Prove that among any 100 integers there are always two whose difference is divisible by 99. How can I prove this?

kokomocutie88r1

kokomocutie88r1

Answered question

2022-07-16

Prove that among any 100 integers there are always two whose difference is divisible by 99. How can I prove this?

Answer & Explanation

phravincegrln2

phravincegrln2

Beginner2022-07-17Added 19 answers

Step 1
Let r i be the remainder when the i-th integer in our list is divided by 99.
There are only 99 conceivable remainders, the numbers 0 to 98.
Step 2
Since there are 100 integers in our list, and only 99 conceivable remainders, there must be two different numbers in our list which have the same remainder. This is a consequence of the Pigeonhole Principle, but the fact is clear even without a name for it.
Finally, if two numbers have the same remainder on division by 99, their difference is divisible by 99.
phepafalowl

phepafalowl

Beginner2022-07-18Added 4 answers

Step 1
Here's a proof requiring no knowledge of division or remainders. Suppose a counterexample exists, i.e. there are 100 integers a 1 , , a 100 such that i j 99 a i a j . . Then they are distinct, so we may index them so that they're strictly ordered a 1 < a 2 < < a 100 . . Now if a 100 a 1 + 99 then by replacing a 100 by a 100 99 and reordering we obtain a new counterexample of smaller interval length ( = m a x m i n + 1), since the new sequence has the same min, by a 100 99 a 1 , , but has smaller max a 99 < a 100 , , and the new sequence remains a counterexample, since 99 a a 99 a ( a 99 ) . .
Step 2
Thus the least length counterexample must have length 99 , , hence its 100 integers all lie in the length 99 interval of consecutive integers a 1 , a 1 + 1 , , a 1 + 98. . Therefore, by the pigeonhole (box) principle, two of the integers are equal, a contradiction.

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