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 xx and yy. 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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