Taking a test of n questions with increasing worth
Source: 2023 Dutch BxMO TST, Problem 1
March 12, 2024
combinatorics
Problem Statement
Let be an integer. Ruben takes a test with questions. Each question on this test is worth a different number of points. The first question is worth point, the second question , the third and so on until the last question which is worth points. Each question can be answered either correctly or incorrectly. So an answer for a question can either be awarded all, or none of the points the question is worth. Let be the number of ways he can take the test so that the number of points awarded equals the number of questions he answered incorrectly. Do there exist infinitely many pairs with and ?