Coupled Sets

Problem

Let SNS \subseteq \mathbb{N}^* have at least two elements. A set TT is called a coupled set of SS if:

1. TNT \subseteq \mathbb{N}^* and TT has at least two elements; 2. for any x,ySx, y \in S with yxy \neq x, we have xyTxy \in T; 3. for any x,yTx, y \in T with y>xy > x, we have yxS\dfrac{y}{x} \in S.

Questions:

1. If S1={1,2,4}S_1 = \{1, 2, 4\}, find the coupled set T1T_1 of S1S_1. 2. Suppose S2={p1,p2,p3,p4}S_2 = \{p_1, p_2, p_3, p_4\} with p4>p3>p2>p1p_4 > p_3 > p_2 > p_1 has a coupled set T2T_2. Prove that for any 1i<j41 \leqslant i < j \leqslant 4, we have pjpiS2\dfrac{p_j}{p_i} \in S_2. 3. Let S={p1,p2,p3,p4}S = \{p_1, p_2, p_3, p_4\} with p4>p3>p2>p12p_4 > p_3 > p_2 > p_1 \geqslant 2. Find the number of elements of a coupled set TT of SS.

Answer

Solution

Difficulty7/10
TopicsGeometric Progression, number theory, Set Theory, algebra, Casework

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