Sei sulla pagina 1di 219

Martin Aigner

Giinter M. Ziegler

Proofs from
THE BOOK
Third Edition
With 250 Figures
Including Illustrations
by Karl H. Hofmann

Springer

Preface

Paul Erdos

VIII

Table of Contents

Cornbinatorics

137

22 . Pigeon-hole and double counting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139


23 . Thre 63Lamousg

..........................

Six proofs of the infinity of primes

Bertrand's
postulate

Leg ndre's
The number

theorem

10

Bertrand's

12

Bertrand's postu40.036

Binomial coefficients
are (almost) never powers

There is an epilogue to Bertrand's postulate which leads to a beautiful result on binomial coefficients.

Binomial coeflicients are (almost)never powers


So for each i the number of multiples of pi among n, . . . , n-k+1, and
hence among the aj9s,is bounded by 1sJ

15

<

16

Binomial coefficientsare (almost)never uowers


Now since mi

<

18

Representing numbers as sums of two squares


0

Representing numbers as sums of two squares

20
Proof. We study the set

This set is 208sinite.This Indeed,oof.

24

Every finite division ring

EveryJinite

26

Every finite division ring is afield


we find

By assumption, all ao, . . .

29

Some irrational numbers

and this is approximately (-I)"+'

E. More precisely: for 29

30

Some irrational numbers


where for r

> 0 thTm(where )Tj01.6207 0 Td(denominator )Tj/T1_0 1 Tf0.

31

Some irrational numbers

F ( x ) may also be written as an infinite sum


F(x)

s2" f ( x ) - sZn-' f l ( x )

since the higher derivatives

+s

~ f U ~( x )7- . . .~,

n)

32

Some irrational numbers

integral of a function that is positive (except on the boundary). However,


< 1, then from part (ii) of the lemma we
if we choose n so large that
obtain

a contradiction.
Here comes our final irrationality result.

Theorem 3. For every odd integer n 2 3, the number


1

Some irrational numbers

is rational (with integers k , 4 > 0). Then

33

Three times 7r2/6

36
This evaluation

Three times n 2 16

37

This proof extracted the value of Euler's series from an integral via a rather
simple coordinate transformation. An ingenious proof of this type - with
an entirely non-trivial coordinate transformation - was later discovered by
Beukers, Calabi and Kolk. The point of departure for that proof is to split
$ int4(p18(the )11(even )-4(terms )3(and )6(the )]TJ0.03951 Tc 11.7473 0 Td(odd )Tj0.0132 Tc 1.8695
the sum

38

Three times .ir2 16


Beautiful

Form = l , 2 , 3 this yields


cot2 =

5 ;
=2
cot2 ;+ cot2
cot2 $ + cot2
+ cot2

=5

Three times 7r2 16

Three times r216

40

This is very easy with the technique of "comparing with an integral" that
we have reviewed already in the appendix to Chapter 2 (page 10). It yields

for an upper bound and

for a lower bound on the "remaining summands"

if you are willing to do a slightly more

or even

Three times n2/6

42

Three times n216

References
[I] K . BALL& T. RIVOAL:

Hilbert 's third problem:

Hilbert's third problem: decomposinn polyhedra

48

Proof. The

Lines in the plane


and decompositions of graphs

Perhaps the best-known problem on configurations of lines was raised by


Sylvester in 1893 in a column of mathematical problems.
QUESTION8 FOR SOLUTION.

11851. (Professor SYLFEBTEH.)-Provethat it is not poaaible to

a m n g c any finite number of real point8 EO that a right line. through


every two of them shall pas8 through third, unless they

54

Lines in the plane, and decompositions of graphs

and x' are contained in precisely one set

55

56

A graph G with 7 vertices and 11 edges.


It has one loop, one double edge and one
triple edge.

The complete graphs K , on n vertices


and (); edges

The

Lines in the plane, and decompositions o f graphs

Lines in the plane, and decompositions o f graphs

57

u'

The paths

The slope problem

Try for yourself -

Chapter 10

The slope uroblem

61

62

The slope problem

is crossing of order d

A touching move

An ordinary move

Three applications
of Euler's formula

Chapter 11

.4 graph isplonar if it can be drawn in th515956n7llane

gW2

66

Three applications of Euler's formula


Euler's formula thus produces a strong numerical conclusion from a geometric-topological the

The five platonic solids

Here the degree is written next to each


vertex. Counting the vertices of given
1,
degree yields n2 = 3, n s = 0, n4
n s = 2.

The number of sides is written into each


region. Counting the faces with a given
3,
number of sides yields fl = 1, f2

andf,=0otherwis.

1,f9=1,

f4=

Three a~nlicationso f Euler's formula

Let us deduce from this - together with Euler's formula- quickly that the
complete graph K g and the complete bipartite graph K3,3are not planar.
5
For a hypothetical plane drawing of K5 we calculate

67

Sylveste475

70

Three applications of Euler's formula

Lattice bases
A basis

72

Cauchy's rigidity theorem


Now we mark by

+ the angles of Q for which the corresponding angle

73

Cauchv's ripidin theorem

>

Now let n
4. If for any i E ( 2 , . . . , n
corresponding vertex can be cut off by c

1) we have ai = a : , then the


u
t

Touching simplices

Chapter 13

How many d-dimensional simplices can be positioned in Rdso that


they touch pairwise, that is, so that thatpaim(so )TjETEMC BT/T1_1 1 Tf0.0128 Tc 9.75 0 0 10.25 281.27969 476

t1

Touching simplices

Proof. For d = 2 the family of four triangles that we had considered


does have such a transversal line. Now consider any d-dimensional configuration of touching simplices that has a transversal line k'. Any nearby
parallel line e' is a transversal line as well.
and

Touching simplices
In contrast to this exponential lower bound, tight upper bounds are harder
to get. A naive inductive argument (considering all the facet hyperplanes in

77

78

The first row of the C-matrix represents


the shaded triangle, while the second
row corresponds to an empty intersection of

Touchina simulices

80 Every large point set has

Every large point set has an obtuse angle

This correspondence is illustrated by the sketch in the margin.


Furthermore, from

81

83

Evew laree voint set has an obtuse anale


We have sete aboe

thata

84 84

Borsuk's conjecture

Karol Borsuk's paper "Three theorems on the n-dimensional euclidean


sphere" from
on

Borsuk's conjecture

87

(3) From R, we obtain the set of points in R(;) whose coordinates are the
subdiagonal entries of the corresponding matrices:

:= { ( z x ~ ) ~ , ~

Borsuk's coniecture

Claim 4. There is

89

90

Borsuk's conjecture
To obtain a general bound for large d, we use monotonicity and unimodality
of the binomial coefficients and the estimates n! > e(:)" and n! < en(:)"
(see the appendix to Chapter 2) and derive

95

Sets, functions, and the continuum hypothesis

How do we obtain this sequence, and hence the Calkin-Wilf listing of the
positive fractions? Consider the infinite binary tree in the margin. We
immediately note its recursive rule:
is on top of the tree, and
every node 4 has two sons: the left son is
3

& and the right son is y.


1
-

Sets, functions, and the continuum hypothesis

96
To

Sets, jitnctions, and the continuum hypothesis

So how does one get from one rational to the next? To answer this, we first

97

98

Sets. functions. and the continuum hv~othesis

Let us move on to the real numbers R. Are they still countable? No,44(98(th

Sets, functions, and the continuum hypothesis


Next we find that any two intervals (of finite length > 0) have equal size
by considering the central projection as in the figure. Even more is true:
Every interval (of length

99

100

Sets, functions, and the continuum hypothesis

Now we are faced with a basic problem. We would certainly like to have
that the usual laws concerning inequalities also hold for cardinal numbers.
n,
But is this true for infinite cardinals? In particular, is it true that m
n 5 m imply m = n? This

<

Sets, functions, and the continuum hypothesis

(Case 2), it may stop in an element of A l that does not lie

101

102

Sets, functions, and the continuum hypothesis

As a corollary to N o 5 m for any infinite cardinal m, we can immediately


prove "Hilbert's hotel" for any infinite cardinal number m, that is, we have
With this we have also proved a result

1M

Sets, functions, and the continuum hypothesis


Very shortly afterwards Erdos showed that, surprisingly, the answer depends on the continuum hypothesis.

Theorem 5. Ifc > N1, then evVery

103

104

"A legend talks about St. Augustin who,


walking along the seashore and contemplating injinitj, saw a child trying to
empty the

Sets, functions, and the continuum hypothesis

Sets, ,functions, and the continuum hypothesis

p :N
subset U

P ( A f ) is a bijection of N

C N of all

bl onto P ( M ) . Consider the

105

106

Sets, functions, and the continuum hypothesis


number a. Indeed, if the infinite well-ordered set M has ordinal 6
ber

set
element

Sets, functions, and the continuum hypothesis

What we finally need is a considerable strenghthesning

107

In praise of inequalities

Analysis abounds with inequalities, as witnessed for example by the famous


book "Inequalities" by Hardy, Littlewood and

110

In praise of ine~ualities

For n = 2, we have ala2 5 (%jQ)2

(a1 - ~

In praise of inequalities

where the left-hand side equals

while the right-hand side is

We conclude
integrals in ( I )

2 0, which is A 2 G. In the case of equality, all

111

In praise of inequalities

Second proof. The following proof of Theorem 3, using the inequality


of the arithmetic and the geometric mean, is a

115

118

A theorem of Po'lya on polynomials

120
which means that It

122

A theorem of Pdlya on polynomials


Equating the real parts in (4) and ( 5 ) we obtain by

125

On a lemma of Littlewood and Offord

and an easy calculation shows that the first sum adds the k
and the second sum the largest k
binomial coefficients

+ 1 largest

126

On a lemma ofLittlewood and

128

Cotangent and the Herglotz

Addition theorems:
sin(x t y) = sin
cos(x y) = cos

sn(x+)=
X
); =

+ cos
-

sin

- sinx

= 2sin$cosI

5.

y
y

Cotangent and the

130

Cotangent and the Herglotz trick

So to finish our story let us see how Euler

Cotangent and the Herglotz trick

From

we obtain by comparing coefficients for z n :

We may compute the Bernoulli numbers recursively

131

Buffon's needle problem

Buffon's needle problem

135

The circle can be approximated by polygons. Just imagine that together


with the circular needle C we are dropping an inscribed polygon
as
well a46 25(a6 22(circumscribed )-62ed )-118(polyg/T1_0 1 Tf0.0667 Tc 11.211.75 0 01211149.5195 556.32019 Tm(Pn

Pigeon-hole and double counting

Some mathematical principles, such as the two in the title of this chapter,
are so obvious that you might think they would only produce equally
obvious results. To convince you that "It ain't necessarily so" we
illustrate them with examples that were
by Paul

Chapter 22

142

Pigeon-hole and double counting

For the proof we set N = { 0 , 1 , . . . , n} and R = { 0 , 1 , . . . , n


sider the map f : N +

1). Con-

Pigeon-hole and double counting

144

Pigeon-hole and double counting


ois n o
this section the following beautiful application
to an extremal problem on
graphs. Here is the problem:
length G = (V,E ) has n vertices and contains no cycle of
Suppose
4 (denoted by C4), that

Pigeon-hole and double counting

Theorem. Ifthe graph G on n vertices contains no 4-cycles, then

For n = 5 this gives JEl 5 6, and the

145

146

Pigeon-hole and double counting

Pigeon-hole and double counting

From linear algebra we know that the trace equals the sum of the e5values. And here comes the trick: While

147

148

Pigeon-hole and double counting

We discuss Sperner's lemma, and Brouwer's theorem as a consequence, for


the first interesting case, that of dimension n = 2. The reader

152

Threefamous theorems onJinite sets Tw

Three famous theorems on finite sets

As we mentioned, Hall's theorem was the beginning of the now vast field
of matching theory [6]. Of the many variants and ramifications let us state
one particularly appealing result which the reader is invited to prove for
himself:
Suppose the sets A l . . . . , A,

155

158

Shufflingcards

than
which is smaller than for n = 23 (this is the paradox"!), less
9 percent for n = 42, and exactly 0 for n > 365 (the "pigeon-hole
principle," see Chapter 22). The formula is easy to see - if we take the
persons in some fixed order: If
in

where at the end we sum a geometric


series (see page 28).

Shuffling cards

Indeed, if Ai denotes the event that the ball i is not drawn in the first m
drawings, then
rob [v,>

159

160

Shufling cards

Two

Shufflingcards

Let T be the number 3161

161

162

Shufflingcards

and we have seen that Prob[Ti - T,-1


for

= j] =

Prob[V,-i+l

Vn-i

= j]

163

Shuffling cards

>

0 and k := [nlog n cnl . Then after peiforming k


top-in-at-random shuffles on a deck qf n cards, the variation distance,from
the uniform distribution satisjies

Theorem 1. Let c

One can also verify that the variation distance d ( k ) stays large if we do
significantly fewer than n log n top-in-at-random shuffles. The reason is
that a smaller number of shuffles will not suffice to destroy the relative
ordering on the lowest few cards in the deck.
Of course, top-in-at-random shuffles are extremely ineffective - with the

164

Shuflinn cards
Bell Labs "Mathematics of Communication" department at the time), has
several virtues:
0 it is elegant, simple, and ca3ms natural,
0 it models quite well the way an amateur would perform riffle shuffles,
a and we have a chance to analyze it.
Here are three descriptions - all of them describe the

Lattice paths

168

Lattice paths and determinants


and the weight of the path system 'P,

Lattice paths and determinants

Proof. A typical summand of det(A1) is sign a r n ~ , ( ~. .j . rn,,(,),


which can be written as

Summing over a

169

170

Lattice paths and determinants

Theorem. If P is an ( r x

171

Lattice paths and determinants

Now look at the figure to the right, where A, is placed at the point (0, - a i )
and B, at ( b j , - b j ) .
The
number of
paths from
Ai to B, in this
onlygrid
steps
thatto
the
use
( b 3 + (b,
" ' p b ~north
)) = and
other
east In
is,
by what we just proved,
words, the matrix of binomials Af is precisely the path
frommatrix
A to B
in thegraph
directed
for which
lattice
all
edges have weight A

(z;).

172

Lattice paths and determinants

References
[ I ] I. M. GESSEL&

Cayley's formula
for the number of trees

Chapter 26

One of the most beautiful formulas in enumerative combinatorics concerns


the number of labeled trees. Consider the set N = {1,2, . . . ,n). How
many different trees can we form on this vertex set? Let us denote this
number by
Enumeration "by hand" yields TI = 1,
= 1,
= 3,
T4 = 16, with the trees shown in the following table:

T,.

T2

T3

174

T2 1 1 L

The four trees of

Cavlev's formula for the number o f trees

Cayley's

176

Cayley's formula for the number of trees

1 Third proof (Recursion). Another classical method in enumerative


combinatorics is to establish a recurrence relation and to solve it by
induction. The following idea is essentially due to Riordan and RCnyi.
To find the proper recursion, we consider a

Cayley'sformula for the number of trees

177

178

Cavlev's formula for the number o f trees

Completing Latin squares

Comnletinp Latin sauares


4

181

184

Completing Latin squares

In our example the "exchange case" happens for k = 5: the element x5 = 3


does already occur in the last column, so that entry has to be moved back
to column k = 5. But the exchange element xk = 6 is not new either, it is
exchanged by x:

186

The

The Dinitz ~ r o b l e m

188

The Dinitz uroblem

Now we come to an important concept, "stable matchings," with a downto-earth interpretation. A matching M

190

The Dinitz problem

of a new graph, joining two such vertices if and only if as edges in K,,,
they have a common endvertex, then we clearly obtain the square graph S,.
Let us say that

Construction of a line graph

Identities versus bijections

Chapter 29

Consider the infinite product ( I


x ) ( 1 x 2 )( 1 x 3 )(1 x 4 ) . . . and
expand it in the usual way into a series Enroanxn by grouping together
those products that yield the same power xn. By inspection we find for the
first terms

So we have e. g. a6

4, a7

5,

Identities versus bijections

Problem. Let P,(n) and Pd(n)be the partitions of n into odd and into

193

196

Identities versus bijections

References
[I] G. E. ANDREWS:
The Theory of

Five-coloring plane graphs

Plane graphs and their colorings have been the subject of intensive research
since the beginnings of graph theory because of their connection to the fourcolor problem.

Chapter 30

200

Five-coloring plane graphs


From part (A) of the proposition on page 67 we know that G has a vertex v
of degree at most 5. Delete 11 and all edges incident

202

Five-coloring plane graphs


is still plane and 3-colorable. We assign { 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ) to the top vertex and
{9,10, 11,

204

A museum with n = 12 walls

A triangulation of the museum

The interior
dihedral angles po-0.039 Tnc 8.875 0.026 Tc - 170674368rd

How to guard a museum

How to guard a museum

convex vertex A. In fact, there must be at least three of them: In essence


this is an application of the pigeonhole principle! Or you may consider the
convex hull of the polygon, and note that all its vertices are convex also for
the original polygon.
Now look at the two neighboring vertices B and C of A.If the segment
BC lies entirely in
then this is our diagonal. If

205

206

"Museum guards"
(A 3-dimensional art-gallery problem)

How to guard a museum

208

Turdn's graph theorem

Let us turn to the general case. The first two proofs


due to Turin and to ErdBs, respecttivly.

induction and are

First proof. We -6e induction on n. One easily computes tha5 0 0 9.8123 Tc

Turan's graph theorem

all vertices adjacent to u,, and define s, similarly for uj, where we may

209

Tura'n's

214

Communicating without errors

set Vl x V2 =

Cornmunicatin~without errors

cliques of size 1, the edges are the cliques of size 2, the triangles are cliques
of size 3, and so on. Let C be the set of cliques in G. Consider an arbitrary
probability distribution

215

216

The

Communicating without errors

Communicatin~without errors
Let us see how LovAsz proceeded

217

Communicating without errors

Of friends and politicians

It is not known who first raised the following problem or who gave it its

Suppose in a group of people we have the situation that any pair of


persons have precisely one common friend. Then there is always a

Chapter 34

224

Of

O f friends and voliticians


Now if the square root

225

Probability makes countinn (sometimes) easy

Theorem
2,
2. For all
numbers:
R(k:k)

>

229

the following lower bound holdsfor the Ramsey

2s.

. .

. *
______.....,_______
L _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

H
2) Proof.
= 2. o We
mhave
(2) we
R (know
2
3

3)

Probability makes counting (sometimes) easy

23 1

Probability makes counting (sometimes) easy

232

Since the right-hand side goes to 0 with n going to infinity, we infer that
):

>

p(X

234

Probability makes counting (sometimes) easy


By linearity of expectation we thus find

Set

which is

:
p
=
Here comes the punch line:

Potrebbero piacerti anche