white and red numbers
Source: ItaMO 2010, p2
February 28, 2012
inductionnumber theory proposednumber theory
Problem Statement
Every non-negative integer is coloured white or red, so that:
• there are at least a white number and a red number;
• the sum of a white number and a red number is white;
• the product of a white number and a red number is red.
Prove that the product of two red numbers is always a red number, and the sum of two red numbers is always a red number.