is a permutation of b 0 ,...,b n −1 , and to show this we use induction on the number of red points. The result is trivial if all the points are blue. So, choose a red point (x, y) with x + y maximal: clearly a x =b y = n −x − y− 1. If we change this point to blue, a x

and b y will decrease by 1. Then by the induction hypothesis, a 0 ,...,a n −1 with a x decreased by 1 is a permutation of b 0 ,...,b n −1 with b y decreased by 1. However,

a x =b y , and the claim follows. Remark. One can also use induction on n: it is not more difficult.

22. Write n = 2k + 1. Consider the black squares at an odd height: there are (k + 1) 2 of them in total and no two can be covered by one tromino. Thus, we always

need at least (k + 1) 2 trominoes, which cover 3 (k + 1) 2 squares in total. However,

3 (k + 1) 2 is greater than n 2 for n = 1, 3, 5, so we must have n ≥ 7. The case n = 7 admits such a covering, as shown in Figure 1 . For n > 7 this is possible as well: it follows by induction from Figure 2 .

(n − 2)× (n − 2)

Fig. 1 Fig. 2

23. We claim that there are n! full sequences. To show this, we construct a bijection with the set of permutations of {1,2,...,n}.

Consider a full sequence (a 1 ,a 2 ,...,a n ), and let m be the greatest of the numbers

a 1 ,...,a n . Let S k ,1 ≤ k ≤ m, be the set of those indices i for which a i = k. Then S 1 ,...S m are nonempty and form a partition of the set {1,2,...,n}. Now we write

down the elements of S 1 in descending order, then the elements of S 2 in descend- ing order and so on. This maps the full sequence to a permutation of {1,2,...,n}. Moreover, this map is reversible, since each permutation uniquely breaks apart

2 ,...,S m , so that max S i > min S i −1 . Therefore the full sequences are in bijection with the permutations of {1,2,...,n}.

into decreasing sequences S ′ 1 ,S ′

Second solution. Let there be given a full sequence of length n. Removing from it the first occurrence of the highest number, we obtain a full sequence of length n − 1. On the other hand, each full sequence of length n − 1 can be obtained from exactly n full sequences of length n. Therefore, if x n is the number of full sequences of length n, we deduce x n = nx n −1 .

700 4 Solutions

24. Two moves are not sufficient. Indeed, the answer to each move is an even number between 0 and 54, so the answer takes at most 28 distinct values. Consequently,

two moves give at most 28 2 = 784 distinct outcomes, which is less than 10 3 = 1000. We now show that three moves are sufficient. With the first move (0, 0, 0), we get the reply 2 (x + y + z), so we now know the value of s = x + y + z. Now there are several cases:

(i) s ≤ 9. Then we ask (9,0,0) as the second move and get (9 − x − y) + (9 − x − z)+(y+ z) = 18− 2x, so we come to know x. Asking (0,9,0) we obtain y , which is enough, since z = s − x − y.

(ii) 10 ≤ s ≤ 17. In this case the second move is (9,s − 9,0). The answer is z + (9 − x) + |x + z − 9| = 2k, where k = z if x + z ≥ 9, or k = 9 − x if x + z < 9. In both cases we have z ≤ k ≤ y + z ≤ s. Let s − k ≤ 9. Then in the third move we ask (s − k,0,k) and obtain |z −

k | + |k − y − z| + y, which is actually (k − z) + (y + z − k) + y = 2y. Thus we also find out x + z, and thus deduce whether k is z or 9 − x. Consequently we determine both x and z.

Let s − k > 9. In this case, the third move is (9,s − k − 9,k). The answer is |s−k − x− y|+ |s− 9− y− z|+ |k + 9− z−x| = (k −z)+(9− x)+(9−

x + k − z) = 18 + 2k − 2(x + z), from which we find out again whether k is z or 9 − x. Now we are easily done.

(iii) 18 ≤ s ≤ 27. Then as in the first case, asking (0,9,9) and (9,0,9) we obtain x and y.

25. Assume to the contrary that no set of size less than r meets all sets in F . Consider any set A of size less than r that is contained in infinitely many sets of

F . By the assumption, A is disjoint from some set B ∈ F . Then of the infinitely many sets that contain A, each must meet B, so some element b of B belongs to infinitely many of them. But then the set A ∪ {b} is contained in infinitely many sets of F as well. Such a set A exists: for example, the empty set. Now taking for A the largest such set we come to a contradiction.

26. Write n = 2m. We shall define a directed graph G with vertices 1, . . . , m and edges labelled 1 , 2, . . . , 2m in such a way that the edges issuing from i are labelled 2i−1 and 2i, and those entering it are labelled i and i + m. What we need is an Euler circuit in G, namely a closed path that passes each edge exactly once. Indeed, if x i is the ith edge in such a circuit, then x i enters some vertex j and x i +1 leaves it, so x i ≡ j (mod m) and x i +1 = 2 j − 1 or 2 j. Hence 2x i ≡ 2 j and x i +1 ≡ 2x i or 2x i − 1 (mod n), as required. The graph G is connected: by induction on k there is a path from 1 to k, since

1 is connected to j with 2 j = k or 2 j − 1 = k, and there is an edge from j to k. Also, the in-degree and out-degree of each vertex of G are equal (to 2), and thus by a known result, G contains an Euler circuit.

4.43 Shortlisted Problems 2002 701

27. For a graph G on 120 vertices (i.e., people at the party), write q (G) for the number of weak quartets in G. Our solution will consist of three parts. First, we prove that some graph G with maximal q (G) breaks up as a disjoint union of complete graphs. This will follow if we show that any two adjacent vertices x , y have the same neighbors (apart from themselves). Let G x

be the graph obtained from G by “copying” x to y (i.e., for each z 6= x,y, we add the edge zy if zx is an edge, and delete zy if zx is not an edge). Similarly G y is the graph obtained from G by copying y to x. We claim that 2q (G) ≤ q(G x ) + q(G y ). Indeed, the number of weak quartets containing neither x nor y is the same in G,

G x , and G y , while the number of those containing both x and y is not less in G x and G y than in G. Also, the number containing exactly one of x and y in G x is at least twice the number in G containing x but not y, while the number containing exactly one of x and y in G y is at least twice the number in G containing y but not x. This justifies our claim by adding. It follows that for an extremal graph G we must have q (G) = q(G x ) = q(G y ). Repeating the copying operation pair by pair (y to x, then their common neighbor z to both x , y, etc.) we eventually obtain an extremal graph consisting of disjoint complete graphs.

Second, suppose the complete graphs in G have sizes a 1 ,a 2 ,...,a n . Then

q (G) = ∑

2 ∑ j k i . =1 j <k

j ,k6=i

If we fix all the a i except two, say p , q, then p + q = s is fixed, and for some

3 2 + 2 +C 4 q 2 +p 2 = A + Bpq, where A and B depend only on s. Hence the maximum of q (G) is attained if |p − q| ≤ 1 or pq = 0. Thus if q(G) is maximal, any two nonzero a i ’s differ by at most 1. Finally, if G consists of n disjoint complete graphs, then q (G) cannot exceed the

constants C i ,q (G) = C 1 +C 2 pq +C

pq

value obtained if a 1 = ··· = a n (not necessarily integral), which equals 120 2 120 /n

2 (n − 1)(n − 2)(120 − n)

2 2 n 3 It is easy to check that Q n takes its maximum when n = 5 and a 1 = ··· = a 5 = 24,

and that this maximum equals 15

702 4 Solutions