Let $p{}$ be an odd prime number. Determine whether there exists a permutation $a_1,\ldots,a_p$ of $1,\ldots,p$ satisfying \[(i-j)a_k+(j-k)a_i+(k-i)a_j\neq 0,\] for all pairwise distinct $i,j,k.$

Let $n \in \mathbb N$ and $A_n$ set of all permutations $(a_1, \ldots, a_n)$ of the set $\{1, 2, \ldots , n\}$ for which \[k|2(a_1 + \cdots+ a_k), \text{ for all } 1 \leq k \leq n.\] Find the number of elements of the set $A_n$. [i]Proposed by Vidan Govedarica, Serbia[/i]

How many permutations $s$ does the set $\{1,2,..., 15\}$ have with the following properties: for every $1 \le k \le 13$ we have $s(k) < s(k+2)$ and for every $1 \le k \le 12$ we have $s(k) < s(k+3)$?

Fix positive integers $n$ and $k$ such that $2 \le k \le n$ and a set $M$ consisting of $n$ fruits. A [i]permutation[/i] is a sequence $x=(x_1,x_2,\ldots,x_n)$ such that $\{x_1,\ldots,x_n\}=M$. Ivan [i]prefers[/i] some (at least one) of these permutations. He realized that for every preferred permutation $x$, there exist $k$ indices $i_1 < i_2 < \ldots < i_k$ with the following property: for every $1 \le j < k$, if he swaps $x_{i_j}$ and $x_{i_{j+1}}$, he obtains another preferred permutation. \\ Prove that he prefers at least $k!$ permutations.

Let $m\ge10$ be any positive integer such that all its decimal digits are distinct. Denote $f(m)$ sum of positive integers created by all non-identical permutations of digits of $m,$ e.g. \[f(302)=320+023+032+230+203=808.\] Determine all positive integers $x$ such that \[f(x)=138\,012.\]

Seven cyclists follow one another, in a line, on a narrow way. By the end of the training, each cyclist complains about the style of driving of the one in front of him. They agree to rearrange themselves the next day, so that no cyclist would follow the same cyclist he follows the first day. How many such rearrangements are possible?

We consider two sequences of real numbers $x_{1} \geq x_{2} \geq \ldots \geq x_{n}$ and $\ y_{1} \geq y_{2} \geq \ldots \geq y_{n}.$ Let $z_{1}, z_{2}, .\ldots, z_{n}$ be a permutation of the numbers $y_{1}, y_{2}, \ldots, y_{n}.$ Prove that $\sum \limits_{i=1}^{n} ( x_{i} -\ y_{i} )^{2} \leq \sum \limits_{i=1}^{n}$ $( x_{i} - z_{i})^{2}.$

Consider two finite sequences of real numbers \( a_1, a_2, \dots, a_n \) and \( b_1, b_2, \dots, b_n \). Let \( \alpha(x) = \#\{i | a_i = x \} \) and \( \beta(x) = \#\{i | b_i = -x \} \). Prove that there exists a permutation \( \sigma \in S_n \) (the symmetric group of \( n \) elements) such that \( a_{\sigma(i)} + b_i \neq 0 \) for all \( i = 1, \dots, n \) if and only if \( \alpha(x) + \beta(x) \leq n \) for all \( x \in \mathbb{R} \).

Dene the set $F$ as the following: $F = \{(a_1,a_2,... , a_{2006}) : \forall i = 1, 2,..., 2006, a_i \in \{-1,1\}\}$ Prove that there exists a subset of $F$, called $S$ which satises the following: $|S| = 2006$ and for all $(a_1,a_2,... , a_{2006})\in F$ there exists $(b_1,b_2,... , b_{2006}) \in S$, such that $\Sigma_{i=1} ^{2006}a_ib_i = 0$.

For a permutation $\pi$ of $\{1,2,3,\ldots,n\}$, let $\text{Inv}(\pi)$ be the number of pairs $(i,j)$ with $1 \leq i < j \leq n$ and $\pi(i) > \pi(j)$. [list=1] [*] Given $n$, what is $\sum \text{Inv}(\pi)$ where the sum ranges over all permutations $\pi$ of $\{1,2,3,\ldots,n\}$? [*] Given $n$, what is $\sum \left(\text{Inv}(\pi)\right)^2$ where the sum ranges over all permutations $\pi$ of $\{1,2,3,\ldots,n\}$?[/list] [i]Brian Hamrick.[/i]

Let $n\geq 3$ an integer. Determine whether there exist permutations $(a_1,a_2, \ldots, a_n)$ of the numbers $(1,2,\ldots, n)$ and $(b_1, b_2, \ldots, b_n)$ of the numbers $(n+1,n+2,\ldots, 2n)$ so that $(a_1b_1, a_2b_2, \ldots a_nb_n)$ is a strictly increasing arithmetic progression.

An $ n \times n, n \geq 2$ chessboard is numbered by the numbers $ 1, 2, \ldots, n^2$ (and every number occurs). Prove that there exist two neighbouring (with common edge) squares such that their numbers differ by at least $ n.$

There are $n$ students standing in line positions $1$ to $n$. While the teacher looks away, some students change their positions. When the teacher looks back, they are standing in line again. If a student who was initially in position $i$ is now in position $j$, we say the student moved for $|i-j|$ steps. Determine the maximal sum of steps of all students that they can achieve.

Unconventional dice are to be designed such that the six faces are marked with numbers from $1$ to $6$ with $1$ and $2$ appearing on opposite faces. Further, each face is colored either red or yellow with opposite faces always of the same color. Two dice are considered to have the same design if one of them can be rotated to obtain a dice that has the same numbers and colors on the corresponding faces as the other one. Find the number of distinct dice that can be designed.

$(GDR 3)$ Find the number of permutations $a_1, \cdots, a_n$ of the set $\{1, 2, . . ., n\}$ such that $|a_i - a_{i+1}| \neq 1$ for all $i = 1, 2, . . ., n - 1.$ Find a recurrence formula and evaluate the number of such permutations for $n \le 6.$

An $ n \times n, n \geq 2$ chessboard is numbered by the numbers $ 1, 2, \ldots, n^2$ (and every number occurs). Prove that there exist two neighbouring (with common edge) squares such that their numbers differ by at least $ n.$

What is the largest possible value of $|a_1 - 1| + |a_2-2|+...+ |a_n- n|$ where $a_1, a_2,..., a_n$ is a permutation of $1,2,..., n$?

An illusionist and his assistant are about to perform the following magic trick. Let $k$ be a positive integer. A spectator is given $n=k!+k-1$ balls numbered $1,2,…,n$. Unseen by the illusionist, the spectator arranges the balls into a sequence as he sees fit. The assistant studies the sequence, chooses some block of $k$ consecutive balls, and covers them under her scarf. Then the illusionist looks at the newly obscured sequence and guesses the precise order of the $k$ balls he does not see. Devise a strategy for the illusionist and the assistant to follow so that the trick always works. (The strategy needs to be constructed explicitly. For instance, it should be possible to implement the strategy, as described by the solver, in the form of a computer program that takes $k$ and the obscured sequence as input and then runs in time polynomial in $n$. A mere proof that an appropriate strategy exists does not qualify as a complete solution.)

Let $n$ be a positive integer . If $\sigma$ is a permutation of the first $n$ positive integers , let $S(\sigma)$ be the set of all distinct sums of the form $\sum_{i=k}^{l} \sigma(i)$ where $1 \leq k \leq l \leq n$ . [b](a)[/b] Exhibit a permutation $\sigma$ of the first $n$ positive integers such that $|S(\sigma)|\geq \left \lfloor{\frac{(n+1)^2}{4}}\right \rfloor $. [b](b)[/b] Show that $|S(\sigma)|>\frac{n\sqrt{n}}{4\sqrt{2}}$ for all permutations $\sigma$ of the first $n$ positive integers .

Find all positive integers $n$ such that there exist two permutations $a_0,a_1,\ldots,a_{n-1}$ and $b_0,b_1,\ldots,b_{n-1}$ of the set $\lbrace0,1,\ldots,n-1\rbrace$, satisfying the condition $$ia_i\equiv b_i\pmod{n}$$ for all $0\le i\le n-1$. [i]Proposed by Fysty[/i]

Let $n$ be a positive integer such that there exists a positive integer that is less than $\sqrt{n}$ and does not divide $n$. Let $(a_1, . . . , a_n)$ be an arbitrary permutation of $1, . . . , n$. Let $a_{i1} < . . . < a_{ik}$ be its maximal increasing subsequence and let $a_{j1} > . . . > a_{jl}$ be its maximal decreasing subsequence. Prove that tuples $(a_{i1}, . . . , a_{ik})$ and $(a_{j1}, . . . , a_{jl} )$ altogether contain at least one number that does not divide $n$.

Find the number of permutations $( p_1, p_2, p_3 , p_4 , p_5 , p_6)$ of $1, 2 ,3,4,5,6$ such that for any $k, 1 \leq k \leq 5$, $(p_1, \ldots, p_k)$ does not form a permutation of $1 , 2, \ldots, k$.

For a permutation $p(a_1,a_2,...,a_{17})$ of $1,2,...,17$, let $k_p$ denote the largest $k$ for which $a_1 +...+a_k < a_{k+1} +...+a_{17}$. Find the maximum and minimum values of $k_p$ and find the sum $\sum_{p} k_p$ over all permutations$ p$.

We consider two sequences of real numbers $x_{1} \geq x_{2} \geq \ldots \geq x_{n}$ and $\ y_{1} \geq y_{2} \geq \ldots \geq y_{n}.$ Let $z_{1}, z_{2}, .\ldots, z_{n}$ be a permutation of the numbers $y_{1}, y_{2}, \ldots, y_{n}.$ Prove that $\sum \limits_{i=1}^{n} ( x_{i} -\ y_{i} )^{2} \leq \sum \limits_{i=1}^{n}$ $( x_{i} - z_{i})^{2}.$

Let $S$ be the set of all 9-digit natural numbers, which are written only with the digits 1, 2, and 3. Find all functions $f:S\rightarrow \{1,2,3\}$ which satisfy the following conditions: (1) $f(111111111)=1$, $f(222222222)=2$, $f(333333333)=3$, $f(122222222)=1$; (2) If $x,y\in S$ differ in each digit position, then $f(x)\neq f(y)$.