Let $ n$ be an even positive integer. Let $ A_1, A_2, \ldots, A_{n + 1}$ be sets having $ n$ elements each such that any two of them have exactly one element in common while every element of their union belongs to at least two of the given sets. For which $ n$ can one assign to every element of the union one of the numbers 0 and 1 in such a manner that each of the sets has exactly $ \frac {n}{2}$ zeros?
Problem
Source: IMO 1988/2, IMO Shortlist 5, IMO Longlist 7
Tags: linear algebra, combinatorics, Set systems, Coloring, IMO, IMO 1988
23.10.2005 14:33
First of all, the incidence structure is determined uniquely by the given conditions: every element of $A=\bigcup A_i$ belongs to precisely two $A_i$'s, and $|A|=\frac{n(n+1)}2$. We can see this as follows: Suppose we can find $x\in A_1\cap A_2\cap A_3$. Then $A_1\cup A_2\cup A_3$ has, except for $x$, at least $3(n-1)$ elements. Every $A_i,\ i>3$ covers at most $3$ of these (one from each of $A_1,A_2,A_3$), so in order to cover these elements one more time we would need at least $n-1$ more $A_i$'s, but we don't have that many. From this, the fact that $A$ has $\binom{n+1}2$ elements follows by a simple counting argument. Now let's observe that $n$ being a multiple of $4$ is a necessary condition for the existence of the $0-1$ labeling. This is beause if we count the $0$-labeled elements every time they appear in a set we get $\binom{n+1}2$ (since there are $n+1$ sets, each one containing $\frac n2$ of them), and an even number, since every $0$-labeled element appears in precisely two sets, so it's counted twice. This shows that $\binom{n+1}2$ must be even, which, in turn, means that $4|n$. Conversely, there is such a $0-1$ labeling when $4|n$, and we can prove it inductively. First of all, let's construct an $(n+1)\times n$ table $T_n$ containing numbers between $1$ and $\binom{n+1}2$ as follows: The rows of the table will be the sets $A_i$ in order, and the numbers in a row will be the elements in the respective set. The first row is just $1,2,\ldots,n$. In the $i$'th step (with $i\in\overline{2,n+1}$) we construct the $i$'th row by setting $a_{i,j}=a_{j,i-1}$ when $j\in\overline{1,i-1}$, and making $a_{i,i},a_{i,i+1},\ldots,a_{i,n}$ the smallest consecutive numbers larger than all the numbers which have appeared so far. The subtable formed by the last $n+1-4$ rows and $n-4$ columns has the same structure as $T_{n-4}$ (i.e. we can construct an isomorphism from $T_{n-4}$ to it induced by a bijection between the numbers $1,2,\ldots,\binom{n-4+1}2$ and those which appear in the mentioned subtable), so, by the induction hypothesis, we can find the desired $0-1$ labeling of this subtable. We divide the rest in three other subtables: $X$, the subtable formed by the first $4$ lines and $3$ columns, which we color $\begin{pmatrix}1&1&0\\1&0&1\\1&0&0\\0&1&0\end{pmatrix}$, $Y$, the one formed by the first $4$ lines and $n-3$ columns, whose columns we color alternately $\begin{pmatrix}0\\0\\1\\1\end{pmatrix}$ and $\begin{pmatrix}1\\1\\0\\0\end{pmatrix}$ (starting with the first one), and the rest of the initial table, which lies in the lower-left corner, and is just the transpose of $Y$ (so its coloration is determined). Actually drawing these tables should help clarify the whole thing.
23.10.2005 17:45
another way to see that there are $\frac{n(n+1)}{2}$ elements in $X=\bigcup_i A_i$ is to count the number of pairs $(x,i)$ where $x\in X,x\in A_i$; that counts that $n(n+1)\geq 2|X|$; on the other hand counting the number of triples $(i,j,x),x\in X,x\in A_i\cap A_j$ gives that $\sum_{x\in X} d_x^2=2n(n+1)$ where $d_x$ is the degree of each $x$(i.e. the number of sets that contains $x$). Use Cauchy and it follows that $2|X|\geq n(n+1)$. in fact, if you observe, the set collection here is unique upto isomorphism(relabelling of the points).
23.10.2005 18:38
Another way to look that 4/n is sufficient is to think the n+1 sets as the points of a graph, and their members as edges. So we need a n/2 regular graph on n+1 vertices which is easily constructed from the following general fact, Kn is the disjoint union of hamilton circuit iff n is odd. I didnt read Grobber post carefully but its probably constructing this.
15.03.2020 08:16
Answer: All $n$ such that $4|n$ We first make the following $2$ claims: Claim $1$: Each element of union belongs to exactly $2$ subsets. Proof: Consider a subset $A_i$. Assume that some element $x \in\ A_i$ also $\in A_k, A_l$. There are $n-1$ elements remaining in $A_i$ and there are $n-2$ subsets to choose from. By pigeon hole principle, at least $1$ of the remaining elements in $A_i$ must $\in A_k$ or $\in A_l$. This contradicts the assumption that any $2$ subsets have only $1$ element in common. Claim $2$: $4|n$ Proof: Now, since each element in $A_i \in$ exactly $1$ other subset, total number of elements present in the union = $n*(n+1)/2$. If each subset must have $n/2$ elements assigned a value of $1$, the total number of elements assigned value of $1$ = $n/2*(n+1)/2 = n*(n+1)/4$. Thus $4$ must divide $n$. Now we make our final claim: Claim $3$: $4|n$ is a sufficient condition to assign every element of the union one of the numbers 0 and 1 in such a manner that each of the sets has exactly $ \frac {n}{2}$ zeros. Proof: Consider a regular polygon consisting of $n+1$ vertices where each line joining two vertices $A_i, A_j$ represents the element which $\in A_i, A_j$. Clearly there are a total of $n*(n+1)/2$ such lines representing the total number of elements of the union where each vertex is connected to $n$ vertices, meaning each of the $n$ elements of $A_i$ is part of $1$ other subset. Starting with $i = 1$, let us start coloring all lines joining vertices $A_i$, $A_{i+1}$ with color Red, all lines joining $A_i$, $A_{i+2}$ with color White, $A_i$, $A_{i+3}$ with color Red, $A_i$, $A_{i+4}$ with color White and so on ... $A_i$, $A_{i+n/2}$ with color White. Clearly each line from vertex $A_i$ alternates Red, White for first $n/2$ lines and then alternates White, Red for remaining $n/2$ lines implying that we could have exactly $n/2$ red lines emanating from each vertex $A_i$. But these $n/2$ lines represent $n/2$ elements of each subset $A_i$ which could each be assigned a value of $0$. This completes the proof.