Difference between revisions of "2001 USAMO Problems/Problem 1"

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== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
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=== Solution 1===
 
We claim that <math>n=23</math> is the minimum. Consider the following construction (replacing colors with numbers) which fulfills this:
 
We claim that <math>n=23</math> is the minimum. Consider the following construction (replacing colors with numbers) which fulfills this:
  
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Suppose a configuration exists with <math>n \le 22</math>.  
 
Suppose a configuration exists with <math>n \le 22</math>.  
  
Suppose an element appears <math>5</math> or more times. Then the remaining elements of the <math>5</math> boxes must be distinct, so that there are at least <math>n \ge 5 \cdot 5 + 1 = 26</math> elements, contradiction. If an element appears <math>4</math> or more times, the remaining elements of the <math>4</math> boxes must be distinct, leading to <math>5 \cdot 4 + 1 = 21</math> elements. The fifth box can contain at most four elements from the previous boxes, and then the remaining two elements must be distinct, leading to <math>n \ge 2 + 21 = 23</math>, contradiction.
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Suppose a ball appears <math>5</math> or more times. Then the remaining balls of the <math>5</math> boxes must be distinct, so that there are at least <math>n \ge 5 \cdot 5 + 1 = 26</math> balls, contradiction. If a ball appears <math>4</math> or more times, the remaining balls of the <math>4</math> boxes must be distinct, leading to <math>5 \cdot 4 + 1 = 21</math> balls. The fifth box can contain at most four balls from the previous boxes, and then the remaining two balls must be distinct, leading to <math>n \ge 2 + 21 = 23</math>, contradiction.
  
However, by the [[Pigeonhole Principle]], at least one element must appear <math>3</math> times. [[Without loss of generality]] suppose that <math>1</math> appears three times, and let the boxes that contain these have the elements <math>\{1,2,3,4,5,6\},\{1,7,8,9,10,11\},\{1,12,13,14,15,16\}</math>. Each of the remaining five boxes can have at most <math>3</math> elements from each of these boxes. Thus, each of the remaining five boxes must have <math>3</math> additional elements <math>> 16</math>. Thus, it is necessary that we use <math>\le 22 - 16 = 6</math> balls to fill a <math>3 \times 5</math> grid by the same rules.  
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However, by the [[Pigeonhole Principle]], at least one ball must appear <math>3</math> times. [[Without loss of generality]] suppose that <math>1</math> appears three times, and let the boxes that contain these have balls with colors <math>\{1,2,3,4,5,6\},\{1,7,8,9,10,11\},\{1,12,13,14,15,16\}</math>. Each of the remaining five boxes can have at most <math>3</math> balls from each of these boxes. Thus, each of the remaining five boxes must have <math>3</math> additional balls <math>> 16</math>. Thus, it is necessary that we use <math>\le 22 - 16 = 6</math> balls to fill a <math>3 \times 5</math> grid by the same rules.  
  
Again, no element may appear <math>\ge 4</math> times, but by Pigeonhole, one element must appear <math>3</math> times. [[Without loss of generality]], let this element be <math>17</math>; then the three boxes containing <math>17</math> must have at least <math>2 \cdot 3 + 1 = 7</math> elements, contradiction.
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Again, no balls may appear <math>\ge 4</math> times, but by Pigeonhole, one ball must appear <math>3</math> times. [[Without loss of generality]], let this ball have color <math>17</math>; then the three boxes containing <math>17</math> must have at least <math>2 \cdot 3 + 1 = 7</math> balls, contradiction.
  
 
Therefore, <math>n = 23</math> is the minimum.
 
Therefore, <math>n = 23</math> is the minimum.
  
Alternate Solution:
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=== Solution 2 ===
 
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Let <math>m_{i,j}</math> be the number of balls which are the same color as the <math>j^{\text{th}}</math> ball in box <math>i</math> (including that ball). For a fixed box <math>i</math>, <math>1\leq i\leq 8</math>, consider the sums
For each box, there are 6C2pairs of colors. Since no two colors can appear in more than one box together, the 8*6C2 pairs must be distinct. With x being the total number of colors, if
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<cmath>
xC2>8*6C2 is satisfied, the x colors can be arranged in a manner that satisfies the conditions.
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S_i = \sum_{j=1}^6 m_{i,j}\quad\text{and}\quad s_i = \sum_{j=1}^6 \frac{1}{m_{i,j}}.
 
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</cmath>
Solve, and x=23 follows as the least number of colors possible that satisfies the conditions.  
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For each fixed <math>i</math>, since no pair of colors is repeated, each of the remaining seven boxes can contribute at most one ball to <math>S_i</math>. Thus, <math>S_i\leq 13</math>. It follows by the convexity of <math>f(x) = 1/x</math> that <math>s_i</math> is minimized when one of the <math>m_{i,j}</math> is equal to 3 and the other five equal to 2. Hence <math>s_i\geq 17/6</math>. Note that
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<cmath>
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n = \sum_{i=1}^8 \sum_{j=1}^6 \frac{1}{m_{i,j}}\geq 8\cdot\frac{17}{6} = \frac{68}{3}.
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</cmath>
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Hence there must be 23 colors. The construction for <math>n = 23</math> is above.
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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[[Category:Olympiad Combinatorics Problems]]
 
[[Category:Olympiad Combinatorics Problems]]
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{{MAA Notice}}

Revision as of 13:16, 5 July 2014

Problem

Each of eight boxes contains six balls. Each ball has been colored with one of $n$ colors, such that no two balls in the same box are the same color, and no two colors occur together in more than one box. Determine, with justification, the smallest integer $n$ for which this is possible.

Solution

Solution 1

We claim that $n=23$ is the minimum. Consider the following construction (replacing colors with numbers) which fulfills this:

\[\begin{tabular}{|r|r|r|r|r|r|} \hline 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 \\ \hline 1 & 7 & 8 & 9 & 10 & 11 \\ \hline 1 & 12 & 13 & 14 & 15 & 16 \\ \hline 2 & 7 & 12 & 17 & 18 & 19 \\ \hline 3 & 8 & 13 & 17 & 20 & 21 \\ \hline 4 & 9 & 14 & 17 & 22 & 23 \\ \hline 5 & 10 & 15 & 18 & 20 & 22 \\ \hline 6 & 11 & 16 & 19 & 21 & 23 \\ \hline \end{tabular}\]

Suppose a configuration exists with $n \le 22$.

Suppose a ball appears $5$ or more times. Then the remaining balls of the $5$ boxes must be distinct, so that there are at least $n \ge 5 \cdot 5 + 1 = 26$ balls, contradiction. If a ball appears $4$ or more times, the remaining balls of the $4$ boxes must be distinct, leading to $5 \cdot 4 + 1 = 21$ balls. The fifth box can contain at most four balls from the previous boxes, and then the remaining two balls must be distinct, leading to $n \ge 2 + 21 = 23$, contradiction.

However, by the Pigeonhole Principle, at least one ball must appear $3$ times. Without loss of generality suppose that $1$ appears three times, and let the boxes that contain these have balls with colors $\{1,2,3,4,5,6\},\{1,7,8,9,10,11\},\{1,12,13,14,15,16\}$. Each of the remaining five boxes can have at most $3$ balls from each of these boxes. Thus, each of the remaining five boxes must have $3$ additional balls $> 16$. Thus, it is necessary that we use $\le 22 - 16 = 6$ balls to fill a $3 \times 5$ grid by the same rules.

Again, no balls may appear $\ge 4$ times, but by Pigeonhole, one ball must appear $3$ times. Without loss of generality, let this ball have color $17$; then the three boxes containing $17$ must have at least $2 \cdot 3 + 1 = 7$ balls, contradiction.

Therefore, $n = 23$ is the minimum.

Solution 2

Let $m_{i,j}$ be the number of balls which are the same color as the $j^{\text{th}}$ ball in box $i$ (including that ball). For a fixed box $i$, $1\leq i\leq 8$, consider the sums \[S_i = \sum_{j=1}^6 m_{i,j}\quad\text{and}\quad s_i = \sum_{j=1}^6 \frac{1}{m_{i,j}}.\] For each fixed $i$, since no pair of colors is repeated, each of the remaining seven boxes can contribute at most one ball to $S_i$. Thus, $S_i\leq 13$. It follows by the convexity of $f(x) = 1/x$ that $s_i$ is minimized when one of the $m_{i,j}$ is equal to 3 and the other five equal to 2. Hence $s_i\geq 17/6$. Note that \[n = \sum_{i=1}^8 \sum_{j=1}^6 \frac{1}{m_{i,j}}\geq 8\cdot\frac{17}{6} = \frac{68}{3}.\] Hence there must be 23 colors. The construction for $n = 23$ is above.

See also

2001 USAMO (ProblemsResources)
Preceded by
First question
Followed by
Problem 2
1 2 3 4 5 6
All USAMO Problems and Solutions

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