Claims About a Difference-Closed Sequence

Problem

A five-term sequence a1,a2,a3,a4,a5a_1,a_2,a_3,a_4,a_5 satisfies 0a1<a2<a3<a4<a50\leqslant a_1<a_2<a_3<a_4<a_5, and for all i,ji,j with 1ij51\leqslant i\leqslant j\leqslant 5, the difference ajaia_j-a_i is a term of the sequence. Determine, with proof, which of the following claims are true.

1. a1=0a_1=0. 2. a5=4a2a_5=4a_2. 3. {an}\{a_n\} is an arithmetic progression. 4. The set A={ai+aj1ij5}A=\{a_i+a_j\mid 1\leqslant i\leqslant j\leqslant 5\} has 99 elements.

Answer

Solution

Difficulty7/10
Topicscombinatorics, Arithmetic Progression, Logic, sequences, Casework

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