MathDB
Showing properties about subsets of positive integers.

Source: IMO 2018 Shortlist A3

July 17, 2019
algebraIMO Shortlistrational numberSets

Problem Statement

Given any set SS of positive integers, show that at least one of the following two assertions holds:
(1) There exist distinct finite subsets FF and GG of SS such that xF1/x=xG1/x\sum_{x\in F}1/x=\sum_{x\in G}1/x;
(2) There exists a positive rational number r<1r<1 such that xF1/xr\sum_{x\in F}1/x\neq r for all finite subsets FF of SS.