Difference between revisions of "2024 IMO Problems/Problem 1"

(Solution 1)
(Solution 1)
 
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Because \( \frac{n(n+1)}{2} \) times any even integer \( m \) is divisible by \( n \).
 
Because \( \frac{n(n+1)}{2} \) times any even integer \( m \) is divisible by \( n \).
  
But \( \frac{n(n+1)}{2} \) times any odd integer \( m \) is not, if n is even.
+
But \( \frac{n(n+1)}{2} \) times an odd integer \( m \) is not, if n is even.
  
 
The only real numbers \( \alpha \) satisfying the condition are the even integers.
 
The only real numbers \( \alpha \) satisfying the condition are the even integers.

Latest revision as of 09:15, 20 November 2024

Determine all real numbers $\alpha$ such that, for every positive integer $n$, the integer

\[\lfloor \alpha \rfloor + \lfloor 2\alpha \rfloor + \dots +\lfloor n\alpha \rfloor\]

is a multiple of $n$. (Note that $\lfloor z \rfloor$ denotes the greatest integer less than or equal to $z$. For example, $\lfloor -\pi \rfloor = -4$ and $\lfloor 2 \rfloor = \lfloor 2.9 \rfloor = 2$.)

Solution 1

To solve the problem, we need to find all real numbers \( \alpha \) such that, for every positive integer \( n \), the integer

\[S_n(\alpha) = \lfloor \alpha \rfloor + \lfloor 2\alpha \rfloor + \dots + \lfloor n\alpha \rfloor\]

is divisible by \( n \), i.e., \( S_n(\alpha) \equiv 0 \mod n \).

Step 1: Break Down \( \alpha \) into Integer and Fractional Parts

Let \( \alpha = m + f \), where \( m = \lfloor \alpha \rfloor \in \mathbb{Z} \) and \( f = \{\alpha\} \in [0,1) \) is the fractional part of \( \alpha \).

Step 2: Express the Sum in Terms of \( m \) and \( f \)

Using this, we have:

\[\lfloor k\alpha \rfloor = \lfloor k(m + f) \rfloor = km + \lfloor kf \rfloor.\]

So, the sum becomes:

\[S_n(\alpha) = m \sum_{k=1}^{n} k + \sum_{k=1}^{n} \lfloor kf \rfloor = m \frac{n(n+1)}{2} + \sum_{k=1}^{n} \lfloor kf \rfloor.\]

Step 3: Modulo \( n \) Simplification

We are interested in \( S_n(\alpha) \mod n \):

\[S_n(\alpha) \equiv \left( m \frac{n(n+1)}{2} + \sum_{k=1}^{n} \lfloor kf \rfloor \right) \mod n.\]

Since \( m \frac{n(n+1)}{2} \) is divisible by \( n \), the expression simplifies to:

\[S_n(\alpha) \equiv \sum_{k=1}^{n} \lfloor kf \rfloor \mod n.\]

Step 4: Analyze the Fractional Part \( f \)

Our goal is to find all \( f \in [0,1) \) such that:

\[\sum_{k=1}^{n} \lfloor kf \rfloor \equiv 0 \mod n \quad \text{for all } n \in \mathbb{N}.\]

Step 5: Test \( f = 0 \)

If \( f = 0 \), then \( \lfloor kf \rfloor = 0 \) for all \( k \), so:

\[\sum_{k=1}^{n} \lfloor kf \rfloor = 0,\]

which satisfies the condition for all \( n \).

Step 6: Consider \( f \in (0,1) \)

For \( f \in (0,1) \), let's test small values of \( n \) and \( f \). It turns out that the sum \( \sum_{k=1}^{n} \lfloor kf \rfloor \) does not satisfy the congruence \( 0 \mod n \) for all \( n \). For example, if \( f = \frac{1}{2} \):

\[\sum_{k=1}^{2} \lfloor k \cdot \frac{1}{2} \rfloor = \lfloor \frac{1}{2} \rfloor + \lfloor 1 \rfloor = 0 + 1 = 1 \not\equiv 0 \mod 2.\]

Thus, \( f \ne 0 \) fails the condition.

Step 7: Conclude that Only \( f = 0 \) Works

Since \( f \ne 0 \) does not satisfy the condition, the only possible value is \( f = 0 \), meaning \( \alpha \) must be an integer.

Step 8: Verify for Integer \( \alpha \)

Let \( \alpha = m \in \mathbb{Z} \). Then:

\[S_n(\alpha) = m \sum_{k=1}^{n} k = m \frac{n(n+1)}{2}.\]

This sum is divisible by \( n \) if and only if \( m \) is even.

Because \( \frac{n(n+1)}{2} \) times any even integer \( m \) is divisible by \( n \).

But \( \frac{n(n+1)}{2} \) times an odd integer \( m \) is not, if n is even.

The only real numbers \( \alpha \) satisfying the condition are the even integers.

~Athmyx

Video Solution(In Chinese)

https://youtu.be/LW54i7rWkpI

Video Solution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50W_ntnPX0k

Video Solution

Part 1 (analysis of why there is no irrational solution)

https://youtu.be/QPdHrNUDC2A

Part 2 (analysis of even integer solutions and why there is no non-integer rational solution)

https://youtu.be/4rNh4sbsSms

~Steven Chen (Professor Chen Education Palace, www.professorchenedu.com)

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/lD3kQDGJ_Ng

See Also

2024 IMO (Problems) • Resources
Preceded by
First Problem
1 2 3 4 5 6 Followed by
Problem 2
All IMO Problems and Solutions