IMO 1987 LL ICE37

Five distinct numbers are drawn successively and at random

IMO 1987 LL ICE37

Origin: ICE

Problem

Five distinct numbers are drawn successively and at random from the set {1, . . . , n}. Show that the probability of a draw in which the first three numbers as well as all five numbers can be arranged to form an arithmetic progression is greater than (n−2)3 .