MathDB
n infinite arithmetic progressions of positive integers

Source: Argentina 2002 OMA L3 p6

May 12, 2024
combinatoricsArithmetic Progressionalgebranumber theory

Problem Statement

Let P1,P2,,PnP_1,P_2,\ldots ,P_n, be infinite arithmetic progressions of positive integers, of differences d1,d2,,dnd_1,d_2,\ldots ,d_n, respectively. Prove that if every positive integer appears in at least one of the nn progressions then one of the differences did_i divides the least common multiple of the remaining n1n-1 differences.
Note: Pi={ai,ai+di,ai+2di,ai+3di,ai+4di,}P_i=\left \{ a_i,a_i+d_i,a_i+2d_i,a_i+3d_i,a_i+4d_i,\cdots \right \} with ai a_i and did_i positive integers.