Find all natural numbers $n\geq 3$ satisfying one can cut a convex $n$-gon into different triangles along some of the diagonals (None of these diagonals intersects others at any point other than vertices) and the number of diagonals are used at each vertex is even.
Problem
Source: Saudi Arabia Balkan MO 2016 TST
Tags: combinatorics
10.08.2016 20:12
Any solution , I think I have seen this problem many times.
11.08.2016 13:38
We will prove by induction on $n$ to show that $n = 3k$ is true Suppose that all the value of $k < n$ satisfy is $k = 3q$. We will show that $ n $ = $3m$ Suppose that the $n$ - gon satisfy the conditions Let the $n$ - gon be $A_1A_2...A_n$ Because it is divided in to triangles so there exist $A_i$ such that $A_i$ is connected with $A_{i+2}$. Suppose that is $A_1,A_3$ Let $A_k$ be the point connected with $A_3$ such that between $A_1,A_k$ there is no point connected with $A_3$ If $A_k \equiv A_n$. Now we consider the $n-2$-gon $A_3A_4...A_n$ We denote $x_i$ is the number of diagonals at the point $A_i$ in $A_3A_4...A_n$. It's obvious that $\sum x_i $ is divisible by $2$ But $x_i$ is even for all $3 \leq i \leq n$ and $x_n$ is odd because $A_nA_3$ is a diagonal so $\sum x_i$ is odd which is impossible $A_k \neq A_n$ Because $A_3$ is not connected with any point between $A_1$ and $A_k$ so $A_1$ is connected with $A_k$. We consider $2$ polygons $P = A_3A_4...A_k$ and $Q = A_{k+1}..A_1$ If the number of diagonals start at $A_k$ to $P$ is even and so does $Q$ then $P,Q$ also satisfy the condition. Then, the number of vertices of $P$ and $Q$ is divisible by $3$ . So, $n$ is divisible by $3$ If the number of diagonal start at $A_k$ to $P$ is odd. Prove similary with the first case we will get a contradition Then $3|n$
12.08.2016 08:14
@above: Is there any motivation for thinking of $3|n$?
13.08.2016 13:44
I just tried for $n = 4,5,6,7,8,9$ and it's satisfy with $n = 6,9$ then i guess that $ n = 3k$ satisfy the conditiĆ³n