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1999 USAMO Problems/Problem 3: Difference between revisions

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(This solution makes absolutely no sense. Why is <math>k^4\equiv 1</math>? And how do we know that only <math>3</math> and <math>5</math> work!?)
(This solution makes absolutely no sense. Why is <math>k^4\equiv 1</math>? And how do we know that only <math>3</math> and <math>5</math> work!?)
why can't you have a,b,c,d = 2,2,2,4 p = 5 r=1? it doesn't say distinct integers


== See Also ==
== See Also ==

Latest revision as of 00:18, 11 November 2024

Problem

Let $p > 2$ be a prime and let $a,b,c,d$ be integers not divisible by $p$, such that \[\left\{ \dfrac{ra}{p} \right\} + \left\{ \dfrac{rb}{p} \right\} + \left\{ \dfrac{rc}{p} \right\} + \left\{ \dfrac{rd}{p} \right\} = 2\] for any integer $r$ not divisible by $p$. Prove that at least two of the numbers $a+b$, $a+c$, $a+d$, $b+c$, $b+d$, $c+d$ are divisible by $p$. (Note: $\{x\} = x - \lfloor x \rfloor$ denotes the fractional part of $x$.)

Solution

We see that $\biggl\{\frac{ra+rb+rc+rd}{p}\biggr\}=0$ means that $p|r(a+b+c+d)$. Now, since $p$ does not divide $r$ and $p$ is prime, their GCD is 1 so $p\mathrel{|}a+b+c+d$.

Since $\biggl\{\frac{ra}{p}\biggr\}+\biggl\{\frac{rb}{p}\biggr\}+\biggl\{\frac{rc}{p}\biggr\}+\biggl\{\frac{rd}{p}\biggr\}=2$, then we see that they have to represent mods $\bmod\medspace p$, and thus, our possible values of $p$ are all such that $k^4 \equiv 1\pmod{p}$ for all $k$ that are relatively prime to $p$. This happens when $p=3$ or $5$.

When $p=3$ then $r$ is not divisible by 3, thus two are $1$, and the other two are $2$. Thus, four pairwise sums sum to 3.

When $p=5$ then $r$ is not divisible by 5 so $a, b, c, d$ are $1, 2, 3,$ and $4$, so two pairwise sums sum to 5.

All three possible cases work so we are done.

(This solution makes absolutely no sense. Why is $k^4\equiv 1$? And how do we know that only $3$ and $5$ work!?) why can't you have a,b,c,d = 2,2,2,4 p = 5 r=1? it doesn't say distinct integers

See Also

1999 USAMO (Problems • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 2 		Followed by
Problem 4
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6
All USAMO Problems and Solutions

These problems are copyrighted © by the Mathematical Association of America, as part of the American Mathematics Competitions. Error creating thumbnail: File missing

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