Problem 1
Prove that from a set of ten distinct two-digit numbers (in the decimal system), it is possible to select two disjoint subsets whose members have the same sum.
Step 2 of 4: Apply the pigeonhole principle
In plain words
This is the classical pigeonhole step: put more objects into fewer boxes than there are objects, and some box gets at least two.
Detailed analysis
Since subsets ('pigeons') map to only possible sums ('pigeonholes'), by the pigeonhole principle at least two distinct subsets of must have the same sum: .