Problem

Source: China TST 1988, problem 4

Tags: modular arithmetic, floor function, combinatorics unsolved, combinatorics



Let $k \in \mathbb{N},$ $S_k = \{(a, b) | a, b = 1, 2, \ldots, k \}.$ Any two elements $(a, b)$, $(c, d)$ $\in S_k$ are called "undistinguishing" in $S_k$ if $a - c \equiv 0$ or $\pm 1 \pmod{k}$ and $b - d \equiv 0$ or $\pm 1 \pmod{k}$; otherwise, we call them "distinguishing". For example, $(1, 1)$ and $(2, 5)$ are undistinguishing in $S_5$. Considering the subset $A$ of $S_k$ such that the elements of $A$ are pairwise distinguishing. Let $r_k$ be the maximum possible number of elements of $A$. (i) Find $r_5$. (ii) Find $r_7$. (iii) Find $r_k$ for $k \in \mathbb{N}$.