IMC 2011 · Problem 5

Day 118th IMC · Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria

Statement

Let nn be a positive integer and let VV be a (2n−1)(2n-1)-dimensional vector space over the two-element field. Prove that for arbitrary vectors v1,…,v4n−1∈Vv_1, \dots, v_{4n-1} \in V, there exists a sequence 1≤i1<⋯<i2n≤4n−11 \le i_1 < \dots < i_{2n} \le 4n-1 of indices such that

vi1+⋯+vi2n=0.v_{i_1} + \dots + v_{i_{2n}} = 0.

Official solution

Hidden so you can work on the problem first.