Olympiad problems

1987 Yugoslav Team Selection Test, Problem 1

Let $x_0=a,x_1=b$ and $x_{n+1}=2x_n-9x_{n-1}$ for each $n\in\mathbb N$, where $a,b$ are integers. Find the necessary and sufficient condition on $a$ and $b$ for the existence of an $x_n$ which is a multiple of $7$.

2000 Saint Petersburg Mathematical Olympiad, 11.3

Tags: combinatorics , Sequences , Enumerative Combinatorics , number of ways

Every month a forester Ermolay has planted 2000 trees along a fence. On every tree, he has written how many oaks there are among itself and trees at his right and left. This way a sequence of 2000 numbers was created. How many distinct sequences could the forester Ermolay get? (oak is a certain type of tree) [I]Proposed by A. Khrabrov, D.Rostovski[/i]

1996 Yugoslav Team Selection Test, Problem 3

Tags: number theory , Sequences

The sequence $\{x_n\}$ is given by $$x_n=\frac14\left(\left(2+\sqrt3\right)^{2n-1}+\left(2-\sqrt3\right)^{2n-1}\right),\qquad n\in\mathbb N.$$Prove that each $x_n$ is equal to the sum of squares of two consecutive integers.

2011 VJIMC, Problem 2

Tags: limits , Sequences

Let $(a_n)^\infty_{n=1}$ be an unbounded and strictly increasing sequence of positive reals such that the arithmetic mean of any four consecutive terms $a_n,a_{n+1},a_{n+2},a_{n+3}$ belongs to the same sequence. Prove that the sequence $\frac{a_{n+1}}{a_n}$ converges and find all possible values of its limit.

2019 Jozsef Wildt International Math Competition, W. 43

Tags: limit , integration , Sequences , polynomial , algebra

Consider the sequence of polynomials $P_0(x) = 2$, $P_1(x) = x$ and $P_n(x) = xP_{n-1}(x) - P_{n-2}(x)$ for $n \geq 2$. Let $x_n$ be the greatest zero of $P_n$ in the the interval $|x| \leq 2$. Show that $$\lim \limits_{n \to \infty}n^2\left(4-2\pi +n^2\int \limits_{x_n}^2P_n(x)dx\right)=2\pi - 4-\frac{\pi^3}{12}$$

1953 Miklós Schweitzer, 1

Tags: Sequences

[b]1.[/b] Let $a_{v} $ and $b_{v} $, ${v= 1,2,\dots,n} $, be real numbers such that $a_{1}\geq a_{2} \geq a_{3}\geq\dots\geq a_{n}> 0 $ and $b_{1}\geq a_{1}, b_{1}b_{2}\geq a_{1}a_{2},\dots,b_{1}b_{2}\dots b_{n}\geq a_{1}a_{2}\dots a_{n} $ Show that $b_{1}+b_{2}+\dots+b_{n}\geq a_{1}+a_{2}+\dots+a_{n} $ [b](S. 4)[/b]

2019 IMC, 4

Tags: IMC , recurrence relation , Sequences , Sequence , college contests , generating functions

Let $(n+3)a_{n+2}=(6n+9)a_{n+1}-na_n$ and $a_0=1$ and $a_1=2$ prove that all the terms of the sequence are integers

2021 Romanian Master of Mathematics Shortlist, A4

Tags: analysis , RMM Shortlist , Sequences , Convergence , algebra

Let $f: \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ be a non-decreasing function such that $f(y) - f(x) < y - x$ for all real numbers $x$ and $y > x$. The sequence $u_1,u_2,\ldots$ of real numbers is such that $u_{n+2} = f(u_{n+1}) - f(u_n)$ for all $n\geq 1$. Prove that for any $\varepsilon > 0$ there exists a positive integer $N$ such that $|u_n| < \varepsilon$ for all $n\geq N$.

2019 Jozsef Wildt International Math Competition, W. 18

Tags: limit , Sequences

Let $\{c_k\}_{k\geq1}$ be a sequence with $0 \leq c_k \leq 1$, $c_1 \neq 0$, $\alpha > 1$. Let $C_n = c_1 + \cdots + c_n$. Prove $$\lim \limits_{n \to \infty}\frac{C_1^{\alpha}+\cdots+C_n^{\alpha}}{\left(C_1+\cdots +C_n\right)^{\alpha}}=0$$

2019 Jozsef Wildt International Math Competition, W. 32

Tags: Summation , Sequences , inequalities

Let $u_k$, $v_k$, $a_k$ and $b_k$ be non-negative real sequences such as $u_k > a_k$ and $v_k > b_k$, where $k = 1, 2,\cdots , n$. If $0 < m_1 \leq u_k \leq M_1$ and $0 < m_2 \leq v_k \leq M_2$, then $$\sum \limits_{k=1}^n(lu_kv_k-a_kb_k)\geq \left(\sum \limits_{k=1}^n\left(u_k^2-a_k^2\right)\right)^\frac{1}{2}\left(\sum \limits_{k=1}^n\left(v_k^2-b_k^2\right)\right)^\frac{1}{2}$$where$$l=\frac{M_1M_2+m_1m_2}{2\sqrt{m_1M_1m_2M_2}}$$

2010 Laurențiu Panaitopol, Tulcea, 1

Tags: Sequences , limits , real analysis , Weierstrass , Nested Radicals

Show that if $ \left( s_n \right)_{n\ge 0} $ is a sequence that tends to $ 6, $ then, the sequence $$ \left( \sqrt[3]{s_n+\sqrt[3]{s_{n-1}+\sqrt[3]{s_{n-2}+\sqrt[3]{\cdots +\sqrt[3]{s_0}}}}} \right)_{n\ge 0} $$ tends to $ 2. $ [i]Mihai Bălună[/i]

2024 IMC, 8

Tags: recurrence relation , Sequences , limit

Define the sequence $x_1,x_2,\dots$ by the initial terms $x_1=2, x_2=4$, and the recurrence relation \[x_{n+2}=3x_{n+1}-2x_n+\frac{2^n}{x_n} \quad \text{for} \quad n \ge 1.\] Prove that $\lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{x_n}{2^n}$ exists and satisfies \[\frac{1+\sqrt{3}}{2} \le \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{x_n}{2^n} \le \frac{3}{2}.\]

2011 N.N. Mihăileanu Individual, 4

Tags: real analysis , Sequences , limits

[b]a)[/b] Prove that there exists an unique sequence of real numbers $ \left( x_n \right)_{n\ge 1} $ satisfying $$ -\text{ctg} x_n=x_n\in\left( (2n+1)\pi /2,(n+1)\pi \right) , $$ for any nonnegative integer $ n. $ [b]b)[/b] Show that $ \lim_{n\to\infty } \left( \frac{x_n}{(n+1)\pi } \right)^{n^2} =e^{-1/\pi^2} . $ [i]Cătălin Zârnă[/i]

2005 AMC 12/AHSME, 10

Tags: modular arithmetic , algebra , AMC 10 , recursion , Sequences

The first term of a sequence is 2005. Each succeeding term is the sum of the cubes of the digits of the previous terms. What is the 2005th term of the sequence? $ \textbf{(A)}\ 29\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 55\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 85\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 133\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 250$

2003 VJIMC, Problem 3

Tags: limits , real analysis , Sequences

Let $\{a_n\}^\infty_{n=0}$ be the sequence of real numbers satisfying $a_0=0$, $a_1=1$ and $$a_{n+2}=a_{n+1}+\frac{a_n}{2^n}$$for every $n\ge0$. Prove that $$\lim_{n\to\infty}a_n=1+\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac1{2^{\frac{n(n-1)}2}\displaystyle\prod_{k=1}^n(2^k-1)}.$$

1999 Belarusian National Olympiad, 3

Tags: Sequences , algebra

A sequence of numbers $a_1,a_2,...,a_{1999}$ is given. In each move it is allowed to choose two of the numbers, say $a_m,a_n$, and replace them by the numbers $$\frac{a_n^2}{a_m^2}-\frac{n}{m}\left(\frac{a_m^2}{a_n}-a_m\right), \frac{a_m^2}{a_n^2}-\frac{m}{n}\left(\frac{a_n^2}{a_m}-a_n\right) $$ respectively. Starting with the sequence $a_i = 1$ for $20 \nmid i$ and $a_i =\frac{1}{5}$ for $20 \mid i$, is it possible to obtain a sequence whose all terms are integers?

1978 Romania Team Selection Test, 9

Tags: quadratics , algebra , Sequences , Periodic sequence

A sequence $ \left( x_n\right)_{n\ge 0} $ of real numbers satisfies $ x_0>1=x_{n+1}\left( x_n-\left\lfloor x_n\right\rfloor\right) , $ for each $ n\ge 1. $ Prove that if $ \left( x_n\right)_{n\ge 0} $ is periodic, then $ x_0 $ is a root of a quadratic equation. Study the converse.

2001 Miklós Schweitzer, 2

Tags: Miklos Schweitzer , Sequences , real analysis

Let $\alpha \leq -2$ be an integer. Prove that for every pair $(\beta_0, \beta_1)$ of integers there exists a uniquely determined sequence $0\leq q_0, \ldots, q_k<\alpha ^ 2 - \alpha$ of integers, such that $q_k\neq 0$ if $(\beta_0, \beta 1)\neq (0,0)$ and $$\beta_i=\sum_{j=0}^k q_j(\alpha - i)^j,\text{ for }i=0,1$$

2017 Puerto Rico Team Selection Test, 4

Tags: algebra , Sequences , Sequence

We define the sequences $a_n =\frac{n (n + 1)}{2}$ and $b_n = a_1 + a_2 +… + a_n$. Prove that there is no integer $n$ such that $b_n = 2017$.

2019 Teodor Topan, 3

Tags: Density , mod 1 , real analysis , Sequences , limits , Convergence , function

Let $ \left( c_n \right)_{n\ge 1} $ be a sequence of real numbers. Prove that the sequences $ \left( c_n\sin n \right)_{n\ge 1} ,\left( c_n\cos n \right)_{n\ge 1} $ are both convergent if and only if $ \left( c_n \right)_{n\ge 1} $ converges to $ 0. $ [i]Mihai Piticari[/i] and [i]Vladimir Cerbu[/i]

2024 Middle European Mathematical Olympiad, 4

Tags: combinatorics , combinatorics proposed , Sequence , Sequences , palindromes , Periodic sequence

A finite sequence $x_1,\dots,x_r$ of positive integers is a [i]palindrome[/i] if $x_i=x_{r+1-i}$ for all integers $1 \le i \le r$. Let $a_1,a_2,\dots$ be an infinite sequence of positive integers. For a positive integer $j \ge 2$, denote by $a[j]$ the finite subsequence $a_1,a_2,\dots,a_{j-1}$. Suppose that there exists a strictly increasing infinite sequence $b_1,b_2,\dots$ of positive integers such that for every positive integer $n$, the subsequence $a[b_n]$ is a palindrome and $b_{n+2} \le b_{n+1}+b_n$. Prove that there exists a positive integer $T$ such that $a_i=a_{i+T}$ for every positive integer $i$.

2019 Peru IMO TST, 4

Tags: Sequences , floor function , number theory

Let $k\geq 0$ an integer. The sequence $a_0,\ a_1,\ a_2, \ a_3, \ldots$ is defined as follows: [LIST] [*] $a_0=k$ [/*] [*] For $n\geq 1$, we have that $a_n$ is the smallest integer greater than $a_{n-1}$ so that $a_n+a_{n-1}$ is a perfect square. [/*] [/LIST] Prove that there are exactly $\left \lfloor{\sqrt{2k}} \right \rfloor$ positive integers that cannot be written as the difference of two elements of such a sequence. [i]Note.[/i] If $x$ is a real number, $\left \lfloor{x} \right \rfloor$ denotes the greatest integer smaller or equal than $x$.

2023 SEEMOUS, P2

Tags: real analysis , limit , Sequences , Seemous

For the sequence \[S_n=\frac{1}{\sqrt{n^2+1^2}}+\frac{1}{\sqrt{n^2+2^2}}+\cdots+\frac{1}{\sqrt{n^2+n^2}},\]find the limit \[\lim_{n\to\infty}n\left(n\cdot\left(\log(1+\sqrt{2})-S_n\right)-\frac{1}{2\sqrt{2}(1+\sqrt{2})}\right).\]

2006 Grigore Moisil Urziceni, 1

Tags: Sequences , limits

[b]a)[/b] $ \lim_{n\to\infty } \sum_{j=1}^n\frac{n}{n^2+n+j} =1 $ [b]b)[/b] $ \lim_{n\to\infty } \left( n- \sum_{j=1}^n\frac{n^2}{n^2+n+j} \right) =3/2 $ [i]Cristinel Mortici[/i]

2020 LIMIT Category 2, 20

Tags: Sequences , Countable , Convergence , calculus

Let $\{a_n \}_n$ be a sequence of real numbers such there there are countably infinite distinct subsequences converging to the same point. We call two subsequences distinct if they do not have a common term. Which of the following statements always holds: (A) $\{a_n \}_n$ is bounded (B) $\{a_n \}_n$ is unbounded (C) The set of convergent subsequence $\{a_n \}_n$ is countable (D) None of these