MathDB
Points on xy-plane

Source: APMO 1993

March 11, 2006
analytic geometryinductionnumber theory unsolvednumber theory

Problem Statement

Let P1P_1, P2P_2, \ldots, P1993=P0P_{1993} = P_0 be distinct points in the xyxy-plane with the following properties: (i) both coordinates of PiP_i are integers, for i=1,2,,1993i = 1, 2, \ldots, 1993; (ii) there is no point other than PiP_i and Pi+1P_{i+1} on the line segment joining PiP_i with Pi+1P_{i+1} whose coordinates are both integers, for i=0,1,,1992i = 0, 1, \ldots, 1992. Prove that for some ii, 0i19920 \leq i \leq 1992, there exists a point QQ with coordinates (qx,qy)(q_x, q_y) on the line segment joining PiP_i with Pi+1P_{i+1} such that both 2qx2q_x and 2qy2q_y are odd integers.