MathDB
a rectangle fits inside another rectangle, 2019 integer sidelength rectangles

Source: Irmo 2018 p1 q4

September 16, 2018
rectanglecombinatoricscombinatorial geometry

Problem Statement

We say that a rectangle with side lengths aa and bb fits inside a rectangle with side lengths cc and dd if either (aca \le c and bdb \le d) or (ada \le d and bcb \le c). For instance, a rectangle with side lengths 11 and 55 fits inside another rectangle with side lengths 11 and 55, and also fits inside a rectangle with side lengths 66 and 22. Suppose SS is a set of 20192019 rectangles, all with integer side lengths between 11 and 20182018 inclusive. Show that there are three rectangles AA, BB, and CC in SS such that AA fits inside BB, and BB fits inside CC.