and let 
be 
distinct vectors of length with integer coordinates in an 
Cartesian coordinate system. Suppose that for any 
, there exists an integer 
such that all three coordinates of 
is divisible by . Prove that 
.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="3.25"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="3.25" custom_padding="|||" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_accordion open_toggle_text_color="#0c71c3" _builder_version="3.26.6" toggle_font="||||||||" body_font="Raleway||||||||" text_orientation="center" custom_margin="10px||10px"][et_pb_accordion_item title="Source of the problem" open="on" _builder_version="3.26.6"]Kürschák Competition 2018[/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title="Topic" _builder_version="3.26.6" open="off"]Number Theory[/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title="Difficulty Level" _builder_version="3.26.6" open="off"]Hard[/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title="Suggested Book" _builder_version="3.22.7" open="off"][/et_pb_accordion_item][/et_pb_accordion][et_pb_text _builder_version="3.22.4" text_font="Raleway|300|||||||" text_text_color="#ffffff" header_font="Raleway|300|||||||" header_text_color="#e2e2e2" background_color="#0c71c3" border_radii="on|5px|5px|5px|5px" box_shadow_style="preset3" custom_margin="48px||48px" custom_padding="20px|20px|20px|20px"]
Note that $latex p^2| |\overline{v_j}-\ell\cdot\overline{v_k}|^2$. This implies that $latex p^2|\langle \overline{v_j},\overline{v_k}\rangle$. Also, from the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality we get $latex |\overline{v_j}|\cdot |\overline{v_k}|\ge |\langle\overline{v_j}.\overline{v_k}\rangle|$ hence $latex -|\overline{v_j}|\cdot |\overline{v_k}|\le\langle\overline{v_j}.\overline{v_k}\rangle\le |\overline{v_j}|\cdot |\overline{v_k}|$. Also, $latex | \overline{v_j}|\cdot |\overline{v_k}|=p^2$. As the dot product is also divisible by $latex p^2$, it has to be equal to $latex \pm p^2$ or 0. It cannot be $latex p^2$ because the vectors are distinct, hence it is either $latex -p^2$ or 0. Thus the two vectors are either perpendicular or colinear (adding to 0).
[/et_pb_tab][et_pb_tab title="Hint 3" _builder_version="3.26.6"]Let us plot the vectors in $latex \mathbb{R}^3$ and identify them with their tips (as the tails are at the origin). We join two tips by a straight line segment if they correspond to perpendicular vectors. Show that the number of straight lines is at least $latex \frac{n(n-2)}{2}$. Also prove that, there do not exist 4 vectors such that every possible pair of tips is joined by a line segment.
[/et_pb_tab][et_pb_tab title="Hint 4" _builder_version="3.26.6"]From the last assertion, show that the number of straight line segments in the figure is at most $latex \frac{n^2}{3}$ (this is a special case of a result called Turan's theorem). Thus, $latex \frac{n^2}{3}\ge \frac{n(n-2)}{2}$. Hence $latex n\le 6$. [/et_pb_tab][/et_pb_tabs][et_pb_text _builder_version="3.26.4" text_font="Raleway|300|||||||" text_text_color="#ffffff" header_font="Raleway|300|||||||" header_text_color="#e2e2e2" background_color="#0c71c3" border_radii="on|5px|5px|5px|5px" box_shadow_style="preset3" custom_margin="48px||48px" custom_padding="20px|20px|20px|20px"]Math Olympiad is the greatest and most challenging academic contest for school students. Brilliant school students from over 100 countries participate in it every year.Cheenta works with small groups of gifted students through an intense training program. It is a deeply personalized journey toward intellectual prowess and technical sophistication.[/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_button button_url="https://cheenta.com/matholympiad/" url_new_window="on" button_text="Learn More" button_alignment="center" _builder_version="3.23.3" custom_button="on" button_bg_color="#0c71c3" button_border_color="#0c71c3" button_border_radius="0px" button_font="Raleway||||||||" button_icon="%%3%%" button_text_shadow_style="preset1" box_shadow_style="preset1" box_shadow_color="#0c71c3" background_layout="dark"][/et_pb_button][et_pb_text _builder_version="3.22.4" text_font="Raleway|300|||||||" text_text_color="#ffffff" header_font="Raleway|300|||||||" header_text_color="#e2e2e2" background_color="#0c71c3" border_radii="on|5px|5px|5px|5px" box_shadow_style="preset3" custom_margin="50px||50px" custom_padding="20px|20px|20px|20px"]
Publishing original scientific research in a peer-reviewed journal is an achievement many scholars work toward for years. Achieving this feat early in one's academic journey requires exceptional intellectual rigor, creativity, and persistence. Aaditya Punatar and Muskan Sadana have reached this remarkable milestone, successfully publishing their collaborative research paper in the prestigious Journal of Emerging Investigators […]
Her project on quantum-accelerated Steiner trees for 15-minute cities earned a place among the finalists at the world's largest pre-college STEM competition. Prishaa Shrimali of Marymount School of New York, was selected as a Grand Finalist at the 2026 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix, Arizona. Her project was Optimizing Urban Accessibility: […]
In 2026, the following Cheenta students have been successful for Indian Statistical Institute's M.Stat Entrance. They ranked within the first 50 in the entire country in these entrances. I.S.I. M.Stat Entrance
In 2026, the following Cheenta students have been successful for Indian Statistical Institute's B.Stat Entrance and Chennai Mathematical Institute's B.Sc. Math Entrance. They ranked within the first 200 in the entire country in these entrances. Most of these students attended the problem solving workshops regularly, which happen 5 days every week. CMI B.Sc. Math Entrance […]
