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smallest no of parallel lines that divide a plane in N>1999 regions

Source: 1999 Spanish Mathematical Olympiad P6

July 21, 2018
combinatorial geometryParallel LinesminimumPlanecombinatorics

Problem Statement

A plane is divided into NN regions by three families of parallel lines. No three lines pass through the same point. What is the smallest number of lines needed so that N>1999N > 1999?