olymmath

Putnam 2023 A4

  • Session A

Let v1,…,v12v_1, \dots, v_{12} be unit vectors in R3\mathbb{R}^3 from the origin to the vertices of a regular icosahedron. Show that for every vector v∈R3v \in \mathbb{R}^3 and every ε>0\varepsilon > 0, there exist integers a1,…,a12a_1,\dots,a_{12} such that ∥a1v1+⋯+a12v12−v∥<ε\| a_1 v_1 + \cdots + a_{12} v_{12} - v \| < \varepsilon.

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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