Problem

Source: IMO ShortList 2002, combinatorics problem 1

Tags: IMO, combinatorics



Let $n$ be a positive integer. Each point $(x,y)$ in the plane, where $x$ and $y$ are non-negative integers with $x+y<n$, is coloured red or blue, subject to the following condition: if a point $(x,y)$ is red, then so are all points $(x',y')$ with $x'\leq x$ and $y'\leq y$. Let $A$ be the number of ways to choose $n$ blue points with distinct $x$-coordinates, and let $B$ be the number of ways to choose $n$ blue points with distinct $y$-coordinates. Prove that $A=B$.


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