PigeonholePrinciple Intermediate

Problem - 2796
Show that, among randomly selected $11$ numbers from $1$, $2$, $3$, $\cdots$, $19$, $20$, one of them must be a multiple of another.

Dividing the $20$ numbers into the following $10$ groups:

  • $\{1, 2, 4, 8, 16\}$
  • $\{3, 6, 12\}$
  • $\{5, 10, 20\}$
  • $\{7, 14\}$
  • $\{9, 18\}$
  • $\{11\}$
  • $\{13\}$
  • $\{15\}$
  • $\{17\}$
  • $\{19\}$

Then by the pigeonhole principle, $2$ must be in the same group if $11$ numbers are chosen. Then by the construction of these groups, these two numbers must meet the requirement.

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