Problem

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Tags: function, number theory, counting, IMO Shortlist, IMO Longlist



$(FRA 5)$ Let $\alpha(n)$ be the number of pairs $(x, y)$ of integers such that $x+y = n, 0 \le y \le x$, and let $\beta(n)$ be the number of triples $(x, y, z)$ such that$ x + y + z = n$ and $0 \le z \le y \le x.$ Find a simple relation between $\alpha(n)$ and the integer part of the number $\frac{n+2}{2}$ and the relation among $\beta(n), \beta(n -3)$ and $\alpha(n).$ Then evaluate $\beta(n)$ as a function of the residue of $n$ modulo $6$. What can be said about $\beta(n)$ and $1+\frac{n(n+6)}{12}$? And what about $\frac{(n+3)^2}{6}$? Find the number of triples $(x, y, z)$ with the property $x+ y+ z \le n, 0 \le z \le y \le x$ as a function of the residue of $n$ modulo $6.$What can be said about the relation between this number and the number $\frac{(n+6)(2n^2+9n+12)}{72}$?