Imagine a multiplication table (like the one below, except it continues on forever):
1 2 3 4
+---+---+---+---+---
1| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |...
+---+---+---+---+---
2| 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 |...
+---+---+---+---+---
3| 3 | 6 | 9 | 12|...
+---+---+---+---+---
4| 4 | 8 | 12| 16|...
+---+---+---+---+---
|...|...|...|...|...
Find three of the same number in a straight line somewhere within the table. If this is not possible, show why not.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
_______________________
1| 1
2| 2 4
3| 3 6 9
4| 4 8 12 16
5| 5 10 15 20 25
6| 6 12 18 24 30 36
7| 7 14 21 28 35 42 49
8| 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64
The tabel is symmetrical.
On one half of this symmetry...
All horizontal rows have a linear progression.
All vertical rows have a linear progression.
All diagonal rows, in both directions, have a
linear progression.
At the most, there can only be one of any given
number in any straight line.
So, on both halves, there can only be at most 2
of any given number.
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Posted by stonicus
on 2006-07-07 22:29:43 |