Difference between revisions of "1976 IMO Problems/Problem 5"

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== Problem ==
 
== Problem ==
{{problem}}
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We consider the following system
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with <math>q = 2p</math>:
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<math>\begin{matrix} a_{11}x_{1} + \ldots + a_{1q}x_{q} = 0, \\
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a_{21}x_{1} + \ldots + a_{2q}x_{q} = 0, \\
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\ldots , \\
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a_{p1}x_{1} + \ldots + a_{pq}x_{q} = 0, \\
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\end{matrix}</math>
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in which every coefficient is an element from the set <math>\{ - 1,0,1\}</math><math>.</math> Prove that there exists a solution <math>x_{1}, \ldots,x_{q}</math> for the system with the properties:
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'''a.)''' all <math>x_{j}, j = 1,\ldots,q</math> are integers<math>;</math>
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'''b.)''' there exists at least one j for which <math>x_{j} \neq 0;</math>
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'''c.)''' <math>|x_{j}| \leq q</math> for any <math>j = 1, \ldots ,q.</math>
  
 
== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
{{solution}}
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First of all note that we have <math> (q + 1)^q - 1</math> possible nonzero vectors <math> (x_1,\cdots,x_q)</math> such that <math> 0\leq x_i\leq q</math> are integers.
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But <math> a_{j1}x_1 + \cdots + a_{jq}x_q</math> can only assume <math> q^2 + 1</math> different values, because if it is maximized/minimized by <math> (M_1,M_2,\cdots,M_q)/(m_1,m_2,\cdots,m_q)</math>, we have that <math> \sum_{i = 1}^{q}a_{ji}(M_i - m_i)\leq q\times q = q^2</math> (if <math> a_{ji} = 0</math>, it doesn't affect the sum, if it is <math> 1</math>, <math> M_i = q,m_i = 0</math>, and if it is <math> - 1</math>, <math> M_i = 0,m_i = q</math>).
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From this we conclude that there are at most <math> (q^2 + 1)^p = (q^2 + 1)^{q/2}</math> possible values for the vector <math> (a_{11}x_{1} + \ldots + a_{1q}x_{q},\cdots,a_{p1}x_{1} + \ldots + a_{pq}x_{q})</math>.
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But we have that:
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<math> (q + 1)^q - 1 = (q^2 + 1 + 2q)^{q/2} - 1 =</math>
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<math> = (q^2 + 1)^{q/2} + \left( - 1 + \sum_{j = 1}^{q/2}{{q/2}\choose j}(q^2 + 1)^{q/2 - j}(2q)^j\right) > (q^2 + 1)^{q/2}</math>
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We conclude that by the pigeonhole principle there are two distinct vectors being mapped to the same vector. Taking their difference we have a vector with the desired properties.
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The above solution was posted and copyrighted by Jorge Miranda. The original thread for this problem can be found here: [https://aops.com/community/p1758997]
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
 
{{IMO box|year=1976|num-b=4|num-a=6}}
 
{{IMO box|year=1976|num-b=4|num-a=6}}

Latest revision as of 15:28, 29 January 2021

Problem

We consider the following system with $q = 2p$:

$\begin{matrix} a_{11}x_{1} + \ldots + a_{1q}x_{q} = 0, \\ a_{21}x_{1} + \ldots + a_{2q}x_{q} = 0, \\ \ldots , \\ a_{p1}x_{1} + \ldots + a_{pq}x_{q} = 0, \\ \end{matrix}$

in which every coefficient is an element from the set $\{ - 1,0,1\}$$.$ Prove that there exists a solution $x_{1}, \ldots,x_{q}$ for the system with the properties:

a.) all $x_{j}, j = 1,\ldots,q$ are integers$;$

b.) there exists at least one j for which $x_{j} \neq 0;$

c.) $|x_{j}| \leq q$ for any $j = 1, \ldots ,q.$

Solution

First of all note that we have $(q + 1)^q - 1$ possible nonzero vectors $(x_1,\cdots,x_q)$ such that $0\leq x_i\leq q$ are integers.


But $a_{j1}x_1 + \cdots + a_{jq}x_q$ can only assume $q^2 + 1$ different values, because if it is maximized/minimized by $(M_1,M_2,\cdots,M_q)/(m_1,m_2,\cdots,m_q)$, we have that $\sum_{i = 1}^{q}a_{ji}(M_i - m_i)\leq q\times q = q^2$ (if $a_{ji} = 0$, it doesn't affect the sum, if it is $1$, $M_i = q,m_i = 0$, and if it is $- 1$, $M_i = 0,m_i = q$).


From this we conclude that there are at most $(q^2 + 1)^p = (q^2 + 1)^{q/2}$ possible values for the vector $(a_{11}x_{1} + \ldots + a_{1q}x_{q},\cdots,a_{p1}x_{1} + \ldots + a_{pq}x_{q})$. But we have that: $(q + 1)^q - 1 = (q^2 + 1 + 2q)^{q/2} - 1 =$ $= (q^2 + 1)^{q/2} + \left( - 1 + \sum_{j = 1}^{q/2}{{q/2}\choose j}(q^2 + 1)^{q/2 - j}(2q)^j\right) > (q^2 + 1)^{q/2}$

We conclude that by the pigeonhole principle there are two distinct vectors being mapped to the same vector. Taking their difference we have a vector with the desired properties.

The above solution was posted and copyrighted by Jorge Miranda. The original thread for this problem can be found here: [1]

See also

1976 IMO (Problems) • Resources
Preceded by
Problem 4
1 2 3 4 5 6 Followed by
Problem 6
All IMO Problems and Solutions