MathDB
Two piles of coins

Source: All-Russian Olympiad, Grade 9, Second Day, Problem 7

April 18, 2013
combinatorics proposedcombinatorics

Problem Statement

Two piles of coins lie on a table. It is known that the sum of the weights of the coins in the two piles are equal, and for any natural number kk, not exceeding the number of coins in either pile, the sum of the weights of the kk heaviest coins in the first pile is not more than that of the second pile. Show that for any natural number xx, if each coin (in either pile) of weight not less than xx is replaced by a coin of weight xx, the first pile will not be lighter than the second.
D. Fon-der-Flaas