There are $2016$ red and $2016$ blue cards each having a number written on it. For some $64$ distinct positive real numbers, it is known that the set of numbers on cards of a particular color happens to be the set of their pairwise sums and the other happens to be the set of their pairwise products. Can we necessarily determine which color corresponds to sum and which to product? (B. Frenkin) (Translated from here.)
Problem
Source: Tournament of Towns 2016 Fall Tour, A Senior, Problem #4
Tags: algebra
23.04.2017 11:06
Suppose the $64$ distinct positive real numbers are $x_1<x_2<...<x_{64}$ Let $a_1>a_2$ denote two largest numbers written on red cards. Let $b_1>b_2$ denote two largest numbers written on blue cards. Note that $a_1\neq a_2$ and $b_1\neq b_2$ because $x_{63}+x_{64}\neq x_{62}+x_{64}$ and $x_{64}x_{63}\neq x_{64}x_{62}$ Then compare the values $\frac{a_1}{a_2}$ and $\frac{b_1}{b_2}$. Since $\frac{x_{64}+x_{63}}{x_{64}+x_{62}} < \frac{x_{64}x_{63}}{x_{64}x_{62}}$. So the larger value must come from the cards correspond to product of $x_i$s
20.03.2018 19:05
Or alternatively, suppose that such two largest numbers can be both sum and product of the three largest real numbers, i.e. $a_1 = x_{63} + x_{64} = y_{63} y_{64}$, $a_2 = x_{62} + x_{64} = y_{62} y_{64}$ $b_1 = y_{63} + y_{64} = x_{63} x_{64}$, $b_2 = y_{62} +y_{64} = x_{62} x_{64}$ Solve the equations for $x_{64}$ and $y_{64}$, like $${x_{64}}^2 - a_1 x_{64} + b_1 = 0, {x_{64}}^2 - a_2 x_{64} + b_2 =0$$$${y_{64}}^2 - b_1 y_{64} + a_1 = 0, {y_{64}}^2 - b_2 y_{64} + a_2 =0$$and you can find that $a_1 = a_2$, contradiction.