olymmath

Putnam 2009 B3

  • Session B

Call a subset SS of {1,2,…,n}\{1, 2, \dots, n\} mediocre if it has the following property: Whenever aa and bb are elements of SS whose average is an integer, that average is also an element of SS. Let A(n)A(n) be the number of mediocre subsets of {1,2,…,n}\{1,2,\dots,n\}. [For instance, every subset of {1,2,3}\{1,2,3\} except {1,3}\{1,3\} is mediocre, so A(3)=7A(3) =7.] Find all positive integers nn such that A(n+2)−2A(n+1)+A(n)=1A(n+2) - 2A(n+1) + A(n) = 1.

Curated text Kedlaya Putnam archive. Quoted with source.

Solutions

Human solution Solution 1 by Kiran Kedlaya and Lenny Ng

The terms of the source let olymmath link to this solution but not copy it. Read the solution (Kedlaya Putnam archive).

Locator putnam/2009/b3 · Tag EPH06R3HRZ · Edit this page on GitHub · Keys: j next, k previous