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Set Sums

Prove that if any set of nine distinct integers has sum greater than 200, then there is a subset of four of the integers whose sum is greater than 100.

Source: unknown



Problem Moderated by: Graeme
Problem Solution

Suppose S is a set of nine distinct integers whose sum is greater than 200 with no 4-element subset whose sum is greater than 100.  Let A be the set consisting of the four largest elements of S.  The smallest element of A can be no bigger than 23, because 24+25+26+27>100.  So the five smallest elements of S range in size from 1 to 22.  The sum of the five smallest elements of S could not be bigger than 18+19+20+21+22=100, and the sum of the four largest elements are not bigger than 100, so the sum of the nine elements of S is not greater than 200, a contradiction.


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