(MA 375, HW1, problem 50)
 
 
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                       one of them, '''then we have an original pair, and we are done.'''''Italic text''
 
                       one of them, '''then we have an original pair, and we are done.'''''Italic text''
 
                   Else some number divides n+1 and thus, divides 2n+2, '''and we are done''' ''Italic text''
 
                   Else some number divides n+1 and thus, divides 2n+2, '''and we are done''' ''Italic text''
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[[Category:MA375Spring2009Walther]]

Latest revision as of 16:55, 29 January 2009

Problem 50. Show that among any n+1 positive integers not exceeding 2n, there must be an integer that divides one of the other integers.

Answer:

  Base case: n=1, {0,1,2}
  Inductive step: Assume P(n): n+1 positive integers not exceeding 2n
                  Given n+2 positive integers not exceeding 2n+2
                     If there are n+1 numbers not exceeding 2n+2, done by induction
                  If we have 2n+1 and 2n+2 in the list
                     If n+1 is also in the list we are done, (2n+2)/(n+1)
                  If we remove 2n+1 and 2n+2 and add n+1, which is the set of n+1 integers not
                     exceeding 2n.  There is a pair in which one divides the other. If n+1 is not
                     one of them, then we have an original pair, and we are done.Italic text
                  Else some number divides n+1 and thus, divides 2n+2, and we are done Italic text

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