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PrintNational Olympiad of Argentina
Argentina number theory
Problem
Several white and black balls can be divided into pairs so that exactly of the white balls are in mixed pairs (with one white and one black ball), and the remaining ones are in pairs with the same color. Also the balls can be divided into pairs so that exactly of the black balls are in mixed pairs, and the remaining ones are in pairs with the same color. The number of white balls is between 150 and 200. How many balls of each color can there be?
Solution
Let there be white and black balls. Since is an integer, is divisible by . Next, the balls not in a mixed pair in the first division must be paired up among themselves. Hence is even, i.e. is even. Thus is divisible by . Similar observations on the second division show that is divisible by .
In order to pair up white balls with black ones it is necessary to have at least black balls, i.e. . Likewise , or . In summary , and . Conversely, if and satisfy these conditions then both divisions are possible.
The multiples of in are , and . Since and , we have . For , , the condition yields , , respectively. Taking into account we obtain 4 solutions: , , , .
In order to pair up white balls with black ones it is necessary to have at least black balls, i.e. . Likewise , or . In summary , and . Conversely, if and satisfy these conditions then both divisions are possible.
The multiples of in are , and . Since and , we have . For , , the condition yields , , respectively. Taking into account we obtain 4 solutions: , , , .
Final answer
(154, 156), (176, 182), (198, 182), (198, 208)
Techniques
Divisibility / FactorizationIntegersLinear and quadratic inequalities