Combinatorial Number Theory and Counting

Questions involving counting integers satisfying number-theoretic conditions, enumerating elements in number-theoretic sets, or combinatorial arguments applied to integer structures (e.g., triangular arrays, digit patterns).

grandes-ecoles 2022 Q7.11 View
Show that for all $k\geq 1$, we have $$|S_{\mathrm{prim}}(p^{2k})| \geq \frac{1}{2}p^{2k}.$$
grandes-ecoles 2022 Q7.13 View
Let $(u,v)\in\mathbb{Z}^2\setminus(0,0)$ and $p$ a prime number congruent to 1 modulo 4. Show that if $p$ does not divide $u^2+v^2$, then $$|L_{\mathrm{prim}}(u,v,p)| \leq 2 \quad \text{and} \quad |L_{\mathrm{prim}}(u,v,p^2)| \leq 1.$$
grandes-ecoles 2022 Q7.15 View
Let $d$ be an odd integer. Show that $$|S_{\mathrm{prim}}(d^2)| \geq d^2\, 2^{-|\mathcal{P}(d)|}.$$ Deduce that, for all $\varepsilon>0$, we have $$d^{2-\varepsilon} = \underset{d\rightarrow+\infty}{o}\left(S_{\mathrm{prim}}(d^2)\right).$$
grandes-ecoles 2022 Q7.16 View
Let $(u,v)\neq(0,0)$. Show the existence of a constant $C$ (depending on $(u,v)$) such that for all $d>0$, $$|L_{\mathrm{prim}}(u,v,d)| \leq C\, 2^{|\mathcal{P}(d)|}.$$ Deduce that, for all $\varepsilon>0$, we have $$|L_{\mathrm{prim}}(u,v,d)| = \underset{d\rightarrow+\infty}{o}\left(d^\varepsilon\right).$$
grandes-ecoles 2024 Q21a View
Let $x$ be a positive real number greater than or equal to 1 and $q \in \mathbb{N}^{*}$. Justify that the quantity $$\operatorname{Card}\{n \in \mathbb{N} \cap [1,x] : n \equiv 0 \pmod{q}\} - \frac{x}{q}$$ is bounded in absolute value by a real number independent of $x$ and $q$.
grandes-ecoles 2024 Q23 View
For any non-zero natural integer $n$, we set $$\omega(n) = \operatorname{Card}\{p \text{ prime} : p \mid n\} = \sum_{\substack{p \mid n \\ p \text{ prime}}} 1.$$ We define $\mathscr{S} = \left\{n \geqslant 3 : \left|\frac{\omega(n) - \ln_{2}(n)}{\sqrt{\ln_{2}(n)}}\right| \geqslant \left(\ln_{2}(n)\right)^{1/4}\right\}$. Show that $$\lim_{x \rightarrow +\infty} \frac{1}{x} \operatorname{Card}\{n \leqslant x : n \in \mathscr{S}\} = 0$$ One may begin by writing $\operatorname{Card}(\mathscr{S} \cap [1,x]) \underset{x \rightarrow +\infty}{=} \operatorname{Card}(\mathscr{S} \cap [\sqrt{x}, x]) + O(\sqrt{x})$ and note that in the sum on the right-hand side, the difference $\left|\ln_{2}(n) - \ln_{2}(x)\right|$ remains bounded.
grandes-ecoles 2024 Q21a View
Let $x$ be a positive real number greater than or equal to 1 and $q \in \mathbb{N}^*$. Justify that the quantity $$\operatorname{Card}\{n \in \mathbb{N} \cap [1,x] : n \equiv 0 \pmod{q}\} - \frac{x}{q}$$ is bounded in absolute value by a real number independent of $x$ and $q$.
grandes-ecoles 2024 Q23 View
For any non-zero natural integer $n$, we set $$\omega(n) = \operatorname{Card}\{p \text{ prime} : p \mid n\} = \sum_{\substack{p \mid n \\ p \text{ prime}}} 1.$$ We set $\mathscr{S} = \left\{n \geqslant 3 : \left|\frac{\omega(n) - \ln_2(n)}{\sqrt{\ln_2(n)}}\right| \geqslant \left(\ln_2(n)\right)^{1/4}\right\}$. Show that $$\lim_{x \rightarrow +\infty} \frac{1}{x} \operatorname{Card}\{n \leqslant x : n \in \mathscr{S}\} = 0$$ One may begin by writing $\operatorname{Card}(\mathscr{S} \cap [1,x]) \underset{x \rightarrow +\infty}{=} \operatorname{Card}(\mathscr{S} \cap [\sqrt{x}, x]) + O(\sqrt{x})$ and note that in the sum on the right-hand side, the difference $\left|\ln_2(n) - \ln_2(x)\right|$ remains bounded.
iran-konkur 2015 Q144 View
144- If $S$ is a subset of natural numbers with 115 elements, when dividing the elements of $S$ by 27, at least how many elements certainly have the same remainder?
(1) $4$(2) $5$(3) $6$(4) $7$

iran-konkur 2020 Q149 View
149 -- How many natural multiples of 9 exist such that when divided by 430, the remainder equals the integer part of the quotient?
  • [(1)] $4$
  • [(2)] $5$
  • [(3)] $6$
  • [(4)] $7$
isi-entrance 2005 Q9 View
a) Show that among any 2-coloring (Red/Blue) of the vertices of a regular hexagon and its center, there must exist a monochromatic equilateral triangle.
b) Extend the argument to show the result holds for a larger configuration of points.
isi-entrance 2005 Q10 View
a) $n$ lines are drawn through a point $A$ inside a circle, creating chords. Show that the number of regions created inside the circle is $(n+1)^2$, assuming no three lines meet at any point other than $A$.
b) Using the result from part a), find the total number of regions when additional lines are drawn, and show the total is $(n+1)^2 + (2n+1)n$.
isi-entrance 2013 Q43 4 marks View
The number of triplets $(a, b, c)$ of integers such that $a < b < c$ and $a, b, c$ are sides of a triangle with perimeter 21 is
(A) 7
(B) 8
(C) 11
(D) 12
isi-entrance 2016 Q43 4 marks View
The number of triplets $(a, b, c)$ of integers such that $a < b < c$ and $a, b, c$ are sides of a triangle with perimeter 21 is
(A) 7
(B) 8
(C) 11
(D) 12
isi-entrance 2016 Q43 4 marks View
The number of triplets $(a, b, c)$ of integers such that $a < b < c$ and $a, b, c$ are sides of a triangle with perimeter 21 is
(A) 7
(B) 8
(C) 11
(D) 12
isi-entrance 2018 Q6 View
A number is called a palindrome if it reads the same backward or forward. For example, 112211 is a palindrome. How many 6-digit palindromes are divisible by 495?
(A) 10
(B) 11
(C) 30
(D) 45
isi-entrance 2019 Q23 View
An examination has 20 questions. For each question the marks that can be obtained are either $-1$ or $0$ or $4$. Let $S$ be the set of possible total marks that a student can score in the examination. Then, the number of elements in $S$ is
(A) 93
(B) 94
(C) 95
(D) 96 .
isi-entrance 2020 Q9 View
There are 128 numbers $1,2 , \ldots , 128$ which are arranged in a circular pattern in clockwise order. We start deleting numbers from this set in a clockwise fashion as follows. First delete the number 2, then skip the next available number (which is 3 ) and delete 4 . Continue in this manner, that is, after deleting a number, skip the next available number clockwise and delete the number available after that, till only one number remains. What is the last number left ?
(A) 1
(B) 63
(C) 127
(D) None of the above.
isi-entrance 2021 Q3 View
Prove that every positive rational number can be expressed uniquely as a finite sum of the form
$$a _ { 1 } + \frac { a _ { 2 } } { 2 ! } + \frac { a _ { 3 } } { 3 ! } + \cdots + \frac { a _ { n } } { n ! } ,$$
where $a _ { n }$ are integers such that $0 \leq a _ { n } \leq n - 1$ for all $n > 1$.
isi-entrance 2022 Q20 View
A $3 \times 3$ magic square is a $3 \times 3$ rectangular array of positive integers such that the sum of the three numbers in any row, any column or any of the two major diagonals, is the same. For the following incomplete magic square
2736
31

the column sum is
(A) 90
(B) 96
(C) 94
(D) 99
isi-entrance 2023 Q29 View
Suppose $f : \mathbb { Z } \rightarrow \mathbb { Z }$ is a non-decreasing function. Consider the following two cases: $$\begin{aligned} & \text { Case 1. } f ( 0 ) = 2 , f ( 10 ) = 8 \\ & \text { Case 2. } f ( 0 ) = - 2 , f ( 10 ) = 12 \end{aligned}$$ In which of the above cases it is necessarily true that there exists an $n$ with $f ( n ) = n$?
(A) In both cases.
(B) In neither case.
(C) In Case 1. but not necessarily in Case 2.
(D) In Case 2. but not necessarily in Case 1.
jee-main 2024 Q63 View
Let $A = \{ n \in [ 100,700 ] \cap \mathbb { N } : n$ is neither a multiple of 3 nor a multiple of $4 \}$. Then the number of elements in $A$ is
(1) 290
(2) 280
(3) 300
(4) 310
jee-main 2025 Q21 View
Let $S = \{p_1, p_2, \ldots, p_{10}\}$ be the set of first ten prime numbers. Let $A = S \cup P$, where $P$ is the set of all possible products of distinct elements of $S$. Then the number of all ordered pairs $(x, y)$, $x \in S$, $y \in A$, such that $x$ divides $y$, is $\underline{\hspace{2cm}}$.
jee-main 2025 Q25 View
The number of 3-digit numbers, that are divisible by 2 and 3, but not divisible by 4 and 9, is $\underline{\hspace{2cm}}$.
kyotsu-test 2018 QCourse1-III View
Let $n$ be a two-digit natural number such that the remainder of $n ^ { 3 }$ divided by 66 is $n$. We are to find the number of such $n$ 's and to find the prime numbers among them.
From the conditions we have
$$n ^ { 3 } = \mathbf { A B } p + n \quad ( 0 < n \leqq \mathbf { C D } ) ,$$
where $p$ is the integer quotient of $n ^ { 3 }$ divided by 66 . This can be transformed into
$$n ( n - 1 ) ( n + 1 ) = \mathrm { AB } p$$
Since either $n - 1$ or $n$ has to be a multiple of $\mathbf { E }$ and either $n - 1 , n$ or $n + 1$ has to be a multiple of $\mathbf { F }$, and furthermore $\mathbf { E }$ and $\mathbf { F }$ are mutually prime, we know that $n ( n - 1 ) ( n + 1 )$ is a multiple of $\mathbf { G }$. (Write the answers in the order $1 < \square < \mathbf { E } < \mathbf { F } < \mathbf { G }$.) Hence one of $n - 1 , n$ and $n + 1$ must be a multiple of $\mathbf{HI}$.
So, since $n \leqq \mathrm { CD }$, the number of $n$ 's where $n - 1$ is a multiple of $\mathbf{HI}$ is $\mathbf{J}$, where $n$ is a multiple of $\mathbf{HI}$ is $\mathbf { K }$, and where $n + 1$ is a multiple of $\mathbf{HI}$ is $\mathbf { L }$.
Thus, the number of $n$ 's is $\mathbf { M N }$ and the prime numbers among them are $\mathbf { O P } , \mathbf { Q R }$, $\mathbf{ST}$, in ascending order.