Let $ {{a} _ {1}}, {{a} _ {2}}, \ldots, {{a} _ {n}} $ be permutation of numbers $ 1,2, \ldots, n $, where $ n \geq 2 $. Find the maximum value of the sum $$ S (n) = | {{a} _ {1}} - {{a} _ {2}} | + | {{a} _ {2}} - {{a} _ {3}} | + \cdots + | {{a} _ {n-1}} - {{a} _ {n}} |. $$

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$.

Let $ x_1$, $ x_2$, $ \ldots$, $ x_n$ be real numbers satisfying the conditions: \[ \left\{\begin{array}{cccc} |x_1 \plus{} x_2 \plus{} \cdots \plus{} x_n | & \equal{} & 1 & \ \\ |x_i| & \leq & \displaystyle \frac {n \plus{} 1}{2} & \ \textrm{ for }i \equal{} 1, 2, \ldots , n. \end{array} \right. \] Show that there exists a permutation $ y_1$, $ y_2$, $ \ldots$, $ y_n$ of $ x_1$, $ x_2$, $ \ldots$, $ x_n$ such that \[ | y_1 \plus{} 2 y_2 \plus{} \cdots \plus{} n y_n | \leq \frac {n \plus{} 1}{2}. \]

If permutations of the numbers $2, 3,4,..., 102$ are denoted by $a_i,a_2, a_3,...,a_{101}$, find all such permutations in which $a_k$ is divisible by $k$ for all $k$.

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 \[f(x)=138\,012.\]

Determine all natural numbers $n \ge 2$ with the property that there are two permutations $(a_1, a_2,... , a_n) $ and $(b_1, b_2,... , b_n)$ of the numbers $1, 2,..., n$ such that $(a_1 + b_1, a_2 +b_2,..., a_n + b_n)$ are consecutive natural numbers. [i](Walther Janous)[/i]

Let $ x_1$, $ x_2$, $ \ldots$, $ x_n$ be real numbers satisfying the conditions: \[ \left\{\begin{array}{cccc} |x_1 \plus{} x_2 \plus{} \cdots \plus{} x_n | & \equal{} & 1 & \ \\ |x_i| & \leq & \displaystyle \frac {n \plus{} 1}{2} & \ \textrm{ for }i \equal{} 1, 2, \ldots , n. \end{array} \right. \] Show that there exists a permutation $ y_1$, $ y_2$, $ \ldots$, $ y_n$ of $ x_1$, $ x_2$, $ \ldots$, $ x_n$ such that \[ | y_1 \plus{} 2 y_2 \plus{} \cdots \plus{} n y_n | \leq \frac {n \plus{} 1}{2}. \]

Let $n$ be a positive integer. Initially, a bishop is placed in each square of the top row of a $2^n \times 2^n$ chessboard; those bishops are numbered from $1$ to $2^n$ from left to right. A [i]jump[/i] is a simultaneous move made by all bishops such that each bishop moves diagonally, in a straight line, some number of squares, and at the end of the jump, the bishops all stand in different squares of the same row. Find the total number of permutations $\sigma$ of the numbers $1, 2, \ldots, 2^n$ with the following property: There exists a sequence of jumps such that all bishops end up on the bottom row arranged in the order $\sigma(1), \sigma(2), \ldots, \sigma(2^n)$, from left to right. [i]Israel[/i]

Let $n\geqslant 3$ be an integer and $a_1,a_2,\ldots,a_n$ be pairwise distinct positive real numbers with the property that there exists a permutation $b_1,b_2,\ldots,b_n$ of these numbers such that\[\frac{a_1}{b_1}=\frac{a_2}{b_2}=\cdots=\frac{a_{n-1}}{b_{n-1}}\neq 1.\]Prove that there exist $a,b>0$ such that $\{a_1,a_2,\ldots,a_n\}=\{ab,ab^2,\ldots,ab^n\}.$ [i]Cristi Săvescu[/i]

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.)

The integers $1 , 2,..., n$ are rearranged in such a way that if the integer $k, 1 \le k\le n$, is not the first term, then one of the integers $k + 1$ or $k-1$ occurs to the left of $k$ . How many arrangements of the integers $1 , 2,..., n$ satisfy this condition? (A. Andjans, Riga)

Let $n\geq 2$ and $\mathcal{M}$ be a subset of $S_n$ with at least two elements, and which is closed under composition. Consider a function $f:\mathcal{M}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ which satisfies $$|f(\sigma\tau)-f(\sigma)-f(\tau)|\leq 1,$$ for all $\sigma,\tau\in\mathcal{M}$. Prove that $$\max_{\sigma,\tau\in\mathcal{M}}|f(\sigma)-f(\tau)|\leq 2-\frac{2}{|\mathcal{M}|}.$$

A permutation f of the set of integers is called bounded if | x - f (x) | is bounded. Bounded permutations with permutation multiplication form a group W. Show that the additive group of rational numbers is not isomorphic to any subgroup of W.

Let $A$ be the set of permutations $a=(a_1,a_2,…,a_n)$ of $M=\{1,2,…n\}$ with the following property: There doesn’t exist a subset $S$ of $M$ such that $a(S)=S$. For $\forall$ such permutation $a$ let $d(a)=\sum_{k=1}^n (a_k-k)^2$ . Determine the smallest value of $d(a)$.

Let $a_1,a_2,..., a_n$ be different integers and let $(b_1,b_2,..., b_n),(c_1,c_2,..., c_n)$ be two of their permutations, different from the identity. Prove that $$(|a_1-b_1|+|a_2-b_2|+...+|a_n-b_n| , |a_1-c_1|+|a_2-c_2|+...+|a_n-c_n| ) \ge 2$$ where $(x,y)$ denotes the greatest common divisor of the numbers $x,y$