MathDB
Taking a test of n questions with increasing worth

Source: 2023 Dutch BxMO TST, Problem 1

March 12, 2024
combinatorics

Problem Statement

Let n1n \geq 1 be an integer. Ruben takes a test with nn questions. Each question on this test is worth a different number of points. The first question is worth 11 point, the second question 22, the third 33 and so on until the last question which is worth nn 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 f(n)f(n) 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 in finitely many pairs (a;b)(a; b) with a<ba < b and f(a)=f(b)f(a) = f(b)?