MathDB
Maximal guaranteed sum of numbers in non-adjacent cells

Source: Caucasus MO 2024, Seniors P4

March 15, 2024
combinatorics

Problem Statement

Yasha writes in the cells of the table 99×9999 \times 99 all positive integers from 1 to 99299^2 (each number once). Grisha looks at the table and selects several cells, among which there are no two cells sharing a common side, and then sums up the numbers in all selected cells. Find the largest sum Grisha can guarantee to achieve.