Olympiad problems

2007 Germany Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: calculus , floor function , number theory , Sequence , Summation , IMO Shortlist

We define a sequence $ \left(a_{1},a_{2},a_{3},\ldots \right)$ by \[ a_{n} \equal{} \frac {1}{n}\left(\left\lfloor\frac {n}{1}\right\rfloor \plus{} \left\lfloor\frac {n}{2}\right\rfloor \plus{} \cdots \plus{} \left\lfloor\frac {n}{n}\right\rfloor\right), \] where $\lfloor x\rfloor$ denotes the integer part of $x$. [b]a)[/b] Prove that $a_{n+1}>a_n$ infinitely often. [b]b)[/b] Prove that $a_{n+1}<a_n$ infinitely often. [i]Proposed by Johan Meyer, South Africa[/i]

2007 Gheorghe Vranceanu, 3

Tags: function , Sequence , monotony , algebra

Given a function $ f:\mathbb{N}\longrightarrow\mathbb{N} , $ find the necessary and sufficient condition that makes the sequence $$ \left(\left( 1+\frac{(-1)^{f(n)}}{n+1} \right)^{(-1)^{-f(n+1)}\cdot(n+2)}\right)_{n\ge 1} $$ to be monotone.

2022 South East Mathematical Olympiad, 1

Tags: algebra , Sequence , induction

The positive sequence $\{a_n\}$ satisfies:$a_1=1+\sqrt 2$ and $(a_n-a_{n-1})(a_n+a_{n-1}-2\sqrt n)=2(n\geq 2).$ (1)Find the general formula of $\{a_n\}$; (2)Find the set of all the positive integers $n$ so that $\lfloor a_n\rfloor=2022$.

2013 Saudi Arabia BMO TST, 2

Tags: number theory , Sequence , fibonacci number

Define Fibonacci sequence $\{F\}_{n=0}^{\infty}$ as $F_0 = 0, F_1 = 1$ and $F_{n+1} = F_n +F_{n-1}$ for every integer $n > 1$. Determine all quadruples $(a, b, c,n)$ of positive integers with a $< b < c$ such that each of $a, b,c,a + n, b + n,c + 2n$ is a term of the Fibonacci sequence.

KoMaL A Problems 2017/2018, A. 713

Tags: algebra , Sequence , positive

We say that a sequence $a_1,a_2,\cdots$ is [i]expansive[/i] if for all positive integers $j,\; i<j$ implies $|a_i-a_j|\ge \tfrac 1j$. Find all positive real numbers $C$ for which one can find an expansive sequence in the interval $[0,C]$.

2015 Peru IMO TST, 6

Tags: floor function , IMO Shortlist , number theory , Sequence , Parity , IMO Shortlist 2014 , Hi

Let $n > 1$ be a given integer. Prove that infinitely many terms of the sequence $(a_k )_{k\ge 1}$, defined by \[a_k=\left\lfloor\frac{n^k}{k}\right\rfloor,\] are odd. (For a real number $x$, $\lfloor x\rfloor$ denotes the largest integer not exceeding $x$.) [i]Proposed by Hong Kong[/i]

2020 EGMO, 6

Tags: EGMO 2020 , Sequence , Perfect Squares , EGMO

Let $m > 1$ be an integer. A sequence $a_1, a_2, a_3, \ldots$ is defined by $a_1 = a_2 = 1$, $a_3 = 4$, and for all $n \ge 4$, $$a_n = m(a_{n - 1} + a_{n - 2}) - a_{n - 3}.$$ Determine all integers $m$ such that every term of the sequence is a square.

1980 IMO Shortlist, 19

Tags: number theory , Sequence , recurrence relation , IMO Shortlist

Find the greatest natural number $n$ such there exist natural numbers $x_{1}, x_{2}, \ldots, x_{n}$ and natural $a_{1}< a_{2}< \ldots < a_{n-1}$ satisfying the following equations for $i =1,2,\ldots,n-1$: \[x_{1}x_{2}\ldots x_{n}= 1980 \quad \text{and}\quad x_{i}+\frac{1980}{x_{i}}= a_{i}.\]

2016 Tuymaada Olympiad, 1

Tags: algebra , Sequence , easy , Olympiad , algebra solved

The sequence $(a_n)$ is defined by $a_1=0$, $$ a_{n+1}={a_1+a_2+\ldots+a_n\over n}+1. $$ Prove that $a_{2016}>{1\over 2}+a_{1000}$.

1974 Bundeswettbewerb Mathematik, 3

Tags: geometry , semicircle , circle , Sequence , square

A circle $K_1$ of radius $r_1 = 1\slash 2$ is inscribed in a semi-circle $H$ with diameter $AB$ and radius $1.$ A sequence of different circles $K_2, K_3, \ldots$ with radii $r_2, r_3, \ldots$ respectively are drawn so that for each $n\geq 1$, the circle $K_{n+1}$ is tangent to $H$, $K_n$ and $AB.$ Prove that $a_n = 1\slash r_n$ is an integer for each $n$, and that it is a perfect square for $n$ even and twice a perfect square for $n$ odd.

2023 Korea Junior Math Olympiad, 3

Tags: number theory , Sequence

Positive integers $a_1, a_2, \dots, a_{2023}$ satisfy the following conditions. [list] [*] $a_1 = 5, a_2 = 25$ [*] $a_{n + 2} = 7a_{n+1}-a_n-6$ for each $n = 1, 2, \dots, 2021$ [/list] Prove that there exist integers $x, y$ such that $a_{2023} = x^2 + y^2.$

1966 IMO Shortlist, 42

Tags: Sequence , Divisibility , number theory , IMO Longlist , IMO Shortlist

Given a finite sequence of integers $a_{1},$ $a_{2},$ $...,$ $a_{n}$ for $n\geq 2.$ Show that there exists a subsequence $a_{k_{1}},$ $a_{k_{2}},$ $...,$ $a_{k_{m}},$ where $1\leq k_{1}\leq k_{2}\leq...\leq k_{m}\leq n,$ such that the number $a_{k_{1}}^{2}+a_{k_{2}}^{2}+...+a_{k_{m}}^{2}$ is divisible by $n.$ [b]Note by Darij:[/b] Of course, the $1\leq k_{1}\leq k_{2}\leq ...\leq k_{m}\leq n$ should be understood as $1\leq k_{1}<k_{2}<...<k_{m}\leq n;$ else, we could take $m=n$ and $k_{1}=k_{2}=...=k_{m},$ so that the number $a_{k_{1}}^{2}+a_{k_{2}}^{2}+...+a_{k_{m}}^{2}=n^{2}a_{k_{1}}^{2}$ will surely be divisible by $n.$

2018 IMO, 2

Tags: IMO , algebra , Sequence , system of equations , imo 2018 , IMO Shortlist , Hi

Find all integers $n \geq 3$ for which there exist real numbers $a_1, a_2, \dots a_{n + 2}$ satisfying $a_{n + 1} = a_1$, $a_{n + 2} = a_2$ and $$a_ia_{i + 1} + 1 = a_{i + 2},$$ for $i = 1, 2, \dots, n$. [i]Proposed by Patrik Bak, Slovakia[/i]

2013 Regional Competition For Advanced Students, 3

Tags: inequalities , Arithmetic Mean-Geometric Mean , Sequence

For non-negative real numbers $a,$ $b$ let $A(a, b)$ be their arithmetic mean and $G(a, b)$ their geometric mean. We consider the sequence $\langle a_n \rangle$ with $a_0 = 0,$ $a_1 = 1$ and $a_{n+1} = A(A(a_{n-1}, a_n), G(a_{n-1}, a_n))$ for $n > 0.$ (a) Show that each $a_n = b^2_n$ is the square of a rational number (with $b_n \geq 0$). (b) Show that the inequality $\left|b_n - \frac{2}{3}\right| < \frac{1}{2^n}$ holds for all $n > 0.$

1998 German National Olympiad, 5

Tags: inequalities , Sum , recurrence relation , Sequence , algebra

A sequence ($a_n$) is given by $a_0 = 0, a_1 = 1$ and $a_{k+2} = a_{k+1} +a_k$ for all integers $k \ge 0$. Prove that the inequality $\sum_{k=0}^n \frac{a_k}{2^k}< 2$ holds for all positive integers $n$.

2008 Federal Competition For Advanced Students, P1, 3

Tags: inequalities , Sequence , recurrence relation , algebra , Austria

Let $p > 1$ be a natural number. Consider the set $F_p$ of all non-constant sequences of non-negative integers that satisfy the recursive relation $a_{n+1} = (p+1)a_n - pa_{n-1}$ for all $n > 0$. Show that there exists a sequence ($a_n$) in $F_p$ with the property that for every other sequence ($b_n$) in $F_p$, the inequality $a_n \le b_n$ holds for all $n$.

2022 Olimphíada, 2

Tags: algebra , Sequence

We say that a real $a\geq-1$ is philosophical if there exists a sequence $\epsilon_1,\epsilon_2,\dots$, with $\epsilon_i \in\{-1,1\}$ for all $i\geq1$, such that the sequence $a_1,a_2,a_3,\dots$, with $a_1=a$, satisfies $$a_{n+1}=\epsilon_{n}\sqrt{a_{n}+1},\forall n\geq1$$ and is periodic. Find all philosophical numbers.

1992 Romania Team Selection Test, 4

Tags: Sequence , combinatorics , algebra , set

Let $A$ be the set of all ordered sequences $(a_1,a_2,...,a_{11})$ of zeros and ones. The elements of $A$ are ordered as follows: The first element is $(0,0,...,0)$, and the $n + 1$−th is obtained from the $n$−th by changing the first component from the right such that the newly obtained sequence was not obtained before. Find the $1992$−th term of the ordered set $A$

1981 Bundeswettbewerb Mathematik, 1

Tags: floor function , Sequence , odd , algebra

A sequence $a_1, a_2, a_3, \ldots $ is defined as follows: $a_1$ is a positive integer and $$a_{n+1} = \left\lfloor \frac{3}{2} a_n \right\rfloor +1$$ for all $n \in \mathbb{N}$. Can $a_1$ be chosen in such a way that the first $100000$ terms of the sequence are even, but the $100001$-th term is odd?

2002 Mongolian Mathematical Olympiad, Problem 5

Tags: inequalities , Sequence

Let $a_0,a_1,\ldots$ be an infinite sequence of positive numbers. Prove that the inequality $1+a_n>\sqrt[n]2a_{n-1}$ holds for infinitely many positive integers $n$.

2009 Regional Olympiad of Mexico Northeast, 1

Tags: Sequence , algebra

Consider the sequence $\{1,3,13,31,...\}$ that is obtained by following diagonally the following array of numbers in a spiral. Find the number in the $100$th position of that sequence. [img]https://cdn.artofproblemsolving.com/attachments/b/d/3531353472a748e3e0b1497a088472691f67fd.png[/img]

2001 Moldova National Olympiad, Problem 7

Tags: Sequence , algebra

Set $a_n=\frac{2n}{n^4+3n^2+4},n\in\mathbb N$. Prove that the sequence $S_n=a_1+a_2+\ldots+a_n$ is upperbounded and lowerbounded and find its limit as $n\to\infty$.

2008 China Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: induction , number theory , algebra , Sequence , recurrence relation

The sequence $ \{x_{n}\}$ is defined by $ x_{1} \equal{} 2,x_{2} \equal{} 12$, and $ x_{n \plus{} 2} \equal{} 6x_{n \plus{} 1} \minus{} x_{n}$, $ (n \equal{} 1,2,\ldots)$. Let $ p$ be an odd prime number, let $ q$ be a prime divisor of $ x_{p}$. Prove that if $ q\neq2,3,$ then $ q\geq 2p \minus{} 1$.

1999 Austrian-Polish Competition, 5

Tags: recurrence relation , Sequence , Perfect Square , number theory

A sequence of integers $(a_n)$ satisfies $a_{n+1} = a_n^3 + 1999$ for $n = 1,2,....$ Prove that there exists at most one $n$ for which $a_n$ is a perfect square.

2013 Denmark MO - Mohr Contest, 3

Tags: algebra , Sequence , recurrence relation

A sequence $x_0, x_1, x_2, . . .$ is given by $x_0 = 8$ and $x_{n+1} =\frac{1 + x_n}{1- x_n}$ for $n = 0, 1, 2, . . . .$ Determine the number $x_{2013}$.