MathDB
Swapping numbers that sum to a perfect square

Source: BMO SL 2023 C2

May 3, 2024
combinatorics

Problem Statement

For an integer n>2n>2, the tuple (1,2,,n)(1, 2, \ldots, n) is written on a blackboard. On each turn, one can choose two numbers from the tuple such that their sum is a perfect square and swap them to obtain a new tuple. Find all integers n>2n > 2 for which all permutations of {1,2,,n}\{1, 2,\ldots, n\} can appear on the blackboard in this way.