MathLabs

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.

1024>946  ⟹  ∃ A≠B, sum(A)=sum(B)1024 > 946 \implies \exists\, A\neq B,\ \text{sum}(A)=\text{sum}(B)
Detailed analysis

Since 10241024 subsets ('pigeons') map to only 946946 possible sums ('pigeonholes'), by the pigeonhole principle at least two distinct subsets A≠BA\neq B of SS must have the same sum: sum(A)=sum(B)\text{sum}(A)=\text{sum}(B).