IMO 2021 · Problem 6

Let \(m \geq 2\) be an integer, \(A\) be a finite set of (not necessarily positive) integers, and \(B_1, B_2, B_3, \ldots, B_m\) be subsets of \(A\). Assume that for each \(k = 1, 2, \ldots, m\) the sum of the elements of \(B_k\) is \(m^k\). Prove that \(A\) contains at least \(m/2\) elements.

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

Solution

Write \(A=\{a_1,\ldots,a_n\}\). For each choice of integers \[ c_1,\ldots,c_m\in\{0,1,\ldots,m-1\}, \] consider the number \[ S(c_1,\ldots,c_m)=\sum_{k=1}^{m}c_km^k. \]

These \(m^m\) choices give distinct numbers. Indeed, suppose two different choices \(c\) and \(d\) gave the same number, and let \(r\) be the smallest index with \(c_r\ne d_r\). Dividing their equality by \(m^r\) shows that \(c_r-d_r\) is divisible by \(m\), contradicting \[ 0<|c_r-d_r|\le m-1. \]

On the other hand, the given subset sums imply \[ S(c_1,\ldots,c_m) =\sum_{k=1}^{m}c_k\sum_{a_i\in B_k}a_i =\sum_{i=1}^{n}t_i a_i, \qquad t_i=\sum_{\substack{1\le k\le m\\a_i\in B_k}}c_k. \] Each \(t_i\) is an integer satisfying \[ 0\le t_i\le m(m-1)\le m^2-1. \] Consequently, there are at most \((m^2)^n\) possible coefficient vectors \((t_1,\ldots,t_n)\), and hence at most \(m^{2n}\) possible values of \(S\). This upper bound is valid regardless of the signs of the \(a_i\).

Comparing the two counts gives \[ m^m\le m^{2n}. \] Since \(m>1\), we obtain \(m\le 2n\), or \[ \boxed{|A|\ge \frac m2}. \]

The solution was checked against the official IMO shortlist solutions.