Sets and Subsets

Let A = { 1 , 2 , 3 , , 2015 } A = \{1, 2, 3, \ldots, 2015\} , and B B be a subset of A A , satisfying that any element of B B is a multiple or a divisor of any other element of B B .

How many elements at most are there in B B ?

20 30 46 11 15

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1 solution

In fact, is not possible to make any subset B whit more than 11 elements whit this property.

Let's suppose that is possible to make a set with 12 or more elements using this property.

Be B a subset of A with k 12 k\ge 12 elements. Be n n the greater element of B.

n n need to have k k positive divisors ( n n itself and the other k 1 k-1 elements.

The grater number with k k positive integers is m ( k 1 ) m^{(k-1)} . If m m is 2 2 , we a problem:

2 ( k 1 ) > 2 11 = 204 8 2015 2^{(k-1)}>2^{11}=2048^{2015} because k = 12 k=12 . Thus n > 2015 B n>2015\notin B what is a contradiction. If m m is greater than 2, the same problem appears. It proves that the number of elements in set B can't be 12 or more.

The the answer is 11.

Isn't 2,4 6,8......a subset with maximum elements

Tarun B - 4 years, 3 months ago

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