MathDB
Putnam 1964 B2

Source: Putnam 1964

March 5, 2022
Putnamset theoryElementary

Problem Statement

Let SS be a set of n>0n>0 elements, and let A1,A2,AkA_1 , A_2 , \ldots A_k be a family of distinct subsets such that any two have a non-empty intersection. Assume that no other subset of SS intersects all of the Ai.A_i. Prove that k=2n1. k=2^{n-1}.