MathDB
Value of integer sums

Source: USAMO 1992

October 27, 2005
inductionnumber theory unsolvednumber theory

Problem Statement

For a nonempty set S\, S \, of integers, let σ(S)\, \sigma(S) \, be the sum of the elements of S\, S. Suppose that A={a1,a2,,a11}\, A = \{a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_{11} \} \, is a set of positive integers with a1<a2<<a11\, a_1 < a_2 < \cdots < a_{11} \, and that, for each positive integer n1500,\, n\leq 1500, \, there is a subset S\, S \, of A\, A \, for which σ(S)=n\, \sigma(S) = n. What is the smallest possible value of a10\, a_{10}?