This is an interesting question which I haven't found anyone addressing it.
Let $N$ be a fixed natural number, $(a_1, \cdots, a_N), (b_1, \cdots, b_N)$ two $N$-tuples of natural numbers with $a_i, b_j \in \{1, 2. \cdots, N\}$. Does there exist a subcollection $(a_{i_1}, \cdots, a_{i_k})$, $(b_{j_1}, \cdots, b_{j_l})$ so that $$a_{i_1} + \cdots + a_{i_k} = b_{j_1} + \cdots + b_{j_l}?$$
Example : say $N=3$. Consider $(1,1,2)$ and $(1,3,3)$. Obviously there are equal partial sums. Take $1, 2$ from the first triples and $3$ from the second, we got $1+2 =3$.
Or , you can find another equal sum: Take $1 =1$ for example.
For example for $N=4$. Similarly we can always find an equal sum. Let's check this with a few trials. Say we have
$$(4, 4,4,4), (3,3,3,2).$$
We can find at least one equal sum as follows: $4+4 =3+3+2$.
Another trial : $(1,1,1,1)$, $(2,3,2,3)$. We can find easily even more than one equal sum: $1+1=2$, $1+1+1 =3$ etc...
I always found equal partial sums. I couldn't find a counter example. I am asking either for a counter example or a proof.
Remark: I know that the statement is true for two $2N$-tuples with numbers ranged from $1$ to $N$. In this case the proof is easy with the pigeonhole principle. You must get two subgroups which are equal. Moreover you would get sequences which are equal.
But would that hold true for sets of length $N$? The simple proof that works for $2N$ wouldn't hold here. On the other hand I couldn't find any counter example for $N$.
Is it true or not? Is it possible to prove one way or the other?
Let $a=(a_1,a_2,\ldots,a_n)$ and $b=(b_1,b_2,\ldots,b_n)$ be sequences drawn from $\{1,2,\ldots,n\}$. Assume w.n.l.g. that $a_1 \ge b_1$. Starting with $a'=b'=()$, and keeping track of $S=\sum a' - \sum b'$, repeat the following step (*) $n+1$ times: (1) append the next element of $a$ to $a'$, or (2) append the next element of $b$ to $b'$, or (3) do both; you must choose (1) on the first step and (2) on the second, and your choices must keep $S\in[0,n]$. Since $S$ has now assumed $n+2$ values (counting its initial value of $0$), by the pigeonhole principle it must have assumed the same value twice, say before step $k$ and after step $l\ge k$. Then the elements appended to $a'$ and $b'$ on steps $k$ through $l$ must have equal sums.
This proves that $a$ and $b$ have not only subsets, but contiguous subsequences, with equal sums.
(*) Of course, the proof rests on showing that you can successfully repeat this step -- i.e., that one of the three choices satisfies the constraint on $S$ -- the required number of times. Suppose $a$ and $b$ have elements remaining, and $a_i$ and $b_j$ are their next elements. Choice (1) succeeds unless $S+a_i > n$, and choice (2) succeeds unless $S-b_j < 0$. If both fail, then, choice (3) must succeed, because we have $0 \le n-b_j < S+a_i-b_j <a_i\le n$. So we can repeat the step until either $a$ or $b$ is exhausted: at least $n-1$ additional times after the first two steps, which were forced to choose (1) and (2) respectively, for a total of at least $n+1$ times.