Consider integers ai,i=¯1,2002 such that a−31+a−32+…+a−32002=12 Prove that at least 3 of the numbers are equal.
Problem
Source: JBMO Shortlist 2002
Tags: algebra proposed, algebra
05.11.2017 10:30
BUMP.////
05.11.2017 11:51
As idea. We will prove for n If a1=1 then −a−32+...−a−3n=12 - problem for n−1 So let there are not ai=1 Let there are no more than 2 same elements. Then 12=a−31+...+a−3n≤2(123+133+...1(n+1)3) But 2(123+133+...1(n+1)3)<2(123+133+...1(n+1)3+...)<2(123+133+...1153+16∗1163+32∗1323+....)<2(123+133+...+1153+364)<12 - contradiction
28.05.2021 07:19
From RagvaloD, we may assume that all integers ai are greater than 1. We now show that the maximum possible sum 2∑1001n=21n3 must be less than 12. Notice that ∑bn=a1n3<∫ba−11x3dx. Then 21001∑n=21n3<223+2∫100121x3dx=14−1x2|10012=14+14−110012<12.One possible set of integers is ak=2 for 1≤k≤4 and ak=0 for 5≤k≤2002, and we are done. It is interesting to note that there must be three copies of the same number even when i>2002. Also, the approximate sum in question rounds to about 0.4041.