Chapter

Mixed Problems I

The module trains method selection without topic hints: counting, pigeonhole, invariants, colorings, games, graphs, paths, and recurrences.
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Theory

Key Idea

In mixed problems, the method is not written in the statement. The student must recognize the structure: what should be counted, where cases are needed, where the boxes are, what is invariant, which coloring to choose, and whether the problem is a game, graph, or recurrence.

The main habit is to ask before computing: “what kind of object repeats here?” Repeated choices suggest counting. More objects than types suggests pigeonhole. Operations suggest invariants. Boards suggest coloring. Relations suggest graphs. Growing size suggests recursion.

Basic Facts

  • The method is chosen by structure, not by keywords.
  • First look for a simple invariant or simple count; a difficult method is not always needed.
  • For existence, check averages, pigeonhole, or graph degrees.
  • For impossibility, check parity, residues, coloring, or a sum.
  • For counting a family of size \(n\), look for the last step and a recurrence.

When to Use This Method

  • After several topics have been studied, when the statement no longer names the technique.
  • Before a mock olympiad, where problems appear in arbitrary order.
  • When the obvious first approach creates many chaotic cases.

How to Recognise the Method

Run a quick diagnosis: are we counting, proving existence, proving impossibility, or building a strategy? Is there a repeated operation? Is there a board? Is there a relation between pairs of objects? Can the last element be removed to get a smaller problem of the same kind?

If two methods seem possible, start with the coarser one: parity, residues, sum, or average. Often it immediately explains why the problem has its shape.

Typical Mistakes

  • Recognizing a familiar topic and applying it mechanically without checking the conditions.
  • Trying to count directly when a coloring or invariant is needed.
  • In existence problems, forgetting to define the boxes or the average.
  • In games, giving a first move but not the continuing strategy.
  • In recurrences, not proving that the last-step cases are disjoint.

Mini-Checklist

  • What is required: find a number, prove existence, prove impossibility, or build a strategy?
  • Which objects repeat?
  • Are there natural boxes, colors, degrees, or residues?
  • Can the problem be reduced to a smaller size?
  • Have edge cases been checked?
  • Does the solution explain the choice of method?

Examples

Example 1. Diagnose First

The word “pigeonhole” is absent, but residues hide it.

Problem. Prove that among any \(8\) integers, two have a difference divisible by \(7\).

Solution.

Consider residues modulo \(7\). There are only \(7\) residues and \(8\) numbers. By the pigeonhole principle, two numbers have the same residue. Their difference is divisible by \(7\).

Comment. Method signal: more objects than types.

Example 2. Do Not Count All Tilings

A board almost always asks for coloring.

Problem. Can a \(6\times6\) board be tiled by dominoes if two cells on the main diagonal are removed?

Solution.

All cells on the main diagonal have the same color in chessboard coloring. After removing two such cells, the two color counts are unequal. Each domino covers one cell of each color. Therefore tiling is impossible.

Comment. Method signal: board and dominoes.

Example 3. Operation Means Invariant

If a configuration changes by a repeated move, look for a preserved quantity.

Problem. There are \(11\) plus signs on a board. In one move, the signs of two symbols are changed. Can exactly one minus sign be obtained?

Solution.

The product of all signs does not change when two signs are changed. Initially the product is \(+1\), while with one minus sign it is \(-1\). Therefore such a configuration cannot be obtained.

Comment. Method signal: allowed operation.

Example 4. Too Many Connections

In graph problems, degrees often give an average.

Problem. A graph has \(9\) vertices and \(23\) edges. Prove that some vertex has degree at least \(6\).

Solution.

The degree sum is \(46\). The average degree is \(46/9>5\). If all degrees were at most \(5\), the sum would be at most \(45\). Hence some vertex has degree at least \(6\).

Comment. Method signal: connections between pairs of objects.

Example 5. A Game Without Search

In games, look for control positions.

Problem. There are \(41\) stones. In one move, a player takes from \(1\) to \(4\). The last move wins. Who wins?

Solution.

Multiples of \(5\) are losing. Since \(41\equiv1\pmod5\), the first player takes \(1\) stone and leaves \(40\). Then the first player complements the opponent’s moves to \(5\). The first player wins.

Comment. Method signal: perfect play and repeated moves.

Example 6. Recursion by Last Step

If size changes, look for a smaller problem.

Problem. How many binary strings of length \(7\) contain no two adjacent ones?

Solution.

Let \(a_n\) be the number of such strings. A string ends in \(0\) or \(01\), so \(a_n=a_{n-1}+a_{n-2}\). With \(a_0=1\), \(a_1=2\), we get \(a_7=34\).

Comment. Method signal: a family of objects of length \(n\).

Example 7. A Path with a Condition

Sometimes counting is easier by complement.

Problem. How many shortest paths from \((0,0)\) to \((4,4)\) do not pass through \((2,2)\)?

Solution.

There are \(\binom{8}{4}=70\) paths total. Paths through \((2,2)\) number \(\binom{4}{2}\cdot\binom{4}{2}=36\). Therefore \(70-36=34\) paths avoid the point.

Comment. Method signal: paths and a forbidden point.

Example 8. Mixed Finale

Sometimes the method appears only after the first simplification.

Problem. In a group of \(10\) people, each person knows at least \(6\) others. Prove that there are three mutual acquaintances.

Solution.

Choose a person \(A\). This person has at least \(6\) acquaintances. If among these acquaintances there is an acquaintance pair, then together with \(A\) we get three mutual acquaintances. If there is no acquaintance pair among them, then each of these \(6\) people knows \(A\) and can know only the three people outside this set and outside \(A\), so their degree is at most \(4\), contradicting the condition \(6\).

Comment. This is already an extremal graph move.

Problems

Problems

#11.1
#11.1

Even Three-Digit Numbers

Counting Grade 7 Grade 8 ★☆☆☆☆

How many three-digit even numbers can be formed from digits \(1,2,3,4,5\) if digits do not repeat?

Details
Problem: COM-B1-M11-P001
Difficulty: Level 1 of 5
Tag: Counting
Grade: Grade 7, Grade 8
#11.2
#11.2

Socks

Pigeonhole principle Grade 7 Grade 8 ★☆☆☆☆

A drawer contains socks of \(4\) colors. How many socks must be taken to guarantee two of the same color?

Details
Problem: COM-B1-M11-P002
Difficulty: Level 1 of 5
Tag: Pigeonhole principle
Grade: Grade 7, Grade 8
#11.3
#11.3

Pluses and Minuses

Parity Grade 7 Grade 8 ★☆☆☆☆

There are \(8\) plus signs on a board. In one move, the signs of two symbols are changed. Can exactly \(3\) minus signs be obtained?

Details
Problem: COM-B1-M11-P003
Difficulty: Level 1 of 5
Tag: Parity
Grade: Grade 7, Grade 8
#11.4
#11.4

A \(5\times5\) Board

Coloring Grade 7 Grade 8 ★☆☆☆☆

Can a \(5\times5\) board be tiled by dominoes?

Details
Problem: COM-B1-M11-P004
Difficulty: Level 1 of 5
Tag: Coloring
Grade: Grade 7, Grade 8
#11.5
#11.5

Degrees

Degree Grade 7 Grade 8 ★☆☆☆☆

A graph has vertex degrees \(1,2,2,3,4\). Can such a graph exist?

Details
Problem: COM-B1-M11-P005
Difficulty: Level 1 of 5
Tag: Degree
Grade: Grade 7, Grade 8
#11.6
#11.6

No Consecutive

Subsets Grade 7 Grade 8 ★★☆☆☆

How many subsets of \(\{1,2,\ldots,6\}\) contain no two consecutive numbers?

Details
Problem: COM-B1-M11-P006
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Subsets
Grade: Grade 7, Grade 8
#11.7
#11.7

Remainders

Remainders Grade 7 Grade 8 ★★☆☆☆

Prove that among any \(11\) integers, two have a difference divisible by \(10\).

Details
Problem: COM-B1-M11-P007
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Remainders
Grade: Grade 7, Grade 8
#11.8
#11.8

Pile \(34\)

Modulo Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★☆☆☆

There are \(34\) stones. In one move, a player may take from \(1\) to \(4\) stones. The last move wins. Who wins?

Details
Problem: COM-B1-M11-P008
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Modulo
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#11.9
#11.9

Routes

Binomial coefficients Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★☆☆☆

How many shortest paths go from \((0,0)\) to \((3,5)\), if only right and up moves are allowed?

Details
Problem: COM-B1-M11-P009
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Binomial coefficients
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#11.10
#11.10

Tournament Without Draws

Counting Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★☆☆☆

In a tournament with \(9\) players, everyone played everyone exactly once. How many games were played?

Details
Problem: COM-B1-M11-P010
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Counting
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#11.11
#11.11

Strings

Binary strings Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★☆☆☆

How many binary strings of length \(7\) contain no two adjacent ones?

Details
Problem: COM-B1-M11-P011
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Binary strings
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#11.12
#11.12

Two Corners

Coloring Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★☆☆☆

Two opposite corner cells are removed from an \(8\times8\) board. Can the remaining region be tiled by dominoes?

Details
Problem: COM-B1-M11-P012
Difficulty: Level 2 of 5
Tag: Coloring
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#11.13
#11.13

Nine Remainders

Remainders Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★☆☆

Prove that among any \(10\) integers, two have a difference divisible by \(9\).

Details
Problem: COM-B1-M11-P013
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Remainders
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#11.14
#11.14

Clubs

Double counting Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★☆☆

In a school, \(12\) students attend clubs. Each student attends exactly \(3\) clubs, and each club has exactly \(4\) students. How many clubs are there?

Details
Problem: COM-B1-M11-P014
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Double counting
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#11.15
#11.15

Reach \(64\)

Strategy Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★☆☆

Players alternately add a number from \(1\) to \(7\) to a total. The initial total is \(0\). Whoever first obtains \(64\) wins. Who wins?

Details
Problem: COM-B1-M11-P015
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Strategy
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#11.16
#11.16

Same Number of Acquaintances

Pigeonhole principle Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★☆☆

Prove that in any group of \(10\) people, two people have the same number of acquaintances within the group.

Details
Problem: COM-B1-M11-P016
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Pigeonhole principle
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#11.17
#11.17

A \(2\times7\) Board

Tiling Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★☆☆

In how many ways can a \(2\times7\) board be tiled by dominoes?

Details
Problem: COM-B1-M11-P017
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Tiling
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#11.18
#11.18

Sum on a Board

Modulo Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★☆☆

The number \(5\) is written on a board. In one move, one may add \(6\) or subtract \(9\). Can \(100\) be obtained?

Details
Problem: COM-B1-M11-P018
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Modulo
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#11.19
#11.19

Corner of \(5\times5\)

Coloring Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★☆☆

The corner cell \((1,1)\) is removed from a \(5\times5\) board. Can the remaining region be tiled by straight \(1\times3\) trominoes?

Details
Problem: COM-B1-M11-P019
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Coloring
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#11.20
#11.20

Not Through the Center

Complement method Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★☆☆

How many shortest paths from \((0,0)\) to \((4,4)\) do not pass through \((2,2)\)?

Details
Problem: COM-B1-M11-P020
Difficulty: Level 3 of 5
Tag: Complement method
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#11.21
#11.21

Three Acquaintances

Graph Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★★☆

In a group of \(10\) people, each person knows at least \(6\) others. Prove that there are three mutual acquaintances.

Details
Problem: COM-B1-M11-P021
Difficulty: Level 4 of 5
Tag: Graph
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#11.22
#11.22

Four Corners

Coloring Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★★☆

The four corners are removed from an \(8\times8\) board. Prove that the remaining region cannot be tiled by straight \(1\times4\) tetrominoes.

Details
Problem: COM-B1-M11-P022
Difficulty: Level 4 of 5
Tag: Coloring
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#11.23
#11.23

No Three Zeros

Binary strings Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★★☆

How many binary strings of length \(9\) contain no three consecutive zeros?

Details
Problem: COM-B1-M11-P023
Difficulty: Level 4 of 5
Tag: Binary strings
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9
#11.24
#11.24

Sum Divisible by \(20\)

Pigeonhole principle Grade 8 Grade 9 ★★★★★

Prove that among any \(20\) integers, one can choose several consecutive numbers in the given order whose sum is divisible by \(20\).

Details
Problem: COM-B1-M11-P024
Difficulty: Level 5 of 5
Tag: Pigeonhole principle
Grade: Grade 8, Grade 9

Ladders

No published ladders were found.
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