3

conjecture

for any integers $x_{1},x_{2},\cdots,x_{n}$, there exist a integer $x_{i}(i\in\{1,2,\cdots,n\})$ such $$\dfrac{\displaystyle \prod_{j=1,j\neq i}^{n}(x_{i}-x_{j})}{(n-1)!}\in Z$$

The seemingly obvious conclusion, seemingly not proof, of course, the problem may not be correct

it seem relate to this problem, .:Direct proof of Gelfand-Zetlin identity and here and here 2identity but they are stronger than this one

math110
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1 Answers1

4

Consider $n=5$ and $\{x_1,\cdots,x_5\}=\{1,2,4,6,7\}$, and let $P_i=\frac{1}{(n-1)!}\prod_{j\neq i}(x_j-x_i)$. Then

\begin{align*} P_1 &= \frac{1\times3\times5\times6}{4!} = \frac{15}{4}, \\ P_2 &= \frac{(-1)\times2\times4\times5}{4!} = -\frac{5}{3}, \\ P_3 &= \frac{(-3)\times(-2)\times2\times3}{4!} = \frac{3}{2}, \\ P_4 &= \frac{(-5)\times(-4)\times(-2)\times1}{4!} = -\frac{5}{3}, \\ P_5 &= \frac{(-6)\times(-5)\times(-3)\times(-1)}{4!} = \frac{15}{4} \end{align*}


The claim is true when $n \leq 4$. Since it is almost clear when $n \leq 3$, we prove the claim for $n=4$.

Let $x_1,\cdots,x_4$ be arbitrary integers. By the pigeonhole principle, there exist $a, b \in \{1,2,3,4\}$ such $a \neq b$ and $x_a \equiv x_b \text{ (mod 3)}$. Now

  • If $x_a \equiv x_b \text{ (mod 2)}$, then $x_b - x_a$ is a multiple of $6$.

  • If $x_a \not\equiv x_b \text{ (mod 2)} $, then for any $j \in \{1,2,3,4\}\setminus\{a,b\}$ either $x_j - x_a$ or $x_j - x_b$ is even.

In both cases, either $\prod_{j\neq a} (x_j-x_a)$ or $\prod_{j\neq b} (x_j-x_b)$ is a multiple of $6$.

Sangchul Lee
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  • Thanks,It's nice.can you find the $n=4?$ ,it is easy to show $n=3$ my conjecture is holde – math110 May 07 '18 at 14:47
  • @functionsug, That is an interesting question, and although I have no proof, my gut is telling that it should hold for $n=4$ as both $2$ and $3$ are prime. I am trying some pigeonhole argument, so let me see if I can actually come up with anything. (But I am quite bad at numver theory, so I may end up with nothing... :s) Oh, and just for your information, I made amend of my previous answer on $H(a_i)$'s a couple of hours ago. – Sangchul Lee May 07 '18 at 14:51
  • @sangechul Lee Thanks ,I have see it, maybe it's $n=4$ is right and I think it's interesring question – math110 May 07 '18 at 14:56