Divisible Sequences

Problem

Let mm be a positive integer, and let a1,a2,,a4m+2a_1, a_2, \dots, a_{4m+2} be an arithmetic sequence with nonzero common difference. If after deleting two terms aia_i and aja_j (i<ji < j) the remaining 4m4m terms can be evenly divided into mm groups of 44, each of which forms an arithmetic sequence, then the sequence is called (i,j)(i, j)-divisible.

1. Write down all pairs (i,j)(i, j) with 1i<j61 \leqslant i < j \leqslant 6 for which a1,a2,,a6a_1, a_2, \dots, a_6 is (i,j)(i, j)-divisible. 2. For m3m \geqslant 3, prove that a1,a2,,a4m+2a_1, a_2, \dots, a_{4m+2} is (2,13)(2, 13)-divisible. 3. Two numbers i<ji < j are chosen at random from 1,2,,4m+21, 2, \dots, 4m+2; let PmP_m be the probability that the sequence is (i,j)(i, j)-divisible. Prove that Pm>18P_m > \dfrac{1}{8}.

Answer

Solution

Difficulty8/10
Topicscombinatorics, Arithmetic Progression, Counting, probability, sequences, Induction

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