Difference between revisions of "2002 USAMO Problems/Problem 6"

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I have an <math>n \times n</math> sheet of stamps, from which I've been asked to tear out blocks of three adjacent stamps in a single row or column. (I can only tear along the perforations separating adjacent stamps, and each block must come out of the sheet in one piece.) Let <math>b(n)</math> be the smallest number of blocks I can tear out and make it impossible to tear out any more blocks. Prove that there are real constants <math>c</math> and <math>d</math> such that <center><math>\dfrac{1}{7} n^2 - cn \leq b(n) \leq \dfrac{1}{5} n^2 + dn</math></center> for all <math>n > 0</math>.
 
I have an <math>n \times n</math> sheet of stamps, from which I've been asked to tear out blocks of three adjacent stamps in a single row or column. (I can only tear along the perforations separating adjacent stamps, and each block must come out of the sheet in one piece.) Let <math>b(n)</math> be the smallest number of blocks I can tear out and make it impossible to tear out any more blocks. Prove that there are real constants <math>c</math> and <math>d</math> such that <center><math>\dfrac{1}{7} n^2 - cn \leq b(n) \leq \dfrac{1}{5} n^2 + dn</math></center> for all <math>n > 0</math>.
  
== Solutions ==
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== Solution ==
 
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== See also ==
 
== See also ==

Revision as of 16:19, 16 July 2014

Problem

I have an $n \times n$ sheet of stamps, from which I've been asked to tear out blocks of three adjacent stamps in a single row or column. (I can only tear along the perforations separating adjacent stamps, and each block must come out of the sheet in one piece.) Let $b(n)$ be the smallest number of blocks I can tear out and make it impossible to tear out any more blocks. Prove that there are real constants $c$ and $d$ such that

$\dfrac{1}{7} n^2 - cn \leq b(n) \leq \dfrac{1}{5} n^2 + dn$

for all $n > 0$.

Solution

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See also

2002 USAMO (ProblemsResources)
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Problem 5
Followed by
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All USAMO Problems and Solutions

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