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Iranian Mathematical Olympiad

Iran counting and probability

Problem

Find the least possible value of , such that one can place in each cell of an table, such that each number is used at least once, and in each row or column, there exist neither two equal nor two consecutive numbers.
Solution
First, we prove that is not enough. Assume that numbers are assigned to the cells of the table with the described conditions. Since the number is used, so even numbers (i.e. ) must be put in its row and its column. Similarly, the number is used, so we have to put odd numbers (i.e. ) in its row and its column. But the intersection of the row containing and the column containing has to be odd and even at the same time. Contradiction!

Now it is sufficient to make an example with numbers . In this example, the even numbers are just in the first row, and the other cells are filled with appropriate numbers (just by shifting the odd numbers).
24681012141618202224262830323436
3713579111315171921232527293133
3537135791113151719212325272931
3335371357911131517192123252729
3133353713579111315171921232527
2931333537135791113151719212325
2729313335371357911131517192123
2527293133353713579111315171921
2325272931333537135791113151719
2123252729313335371357911131517
1921232527293133353713579111315
1719212325272931333537135791113
1517192123252729313335371357911
1315171921232527293133353713579
11131517192123252729313335371357
91113151719212325272931333537135
79111315171921232527293133353713
57911131517192123252729313335371
Thus, the least possible value of is .
Final answer
37

Techniques

Pigeonhole principleColoring schemes, extremal arguments