2014 IMO Problems

Revision as of 04:44, 9 October 2014 by Timneh (talk | contribs) (Created page with "==Problem== A set of lines in the plane is in <math>\textit{general position}</math> if no two are parallel and no three pass through the same point. A set of lines in general po...")
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

Problem

A set of lines in the plane is in $\textit{general position}$ if no two are parallel and no three pass through the same point. A set of lines in general position cuts the plane into regions, some of which have finite are; we call these its $\textit{finite regions}$. Prove that for all sufficiently large $n$, in any set of $n$ lines in general position it is possible to colour at least $\sqrt{n}$ of the lines blue in such a way that none of its finite regions has a completely blue boundary.

Solution