MathDB
2n x 2n board with white/black markers

Source: All-Russian MO 2000

December 30, 2012
combinatorics unsolvedcombinatorics

Problem Statement

On some cells of a 2n×2n2n \times 2n board are placed white and black markers (at most one marker on every cell). We first remove all black markers which are in the same column with a white marker, then remove all white markers which are in the same row with a black one. Prove that either the number of remaining white markers or that of remaining black markers does not exceed n2n^2.