Found problems: 280
2015 Singapore MO Open, 2
A boy lives in a small island in which there are three roads at every junction. He starts
from his home and walks along the roads. At each junction he would choose to turn
to the road on his right or left alternatively, i.e., his choices would be . . ., left, right,
left,... Prove that he will eventually return to his home.
1984 Bundeswettbewerb Mathematik, 3
The sequences $a_1, a_2, a_3,...$ and $b_1, b_2, b_3,... $suffices for all positive integers $n$ of the following recursion:
$a_{n+1} = a_n - b_n$ and $b_{n+1} = 2b_n$, if $a_n \ge b_n$,
$a_{n+1} = 2a_n$ and $b_{n+1} = b_n - a_n$, if $a_n < b_n$.
For which pairs $(a_1, b_1)$ of positive real initial terms is there an index $k$ with $a_k = 0$?
2007 Korea Junior Math Olympiad, 1
A sequence $a_1,a_2,...,a_{2007}$ where $a_i \in\{2,3\}$ for $i = 1,2,...,2007$ and an integer sequence $x_1,x_2,...,x_{2007}$ satis fies the following: $a_ix_i + x_{i+2 }\equiv 0$ ($mod 5$) , where the indices are taken modulo $2007$. Prove that $x_1,x_2,...,x_{2007}$ are all multiples of $5$.
2014 IMC, 2
Consider the following sequence
$$(a_n)_{n=1}^{\infty}=(1,1,2,1,2,3,1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4,5,1,\dots)$$
Find all pairs $(\alpha, \beta)$ of positive real numbers such that $\lim_{n\to \infty}\frac{\displaystyle\sum_{k=1}^n a_k}{n^{\alpha}}=\beta$.
(Proposed by Tomas Barta, Charles University, Prague)
2015 Lusophon Mathematical Olympiad, 6
Let $(a_n)$ be defined by:
$$ a_1 = 2, \qquad a_{n+1} = a_n^3 - a_n + 1 $$
Consider positive integers $n,p$, where $p$ is an odd prime. Prove that if $p | a_n$, then $p > n$.
2017 Singapore MO Open, 4
Let $n > 3$ be an integer. Prove that there exist positive integers $x_1,..., x_n$ in geometric progression and positive integers $y_1,..., y_n$ in arithmetic progression such that $x_1<y_1<x_2<y_2<...<x_n<y_n$
2016 China National Olympiad, 1
Let $a_1,a_2,\cdots, a_{31} ;b_1,b_2, \cdots, b_{31}$ be positive integers such that
$a_1< a_2<\cdots< a_{31}\leq2015$ , $ b_1< b_2<\cdots<b_{31}\leq2015$ and $a_1+a_2+\cdots+a_{31}=b_1+b_2+\cdots+b_{31}.$
Find the maximum value of $S=|a_1-b_1|+|a_2-b_2|+\cdots+|a_{31}-b_{31}|.$
1984 Putnam, B1
Let $n$ be a positive integer, and define $f(n)=1!+2!+\ldots+n!$. Find polynomials $P$ and $Q$ such that
$$f(n+2)=P(n)f(n+1)+Q(n)f(n)$$for all $n\ge1$.
1961 All-Soviet Union Olympiad, 1
Prove that for any three infinite sequences of natural numbers $(a_n)_{n\ge 1}$, $(b_n)_{n\ge 1}$, $(c_n)_{n\ge 1}$, there exist numbers $p$ and $q$ such that $a_p\ge a_q$, $b_p\ge b_q$ and $c_p\ge c_q$.
2014 Cezar Ivănescu, 1
For a sequence $ \left( x_n \right)_{n\ge 1} $ of real numbers that are at least $ 1, $ prove that the series $ \sum_{i=1}^{\infty } \frac{1}{x_i} $ converges if and only if the series $ \sum_{i=1}^{\infty } \frac{1}{1+x_i} $ converges if and only if the series $ \sum_{i=1}^{\infty } \frac{1}{\lfloor x_i\rfloor } $ converges.
2024 District Olympiad, P2
Let $k\geqslant 2$ be an integer. Consider the sequence $(x_n)_{n\geqslant 1}$ defined by $x_1=a>0$ and $x_{n+1}=x_n+\lfloor k/x_n\rfloor$ for $n\geqslant 1.$ Prove that the sequence is convergent and determine its limit.
2019 District Olympiad, 1
Let $(a_n)_{n \ge 1}$ be a sequence of positive real numbers such that the sequence $(a_{n+1}-a_n)_{n \ge 1}$ is convergent to a non-zero real number. Evaluate the limit $$ \lim_{n \to \infty} \left( \frac{a_{n+1}}{a_n} \right)^n.$$
2016 Taiwan TST Round 1, 1
Determine all positive integers $M$ such that the sequence $a_0, a_1, a_2, \cdots$ defined by \[ a_0 = M + \frac{1}{2} \qquad \textrm{and} \qquad a_{k+1} = a_k\lfloor a_k \rfloor \quad \textrm{for} \, k = 0, 1, 2, \cdots \] contains at least one integer term.
1947 Putnam, A5
Let $a_1 , b_1 , c_1$ be positive real numbers whose sum is $1,$ and for $n=1, 2, \ldots$ we define
$$a_{n+1}= a_{n}^{2} +2 b_n c_n, \;\;\;b_{n+1}= b_{n}^{2} +2 a_n c_n, \;\;\; c_{n+1}= c_{n}^{2} +2 a_n b_n.$$
Show that $a_n , b_n ,c_n$ approach limits as $n\to \infty$ and find those limits.
2011 Laurențiu Duican, 4
[b]a)[/b] Provide an example of a sequence $ \left( a_n \right)_{n\ge 1} $ of positive real numbers whose series converges, and has the property that each member (sequence) of the family of sequences $ \left(\left( n^{\alpha } a_n \right)_{n\ge 1}\right)_{\alpha >0} $ is unbounded.
[b]b)[/b] Let $ \left( b_n \right)_{n\ge 1} $ be a sequence of positive real numbers, having the property that
$$ nb_{n+1}\leqslant b_1+b_2+\cdots +b_n, $$
for any natural number $ n. $ Prove that the following relations are equivalent:
$\text{(i)} $ there exists a convergent member (series) of the family of series $ \left( \sum_{i=1}^{\infty } b_i^{\beta } \right)_{\beta >0} $
$ \text{(ii)} $ there exists a member (sequence) of the family of sequences $ \left(\left( n^{\beta } b_n \right)_{n\ge 1}\right)_{\beta >0} $ that is convergent to $ 0. $
[i]Eugen Păltănea[/i]
2025 AIME, 13
Let the sequence of rationals $x_1,x_2,\dots$ be defined such that $x_1=\frac{25}{11}$ and
\[x_{k+1}=\frac{1}{3}\left(x_k+\frac{1}{x_k}-1\right).\]
$x_{2025}$ can be expressed as $\frac{m}{n}$ for relatively prime positive integers $m$ and $n$. Find the remainder when $m+n$ is divided by $1000$.
2005 VJIMC, Problem 4
Let $(x_n)_{n\ge2}$ be a sequence of real numbers such that $x_2>0$ and $x_{n+1}=-1+\sqrt[n]{1+nx_n}$ for $n\ge2$. Find
(a) $\lim_{n\to\infty}x_n$,
(b) $\lim_{n\to\infty}nx_n$.
2012 USA TSTST, 1
Find all infinite sequences $a_1, a_2, \ldots$ of positive integers satisfying the following properties:
(a) $a_1 < a_2 < a_3 < \cdots$,
(b) there are no positive integers $i$, $j$, $k$, not necessarily distinct, such that $a_i+a_j=a_k$,
(c) there are infinitely many $k$ such that $a_k = 2k-1$.
2011 Bogdan Stan, 3
Let be a sequence of real numbers $ \left( x_n \right)_{n\ge 1} $ chosen such that the limit of the sequence $ \left(
x_{n+2011}-x_n \right)_{n\ge 1} $ exists. Calculate $ \lim_{n\to\infty } \frac{x_n}{n} . $
[i]Cosmin Nițu[/i]
2006 Petru Moroșan-Trident, 2
Study the convergence of the sequence
$$ \left( \sum_{k=2}^{n+1} \sqrt[k]{n+1} -\sum_{k=2}^{n} \sqrt[k]{n} \right)_{n\ge 2} , $$
and calculate its limit.
[i]Dan Negulescu[/i]
2004 Gheorghe Vranceanu, 1
Find all infinite sequences of real numbers $ \left( a_n \right)_{n\ge 1} $ that verify, for any natural number $ n, $ the inequalities
$$ \frac{1}{2\sqrt{a_{n+1}}} <\sqrt{n+1} -\sqrt{n} <\frac{1}{ 2\sqrt{a_n}} . $$
2004 Unirea, 3
[b]a)[/b] Prove that for any natural numbers $ n, $ the inequality
$$ e^{2-1/n} >\prod_{k=1}^n (1+1/k^2) $$
holds.
[b]b)[/b] Prove that the sequence $ \left( a_n \right)_{n\ge 1} $ with $ a_1=1 $ and defined by the recursive relation $ a_{n+1}=\frac{2}{n^2}\sum_{k=1}^n ka_k $ is nondecreasing. Is it convergent?
2020 Jozsef Wildt International Math Competition, W53
Define the sequence $(w_n)_{n\ge0}$ by the recurrence relation
$$w_{n+2}=2w_{n+1}+3w_n,\enspace\enspace w_0=1,w_1=i,\enspace n=0,1,\ldots$$
(1) Find the general formula for $w_n$ and compute the first $9$ terms.
(2) Show that $|\Re w_n-\Im w_n|=1$ for all $n\ge1$.
[i]Proposed by Ovidiu Bagdasar[/i]
2015 IMC, 3
Let $F(0)=0$, $F(1)=\frac32$, and $F(n)=\frac{5}{2}F(n-1)-F(n-2)$
for $n\ge2$.
Determine whether or not $\displaystyle{\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\,
\frac{1}{F(2^n)}}$ is a rational number.
(Proposed by Gerhard Woeginger, Eindhoven University of Technology)
2019 Jozsef Wildt International Math Competition, W. 57
Let be $x_1=\frac{1}{\sqrt[n+1]{n!}}$ and $x_2=\frac{1}{\sqrt[n+1]{(n-1)!}}$ for all $n\in \mathbb{N}^*$ and $f:\left(\left .\frac{1}{\sqrt[n+1]{(n+1)!}},1\right.\right] \to \mathbb{R}$ where $$f(x)=\frac{n+1}{x\ln (n+1)!+(n+1)\ln \left(x^x\right)}$$Prove that the sequence $(a_n)_{n\geq1}$ when $a_n=\int \limits_{x_1}^{x_2}f(x)dx$ is convergent and compute $$\lim \limits_{n \to \infty}a_n$$