MathDB
Putnam 2015 B5

Source:

December 6, 2015
PutnamPutnam 2015Putnam combinatorics

Problem Statement

Let PnP_n be the number of permutations π\pi of {1,2,,n}\{1,2,\dots,n\} such that ij=1 implies π(i)π(j)2|i-j|=1\text{ implies }|\pi(i)-\pi(j)|\le 2 for all i,ji,j in {1,2,,n}.\{1,2,\dots,n\}. Show that for n2,n\ge 2, the quantity Pn+5Pn+4Pn+3+PnP_{n+5}-P_{n+4}-P_{n+3}+P_n does not depend on n,n, and find its value.