IMO 1970 · Problem 4

Find the set of all positive integers \(n\) with the property that the set \(\{n, n+1, n+2, n+3, n+4, n+5\}\) can be partitioned into two sets such that the product of the numbers in one set equals the product of the numbers in the other set.

Official text of the problem. Official problem paper (PDF)

Answer

\[ \boxed{\varnothing} \]

Solution

Suppose such a partition exists.

If \(n=1\), exactly one of the six numbers is divisible by \(5\). Thus exactly one of the two products is divisible by \(5\), a contradiction. Hence \(n\ge2\).

First, each set must contain exactly three numbers. Otherwise, one contains at most two numbers and the other at least four. Their products are respectively at most \((n+4)(n+5)\) and at least \(n(n+1)(n+2)(n+3)\). But \[ n(n+1)\ge n+4,\qquad (n+2)(n+3)>n+5, \] so the latter product is strictly larger.

Next, \(n\) and \(n+5\) must belong to the same set. Indeed, if they belonged to different sets, the product in the set containing \(n\) would be at most \[ n(n+3)(n+4), \] whereas the other product would be at least \[ (n+1)(n+2)(n+5). \] The first bound is strictly smaller than the second, since \[ n(n+3)<(n+1)(n+2),\qquad n+4<n+5. \]

Consequently, one set is \[ \{n,n+k,n+5\},\qquad k\in\{1,2,3,4\}. \] We consider all four possibilities.

  • If \(k=1\) or \(k=2\), its product is at most \(n(n+2)(n+5)\), while the complementary product is at least \((n+1)(n+3)(n+4)\). However, \[ n(n+5)<(n+1)(n+4),\qquad n+2<n+3, \] so these products cannot be equal.

  • If \(k=4\), equality would require \[ n(n+4)(n+5)=(n+1)(n+2)(n+3). \] But \[ n(n+5)-(n+1)(n+2)=2(n-1)>0 \] and \(n+4>n+3\), so the left-hand side is strictly larger.

  • If \(k=3\), equality becomes \[ n(n+3)(n+5)=(n+1)(n+2)(n+4). \] Expanding and cancelling gives \[ n(n+1)=8. \] This is impossible: for \(n=2\) the left-hand side is \(6\), and for \(n\ge3\) it is at least \(12\).

All possibilities lead to a contradiction. Therefore no positive integer \(n\) has the required property.

The solution was checked against John Scholes' IMO solution archive (Kalva).