Problem

Source:

Tags: algebra



The integers $1, 2, 3,. . . , 2016$ are written in a board. You can choose any pair of numbers in the board and replace them with their average. For example, you can replace $1$ and $2$ with $1.5$, or you can replace $1$ and $3$ with a second copy of $2$. After such replacements, the board will have only one number. (a) Prove that there is a sequence of substitutions that will make let the final number be $2$. (b) Prove that there is a sequence of substitutions that will make let the final number be $1000$.