IMO 1994 · Problem 6

Show that there exists a set \(A\) of positive integers with the following property: For any infinite set \(S\) of primes there exist two positive integers \(m \in A\) and \(n \notin A\) each of which is a product of \(k\) distinct elements of \(S\) for some \(k \geq 2\).

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

Solution

Define \[ A=\left\{p_1p_2\cdots p_r: r\geq2,\quad p_1<p_2<\cdots<p_r\text{ are primes},\quad p_1\leq r \right\}. \] By unique prime factorization, a product of \(r\geq2\) distinct primes belongs to \(A\) exactly when its smallest prime factor is at most \(r\).

Now let \(S\) be any infinite set of primes, and let \(p\) be its smallest element. Since \(S\) is infinite, we can choose \(p\) further elements \[ p<q_1<q_2<\cdots<q_p \] of \(S\). Set \[ k=p,\qquad m=pq_1q_2\cdots q_{p-1},\qquad n=q_1q_2\cdots q_p. \] Both \(m\) and \(n\) are products of exactly \(k\) distinct elements of \(S\), and \(k=p\geq2\).

The smallest prime factor of \(m\) is \(p=k\), so \(m\in A\). The smallest prime factor of \(n\) is \(q_1>p=k\), so \(n\notin A\).

Thus \(A\) has the required property. \(\square\)

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