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Vietnam number theory
Problem
Find all sets of 2014 rational numbers not necessarily distinct such that: If an arbitrary number in the set is removed, one always can divide the remaining 2013 numbers into three sets such that each set has exactly 671 elements and the products of all elements in each set are equal.
Solution
Suppose that the tuple satisfies the given condition. We investigate two following cases.
Case 1. If there exists a zero in this tuple, it is easy to check that there are at least four zeros. Otherwise, if the tuple has four zeros then it satisfies the given condition.
Case 2. Suppose that for all , . Denote where and . It is clear that the tuple satisfies the given condition if and only if the sequence is satisfied, where is the least common multiple of . Hence, we can assume that 's are nonzero integers.
For any prime , denote to be the set of exponents of in . Then is a set of non-negative integers with the following condition: if we remove an arbitrary number from them, then the remaining numbers can be divided into 3 separate groups of 671 elements that have the same sum of all elements. (♣)
We will show that all elements of are equal. Otherwise, suppose that are not the same, then we can choose a set where the value of is smallest. Note that if we remove then the remaining elements can be divided into three groups of equal sums, hence for all . Hence, we investigate three sub-cases.
2.1. Suppose that for all . Then the set also satisfies condition ♣ with the sum of elements smaller than . This is a contradiction.
2.2. Suppose that for all . Then consider the set we also have a contradiction.
2.3. Suppose that for all . Consider the set and we also have a contradiction.
Therefore, we always have for all . This implies that the absolute values of 's are all the same.
Let be the number of negative numbers in 's. One can check that all possible values of are .
In conclusion, all 2014-tuples satisfying the given condition are: the tuple contains at least 4 zeros, or the tuple contains 2014 numbers of the same nonzero absolute values, and let be the number of negative numbers in the tuple then .
Case 1. If there exists a zero in this tuple, it is easy to check that there are at least four zeros. Otherwise, if the tuple has four zeros then it satisfies the given condition.
Case 2. Suppose that for all , . Denote where and . It is clear that the tuple satisfies the given condition if and only if the sequence is satisfied, where is the least common multiple of . Hence, we can assume that 's are nonzero integers.
For any prime , denote to be the set of exponents of in . Then is a set of non-negative integers with the following condition: if we remove an arbitrary number from them, then the remaining numbers can be divided into 3 separate groups of 671 elements that have the same sum of all elements. (♣)
We will show that all elements of are equal. Otherwise, suppose that are not the same, then we can choose a set where the value of is smallest. Note that if we remove then the remaining elements can be divided into three groups of equal sums, hence for all . Hence, we investigate three sub-cases.
2.1. Suppose that for all . Then the set also satisfies condition ♣ with the sum of elements smaller than . This is a contradiction.
2.2. Suppose that for all . Then consider the set we also have a contradiction.
2.3. Suppose that for all . Consider the set and we also have a contradiction.
Therefore, we always have for all . This implies that the absolute values of 's are all the same.
Let be the number of negative numbers in 's. One can check that all possible values of are .
In conclusion, all 2014-tuples satisfying the given condition are: the tuple contains at least 4 zeros, or the tuple contains 2014 numbers of the same nonzero absolute values, and let be the number of negative numbers in the tuple then .
Final answer
Either the multiset contains at least four zeros; or all numbers have the same nonzero absolute value and the number of negative numbers k satisfies k not in {1, 2, 2012, 2013}.
Techniques
Factorization techniquesInvariants / monovariantsColoring schemes, extremal argumentsSums and products