Difference between revisions of "2013 IMO Problems/Problem 1"
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We will construct telescoping product out of positive integers: | We will construct telescoping product out of positive integers: | ||
<cmath>\frac{a_2}{a_1}\cdot\frac{a_3}{a_2}\cdot\frac{a_4}{a_3} \cdot \frac{a_{k+1}}{a_k} = \frac{a_{k+1}}{a_1} = \frac{\left(a_1+2^{k}-1\right)}{a_1}</cmath> | <cmath>\frac{a_2}{a_1}\cdot\frac{a_3}{a_2}\cdot\frac{a_4}{a_3} \cdot \frac{a_{k+1}}{a_k} = \frac{a_{k+1}}{a_1} = \frac{\left(a_1+2^{k}-1\right)}{a_1}</cmath> | ||
− | where <math>a_1=n</math> and where each fraction <math>\frac{a_{i+1}}{a_i}=\frac{a_{i}+\Delta_i}{a_i}</math> can also be written as <math>\frac{m_i+1}{m_i}</math> for some positive integer <math>m_i</math>. All <math>\Delta_i</math> will be different with <math>\Delta_i=2^j</math> | + | where <math>a_1=n</math> and where each fraction <math>\frac{a_{i+1}}{a_i}=\frac{a_{i}+\Delta_i}{a_i}</math> can also be written as <math>\frac{m_i+1}{m_i}</math> for some positive integer <math>m_i</math>. All <math>\Delta_i</math> will be different with <math>\Delta_i=2^j</math>, <math>0\le j \le (k-1)</math>. <math>\sum_{i=1}^{k}{\Delta_i}=\sum_{i=1}^{k}{2^{i-1}}=2^{k}-1</math>. |
Let's pull out factors of <math>2</math> if there are any: | Let's pull out factors of <math>2</math> if there are any: | ||
<math>n=2^j(2z+1)</math>, <math>z+1=2^q(2r+1)</math> etc where <math>j\ge 0</math>, <math>q\ge 0</math>. | <math>n=2^j(2z+1)</math>, <math>z+1=2^q(2r+1)</math> etc where <math>j\ge 0</math>, <math>q\ge 0</math>. | ||
− | Construct telescoping as < | + | Construct telescoping as <cmath>\frac{2^j(2z+2)}{2^j(2z+1)}\cdot \frac{2^{j+1+q}(2r+2)}{2^{j+1+q}(2r+1)} ...</cmath>. Every <math>\Delta_i</math> can be bigger then previous <math>\Delta_{i-1}</math> by at least factor <math>2</math>. The biggest needed <math>\Delta=2^{k-1}</math> can be constructed in at most <math>k</math> steps. After we constructed the fraction with the biggest needed <math>\Delta</math>: <math>\frac{2^{k-1}(h+1)}{2^{k-1}h}</math> we can construct any remaining needed <math>\Delta_i</math> in the decresing order. That is if we need <math>\Delta=2^{d}</math> where <math>d<k-1</math> we can use as the next telescoping fraction <math>\frac{2^{d}(2^{k-1-d}(h+1)+1)}{2^{d}(2^{k-1-d}(h+1))}</math> |
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--[[User:alexander_skabelin|alexander_skabelin]] 9:24, 11 July 2023 (EST) | --[[User:alexander_skabelin|alexander_skabelin]] 9:24, 11 July 2023 (EST) |
Revision as of 23:34, 11 July 2023
Problem
Prove that for any pair of positive integers and , there exist positive integers (not necessarily different) such that
.
Solution
We prove the claim by induction on .
Base case: If then , so the claim is true for all positive integers .
Inductive hypothesis: Suppose that for some the claim is true for , for all .
Inductive step: Let be arbitrary and fixed. Case on the parity of :
[Case 1: is even]
[Case 2: is odd]
In either case, for some .
By the induction hypothesis we can choose such that .
Therefore, since was arbitrary, the claim is true for , for all . Our induction is complete and the claim is true for all positive integers , .
Alternative Solution
We will construct telescoping product out of positive integers: where and where each fraction can also be written as for some positive integer . All will be different with , . .
Let's pull out factors of if there are any: , etc where , . Construct telescoping as . Every can be bigger then previous by at least factor . The biggest needed can be constructed in at most steps. After we constructed the fraction with the biggest needed : we can construct any remaining needed in the decresing order. That is if we need where we can use as the next telescoping fraction
--alexander_skabelin 9:24, 11 July 2023 (EST)
Alternate solutions are always welcome. If you have a different, elegant solution to this problem, please add it to this page.