MathLabs

Problem 4

Seventeen people correspond by mail with one another, each with all the rest. In their letters only three different topics are discussed, and each pair of correspondents deals with only one topic. Prove that at least three people write to each other about the same topic.
Step 3 of 5: Choose six same-colored neighbors
⌈163⌉=6\left\lceil\frac{16}{3}\right\rceil=6
Detailed analysis

Color the edge joining each pair of people by their topic. From any person V1V_1, the sixteen incident edges use three colors, so at least six go to vertices by the same color, say color 1.