MathCastle
Proof WritingChallengePigeonhole and Extremal Arguments

Pigeonhole and Extremal Arguments · Challenge problem

Choose nn different numbers from {1,2,…,50}\{1, 2, \ldots, 50\}. Counting shows two different subsets must have the same sum once there are more non-empty subsets (2n−12^n - 1) than possible sums (from 11 up to the largest possible total). What is the smallest nn for which this count works for EVERY choice?