Question 15
Let $n \geqslant 2$ be an integer. In the plane, there are $n$ segments given in such a way that any two segments have an intersection point in the interior, and no three segments intersect at a single point. Jeff places a snail at one of the endpoints of each of the segments and claps his hands $n-1$ times. Each time when he claps his hands, all the snails move along their own segments and stay at the next intersection points until the next clap. Since there are $n-1$ intersection points on each segment, all snails will reach the furthest intersection points from their starting points after $n-1$ claps.
(a) Prove that if $n$ is odd then Jeff can always place the snails so that no two of them ever occupy the same intersection point.
(b) Prove that if $n$ is even then there must be a moment when some two snails occupy the same intersection point no matter how Jeff places the snails.
(a) Prove that if $n$ is odd then Jeff can always place the snails so that no two of them ever occupy the same intersection point.
(b) Prove that if $n$ is even then there must be a moment when some two snails occupy the same intersection point no matter how Jeff places the snails.