MathDB
pn numbers in an array, fixed difference wanted

Source: 1986 Swedish Mathematical Competition p5

March 28, 2021
algebraSum

Problem Statement

In the arrangement of pnpn real numbers below, the difference between the greatest and smallest numbers in each row is at most dd, d>0d > 0. a11a12...a1na21a22...a2n.........an1an2...ann \begin{array}{l} a_{11} \,\, a_{12} \,\, ... \,\, a_{1n}\\ a_{21} \,\, a_{22} \,\, ... \,\, a_{2n}\\ \,\, . \,\, \,\, \,\, \,\, . \,\, \,\, \,\, \,\, \,\, \,\, \,\, \,\, .\\ \,\, . \,\, \,\, \,\, \,\, . \,\, \,\, \,\, \,\, \,\, \,\, \,\, \,\, .\\ \,\, . \,\, \,\, \,\, \,\, . \,\, \,\, \,\, \,\, \,\, \,\, \,\, \,\, .\\ a_{n1} \,\, a_{n2} \,\, ... \,\, a_{nn}\\ \end{array} Prove that, when the numbers in each column are rearranged in decreasing order, the difference between the greatest and smallest numbers in each row will still be at most d.