olymmath

ISL 2012 C5

    The columns and the rows of a 3n×3n3 n \times 3 n square board are numbered 1,2,…,3n1,2, \ldots, 3 n. Every square (x,y)(x, y) with 1≤x,y≤3n1 \leq x, y \leq 3 n is colored asparagus, byzantium or citrine according as the modulo 3 remainder of x+yx+y is 0,1 or 2 respectively. One token colored asparagus, byzantium or citrine is placed on each square, so that there are 3n23 n^{2} tokens of each color. Suppose that one can permute the tokens so that each token is moved to a distance of at most dd from its original position, each asparagus token replaces a byzantium token, each byzantium token replaces a citrine token, and each citrine token replaces an asparagus token. Prove that it is possible to permute the tokens so that each token is moved to a distance of at most d+2d+2 from its original position, and each square contains a token with the same color as the square.

    Official text Transcription from NuminaMath olympiads, checked word for word against the official paper. Quoted with source.

    Official text: IMO 2012 Shortlist booklet, page 5.

    Solutions

    Official solution Solution 1 by the IMO Problem Selection Committee

    The terms of the source let olymmath link to this solution but not copy it. Read the solution (IMO official site).

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