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Difference between revisions of "1980 USAMO Problems/Problem 2"
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== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
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{{solution}}
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 +
Consider the first few cases for <math>n</math> with the entire <math>n</math> numbers forming an arithmetic sequence <cmath>(1, 2, 3, \ldots, n)</cmath>
 +
If <math>n = 3</math>, there will be one ascending triplet (123). Let's only consider the ascending order for now.
 +
If <math>n = 4</math>, the first 3 numbers give 1 triplet, the addition of the 4 gives one more, for 2 in total.
 +
If <math>n = 5</math>, the first 4 numbers give 2 triplets, and the 5th number gives 2 more triplets (135 and 345).
 +
Repeating a few more times, we can quickly see that if <math>n</math> is even, the nth number will give <cmath>\frac{n}{2} - 1</cmath> more triplets in addition to all the prior triplets from the first <math>n-1</math> numbers.
 +
If <math>n</math> is odd, the <math>n</math>th number will give <cmath>\frac{n-1}{2}</cmath> more triplets.
 +
Let <math>f(n)</math> denote the total number of triplets for <math>n</math> numbers. The above two statements are summarized as follows:
 +
If <math>n</math> is even, <cmath>f(n) = f(n-1) + \frac{n}2 - 1</cmath>
 +
If <math>n</math> is odd, <cmath>f(n) = f(n-1) + \frac{n-1}2</cmath>
 +
 
 +
Let's obtain the closed form for when <math>n</math> is even:
 +
<cmath>\begin{align*}
 +
f(n) &= f(n-2) + n-2\\
 +
f(n) &= f(n-4) + (n-2) + (n-4)\\
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f(n) &= \sum_{i=1}^{n/2} n - 2i\\
 +
\Aboxed{f(n\ \text{even}) &= \frac{n^2 - 2n}4}
 +
\end{align*}</cmath>
 +
 
 +
Now obtain the closed form when <math>n</math> is odd by using the previous result for when <math>n</math> is even:
 +
<cmath>\begin{align*}
 +
f(n) &= f(n-1) + \frac{n-1}2\\
 +
f(n) &= \frac{{(n-1)}^2 - 2(n-1)}4 + \frac{n-1}2\\
 +
\Aboxed{f(n\ \text{odd}) &= \frac{{(n-1)}^2}4}
 +
\end{align*}</cmath>
 +
 
 +
Note the ambiguous wording in the question! If the "arithmetic progression" is allowed to be a disordered subsequence, then every progression counts twice, both as an ascending progression and as a descending progression.
 +
Double the expression to account for the descending versions of each triple, to obtain:
 +
<cmath>\begin{align*}
 +
f(n\ \text{even}) &= \frac{n^2 - 2n}2\\
 +
f(n\ \text{odd}) &= \frac{{(n-1)}^2}2\\
 +
\Aboxed{f(n) &= \biggl\lfloor\frac{(n-1)^2}2\biggr\rfloor}
 +
\end{align*}</cmath>
 +
 
 +
~Lopkiloinm (corrected by integralarefun)
  
 
== See Also ==
 
== See Also ==

Latest revision as of 18:04, 9 August 2023

Problem

Find the maximum possible number of three term arithmetic progressions in a monotone sequence of $n$ distinct reals.

Solution

Consider the first few cases for $n$ with the entire $n$ numbers forming an arithmetic sequence \[(1, 2, 3, \ldots, n)\] If $n = 3$, there will be one ascending triplet (123). Let's only consider the ascending order for now. If $n = 4$, the first 3 numbers give 1 triplet, the addition of the 4 gives one more, for 2 in total. If $n = 5$, the first 4 numbers give 2 triplets, and the 5th number gives 2 more triplets (135 and 345). Repeating a few more times, we can quickly see that if $n$ is even, the nth number will give \[\frac{n}{2} - 1\] more triplets in addition to all the prior triplets from the first $n-1$ numbers. If $n$ is odd, the $n$th number will give \[\frac{n-1}{2}\] more triplets. Let $f(n)$ denote the total number of triplets for $n$ numbers. The above two statements are summarized as follows: If $n$ is even, \[f(n) = f(n-1) + \frac{n}2 - 1\] If $n$ is odd, \[f(n) = f(n-1) + \frac{n-1}2\]

Let's obtain the closed form for when $n$ is even: \begin{align*} f(n) &= f(n-2) + n-2\\ f(n) &= f(n-4) + (n-2) + (n-4)\\ f(n) &= \sum_{i=1}^{n/2} n - 2i\\ \Aboxed{f(n\ \text{even}) &= \frac{n^2 - 2n}4} \end{align*}

Now obtain the closed form when $n$ is odd by using the previous result for when $n$ is even: \begin{align*} f(n) &= f(n-1) + \frac{n-1}2\\ f(n) &= \frac{{(n-1)}^2 - 2(n-1)}4 + \frac{n-1}2\\ \Aboxed{f(n\ \text{odd}) &= \frac{{(n-1)}^2}4} \end{align*}

Note the ambiguous wording in the question! If the "arithmetic progression" is allowed to be a disordered subsequence, then every progression counts twice, both as an ascending progression and as a descending progression. Double the expression to account for the descending versions of each triple, to obtain: \begin{align*} f(n\ \text{even}) &= \frac{n^2 - 2n}2\\ f(n\ \text{odd}) &= \frac{{(n-1)}^2}2\\ \Aboxed{f(n) &= \biggl\lfloor\frac{(n-1)^2}2\biggr\rfloor} \end{align*}

~Lopkiloinm (corrected by integralarefun)

See Also

1980 USAMO (Problems • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 1 		Followed by
Problem 3
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5
All USAMO Problems and Solutions

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