olymmath

Putnam 2015 B5

  • Session B

Let PnP_n be the number of permutations π\pi of {1,2,…,n}\{1,2,\dots,n\} such that ∣i−j∣=1 implies ∣π(i)−π(j)∣≤2|i-j| = 1 \text{ implies } |\pi(i) -\pi(j)| \leq 2 for all i,ji,j in {1,2,…,n}\{1,2,\dots,n\}. Show that for n≥2n \geq 2, the quantity Pn+5−Pn+4−Pn+3+PnP_{n+5} - P_{n+4} - P_{n+3} + P_n does not depend on nn, and find its value.

Curated text Kedlaya Putnam archive. Quoted with source.

Solutions

Human solution Solution 1 by Manjul Bhargava, 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).

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