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2017 IMO Problems/Problem 5

Revision as of 05:09, 17 December 2017 by Don2001 (talk | contribs) (Created page with "An integer <math>N \ge 2</math> is given. A collection of <math>N(N + 1)</math> soccer players, no two of whom are of the same height, stand in a row. Sir Alex wants to remove...")
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An integer $N \ge 2$ is given. A collection of $N(N + 1)$ soccer players, no two of whom are of the same height, stand in a row. Sir Alex wants to remove $N(N - 1)$ players from this row leaving a new row of $2N$ players in which the following $N$ conditions hold: ($1$) no one stands between the two tallest players, ($2$) no one stands between the third and fourth tallest players, $\;\;\vdots$ ($N$) no one stands between the two shortest players.

Show that this is always possible.

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