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# A 2016 Problem

Is it possible for both the sum and product of 2016 integers to be 2016?

Note by Mehul Arora
1 year, 8 months ago

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Answer is yes. Here are the numbers:

$\{ \underbrace{ -1, -1, -1, \ldots, -1}_{\text{504 times}} , \underbrace{ 1, 1, 1, \ldots, 1}_{\text{1510 times}} , 2, 1008 \}$

The trick is to have an even number of (-1)'s so that the product is positive, then we construct a system of equations of the number of (-1)'s and (1)'s that satisfy the conditions.

- 1 year, 8 months ago

Came up with the same set. :)

- 1 year, 8 months ago

Is there like a more "mathematical" solution to it? More like a variable-type solution?

Like, I agree the trick works, but ......

- 1 year, 8 months ago

What do you mean? Are you saying you want me to show my working?

- 1 year, 8 months ago

Very Precisely, yes. I mean, don't get me wrong, but how did you exactly wind up on this solution?

- 1 year, 8 months ago

Okay for starters. Let one of the numbers be 2016. So the product of the remaining numbers must be 1, and the sum of these 2015 remaining numbers is equal to 0, and these numbers must be $$\pm \; 1$$ only. Let $$E$$ and $$P$$ denote the number of $$-1$$'s and $$1$$'s, then we have $$E + P = 2015$$ and $$P-E = 0$$. Solving these diophantine equation shows that there is no solution.

Now let two of the numbers be 2 and $$\frac{2016}2 = 1008$$. So the product of the remaining numbers must be 1, and the sum of these 2014 remaining numbers is equal to 0,and these numbers must be $$\pm \; 1$$ only. Let $$E$$ and $$P$$ denote the number of $$-1$$'s and $$1$$'s, then we have $$E + P = 2014$$ and $$P-E = 2016-2-1008$$. Solving these diophantine equation shows $$E = 504, P = 1510$$, hence my answer above.

Note that there are more than one answer. Here's another solution:

$\{ -6, \underbrace{-1,-1,-1, \ldots , -1}_{\text{9 times}} ,\underbrace{1,1,1, \ldots , 1}_{\text{2002 times}} , 2, 2,4, 21 \}$

- 1 year, 8 months ago

Oh okay, so basically we show that one solution exists, and that ends the question. Hmm, great :)

Thanks for helping :D

- 1 year, 8 months ago

@Kunal Jain We have the solution.

- 1 year, 8 months ago

And btw, Congratulations to u both and Vaibhav for NSTSE.

How was the paper this time?

- 1 year, 8 months ago

- 1 year, 8 months ago

This question was asked at some competition< id on't exactly remember the name.

- 1 year, 8 months ago

Ya, I saw the result.

- 1 year, 8 months ago

"Also, Bro I came third!'. I think by this he meant, coming third doesnt need congratulatios as the paper was super easy :P

- 1 year, 8 months ago

Oh ! So it was in that sense xD

- 1 year, 8 months ago

I already knew it the 1 I wrote was 504, (-4), 1 X 1765, (-1) X 249

- 1 year, 8 months ago

Hmmm. Are the integers distinct?

- 1 year, 8 months ago

Well, 2016 doesn't have 2016 distinct factors!

- 1 year, 8 months ago

Ahha, certainly. Well noticed.

- 1 year, 8 months ago

No, that would've been mentioned. :)

- 1 year, 8 months ago

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