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Number theory Difficulty 7.0 National Olympiad Prove it Taiwan

對於一個由有限多個正整數所成的集合 AA, 我們將它分割成兩個非空的子集 A1A_1 和 A2A_2。我們稱 (A1,A2)(A_1, A_2) 是個好分割, 若且唯若 A1A_1 所有元素的最小公倍數等於 A2A_2 所有元素的最大公因數。試求最小的 nn, 使得存在一個由 nn 個正整數所成的集合, 其恰好有 2015 個好分割。

For a finite set AA of positive integers, we call a partition of AA into two disjoint nonempty subsets A1A_1 and A2A_2 are good if the least common multiple of the elements in A1A_1 is equal to the greatest common divisor of the elements in A2A_2. Determine the minimum value of nn such that there exists a set of nn positive integers with exactly 2015 good partitions.

Solution

Answer: 3024

Suppose A={a1,a2,⋯ ,an}A = \{a_1, a_2, \cdots, a_n\}, where a1<a2<⋯<ana_1 < a_2 < \cdots < a_n. For any nonempty set of positive integers BB, let l(B)l(B) and g(B)g(B) denote the least common multiple and the greatest common divisor of all its elements, respectively.

Consider all good partitions (A1,A2)(A_1, A_2) of AA. By definition, for all ai∈A1a_i \in A_1 and aj∈A2a_j \in A_2, we must have ai≤l(A1)=g(A2)≤aja_i \le l(A_1) = g(A_2) \le a_j, so there must exist 1≤k<n1 \le k < n such that A1={a1,a2,⋯ ,ak}A_1 = \{a_1, a_2, \cdots, a_k\} and A2={ak+1,⋯ ,an}A_2 = \{a_{k+1}, \cdots, a_n\}. Below we refer to such a partition as the aka_k partition, and let lk=l(a1,a2,⋯ ,ak)l_k = l(a_1, a_2, \cdots, a_k), gk=g(ak+1,⋯ ,an)g_k = g(a_{k+1}, \cdots, a_n).

Now, note the following properties:

- Property 1: If both ak−1a_{k-1} and aka_k are good partitions, then gk−1=gk=akg_{k-1} = g_k = a_k.

Proof: Note that lk−1=gk−1∣akl_{k-1} = g_{k-1}|a_k, so gk=lk=l(lk−1,ak)=akg_k = l_k = l(l_{k-1}, a_k) = a_k, and gk−1=g(ak,gk)=akg_{k-1} = g(a_k, g_k) = a_k.

- Property 2: Among ak−1a_{k-1}, aka_k and ak+1a_{k+1}, at least one is not a good partition.

Proof: If not, by Property 1, ak=gk=ak+1a_k = g_k = a_{k+1}, a contradiction.

- Property 3: a1a_1 and a2a_2 cannot both be good partitions. Likewise, an−2a_{n-2} and an−1a_{n-1} cannot both be good partitions.

Proof: If both a1a_1 and a2a_2 are good partitions, then by Property 1, a2=g1=l1=a1a_2 = g_1 = l_1 = a_1, a contradiction. The second part is similar.

Now, suppose ∣A∣=n|A| = n. By Property 3, at most one of {a1,a2}\{a_1, a_2\} is a good partition, and at most one of {an−2,an−1}\{a_{n-2}, a_{n-1}\} is a good partition as well. Also, by Property 2, among {a3,⋯ ,an−3}\{a_3, \cdots, a_{n-3}\} there are at least [(n−5)/3][(n-5)/3] partitions that are not good. Combining the above, the number of good partitions is at most (n−1)⋅2−⌊n−53⌋=⌊2(n−2)3⌋≥2015(n-1)\cdot 2 - \lfloor \frac{n-5}{3} \rfloor = \lfloor \frac{2(n-2)}{3} \rfloor \ge 2015, hence n≥3024n \ge 3024.

Finally, we show that 3024 indeed satisfies the requirements of the problem. Consider A={2×6i,3×6i,6i+1∣0≤i≤1007}A = \{2 \times 6^i, 3 \times 6^i, 6^{i+1}\mid 0 \le i \le 1007\}. Then all 3×6i3 \times 6^i and 6i6^i (except 610076^{1007}) are good partitions.

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Source: MathNet, licensed CC-BY-4.0. Statement translated into English from zh; metadata (topic, difficulty) added by this project.