Consider infinite sequences $\{x_n\}$ of positive reals such that $x_0=1$ and $x_0\ge x_1\ge x_2\ge\ldots$. [b]a)[/b] Prove that for every such sequence there is an $n\ge1$ such that: \[ {x_0^2\over x_1}+{x_1^2\over x_2}+\ldots+{x_{n-1}^2\over x_n}\ge3.999. \] [b]b)[/b] Find such a sequence such that for all $n$: \[ {x_0^2\over x_1}+{x_1^2\over x_2}+\ldots+{x_{n-1}^2\over x_n}<4. \]

Let $A$ be a finite set of positive reals, let $B = \{x/y\mid x,y\in A\}$ and let $C = \{xy\mid x,y\in A\}$. Show that $|A|\cdot|B|\le|C|^2$. [i](Proposed by Gerhard Woeginger, Austria)[/i]

Let $q$ be a real number. Suppose there are three distinct positive integers $a, b,c$ such that $q + a$, $q + b$,$q + c$ is a geometric progression. Show that $q$ is rational.

In a rectangular plot of land, a man walks in a very peculiar fashion. Labeling the corners $ABCD$, he starts at $A$ and walks to $C$. Then, he walks to the midpoint of side $AD$, say $A_1$. Then, he walks to the midpoint of side $CD$ say $C_1$, and then the midpoint of $A_1D$ which is $A_2$. He continues in this fashion, indefinitely. The total length of his path if $AB=5$ and $BC=12$ is of the form $a + b\sqrt{c}$. Find $\displaystyle\frac{abc}{4}$.

Find a triple $(l, m, n)$ of positive integers $(1<l<m<n)$, such that $\sum_{k=1}^{l}k, \sum_{k=l+1}^{m}k, \sum_{k=m+1}^{n}k$ form a geometric sequence in order.

Find all triples of three-digit positive integers $x < y < z$ with $x,y,z$ in arithmetic progression and $x, y, z + 1000$ in geometric progression. [i]For this problem, you may use calculators or computers to gain an intuition about how to solve the problem. However, your final submission should include mathematical derivations or proofs and should not be a solution by exhaustive search.[/i]

The first three terms of a geometric progression are $\sqrt{2}, \sqrt[3]{2}, \sqrt[6]{2}$. Find the fourth term. ${{ \textbf{(A)}\ 1 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \sqrt[7]{2} \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \sqrt[8]{2} \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \sqrt[9]{2} }\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \sqrt[10]{2} } $

Let be a matrix $ A\in\mathcal{M}_2(\mathbb{R}) $ having the property that the numbers $ \det (A+X) ,\det (A^2+X^2) ,\det (A^3+X^3) $ are (in this order) in geometric progression, for any matrix $ X\in\mathcal{M}_2(\mathbb{R}) . $ Prove that $ A=0. $ [i]Marius Ghergu[/i]

Suppose a circle passes through the feet of the symmedians of a non-isosceles triangle $ABC$ , and is tangent to one of the sides. Show that $a^2 +b^2, b^2 + c^2 , c^2 + a^2$ are in geometric progression when taken in some order

One day Jason finishes his math homework early, and decides to take a jog through his neighborhood. While jogging, Jason trips over a leprechaun. After dusting himself off and apologizing to the odd little magical creature, Jason, thinking there is nothing unusual about the situation, starts jogging again. Immediately the leprechaun calls out, "hey, stupid, this is your only chance to win gold from a leprechaun!" Jason, while not particularly greedy, recognizes the value of gold. Thinking about his limited college savings, Jason approaches the leprechaun and asks about the opportunity. The leprechaun hands Jason a fair coin and tells him to flip it as many times as it takes to flip a head. For each tail Jason flips, the leprechaun promises one gold coin. If Jason flips a head right away, he wins nothing. If he first flips a tail, then a head, he wins one gold coin. If he's lucky and flips ten tails before the first head, he wins $\textit{ten gold coins.}$ What is the expected number of gold coins Jason wins at this game? $\textbf{(A) }0\hspace{14em}\textbf{(B) }\dfrac1{10}\hspace{13.5em}\textbf{(C) }\dfrac18$ $\textbf{(D) }\dfrac15\hspace{13.8em}\textbf{(E) }\dfrac14\hspace{14em}\textbf{(F) }\dfrac13$ $\textbf{(G) }\dfrac25\hspace{13.7em}\textbf{(H) }\dfrac12\hspace{14em}\textbf{(I) }\dfrac35$ $\textbf{(J) }\dfrac23\hspace{14em}\textbf{(K) }\dfrac45\hspace{14em}\textbf{(L) }1$ $\textbf{(M) }\dfrac54\hspace{13.5em}\textbf{(N) }\dfrac43\hspace{14em}\textbf{(O) }\dfrac32$ $\textbf{(P) }2\hspace{14.1em}\textbf{(Q) }3\hspace{14.2em}\textbf{(R) }4$ $\textbf{(S) }2007$

Given two sequences of positive integers: the arithmetic sequence with difference $r > 0$ and the geometric sequence with ratio $q > 1$; $r$ and $q$ are coprime. Prove that if these sequences have one term in common, then they have them infinitely many.

Find all positive integers $n \geqslant 2$ for which there exist $n$ real numbers $a_1<\cdots<a_n$ and a real number $r>0$ such that the $\tfrac{1}{2}n(n-1)$ differences $a_j-a_i$ for $1 \leqslant i<j \leqslant n$ are equal, in some order, to the numbers $r^1,r^2,\ldots,r^{\frac{1}{2}n(n-1)}$.

Let the numbers $a_1,a_2,a_3,a_4$ form an arithmetic progression with difference $d\ne0$. Prove that there are no exists geometric progressions $b_1,b_2,b_3,b_4$ and $c_1,c_2,c_3,c_4$ such that: $$a_1=b_1+c_1,a_2=b_2+c_2,a_3=b_3+c_3,a_4=b_4+c_4.$$

Given a set of $4n$ positive numbers such that any distinct choice of ordered foursomes of these numbers constitutes a geometric progression. Prove that at least $4$ numbers of the set are identical.

A sequence of positive integers with $a_1=1$ and $a_9+a_{10}=646$ is formed so that the first three terms are in geometric progression, the second, third, and fourth terms are in arithmetic progression, and, in general, for all $n\ge1$, the terms $a_{2n-1}$, $a_{2n}$, $a_{2n+1}$ are in geometric progression, and the terms $a_{2n}$, $a_{2n+1}$, and $a_{2n+2}$ are in arithmetic progression. Let $a_n$ be the greatest term in this sequence that is less than 1000. Find $n+a_n$.

Let $P_0=(a_0,b_0),P_1=(a_1,b_1),P_2=(a_2,b_2)$ be points on the plane such that $P_0P_1P_2\Delta$ contains the origin $O$. Show that the areas of triangles $P_0OP_1,P_0OP_2,P_1OP_2$ form a geometric sequence in that order if and only if there exists a real number $x$, such that $$ a_0x^2+a_1x+a_2=b_0x^2+b_1x+b_2=0 $$

a) For integer $n \ge 3$, suppose that $0 < a_1 < a_2 < ...< a_n$ is a arithmetic sequence and $0 < b_1 < b_2 < ... < b_n$ is a geometric sequence with $a_1 = b_1, a_n = b_n$. Prove that a_k > b_k for all $k = 2,3,..., n -1$. b) Prove that for every positive integer $n \ge 3$, there exist an integer arithmetic sequence $(a_n)$ and an integer geometric sequence $(b_n)$ such that $0 < b_1 < a_1 < b_2 < a_2 < ... < b_n < a_n$.

Consider infinite sequences $\{x_n\}$ of positive reals such that $x_0=1$ and $x_0\ge x_1\ge x_2\ge\ldots$. [b]a)[/b] Prove that for every such sequence there is an $n\ge1$ such that: \[ {x_0^2\over x_1}+{x_1^2\over x_2}+\ldots+{x_{n-1}^2\over x_n}\ge3.999. \] [b]b)[/b] Find such a sequence such that for all $n$: \[ {x_0^2\over x_1}+{x_1^2\over x_2}+\ldots+{x_{n-1}^2\over x_n}<4. \]

Gizmo is thinking of a geometric sequence in which the third term is $1215$ and the fifth is $540$. Which of the following could be the eighth term of Gizmo's sequence? $\text{(A) }-160\qquad\text{(B) }-135.5\qquad\text{(C) }216\qquad\text{(D) }240\qquad\text{(E) }472.5$

Let $ABC$ be an isosceles triangle with $AB=4$, $BC=CA=6$. On the segment $AB$ consecutively lie points $X_{1},X_{2},X_{3},\ldots$ such that the lengths of the segments $AX_{1},X_{1}X_{2},X_{2}X_{3},\ldots$ form an infinite geometric progression with starting value $3$ and common ratio $\frac{1}{4}$. On the segment $CB$ consecutively lie points $Y_{1},Y_{2},Y_{3},\ldots$ such that the lengths of the segments $CY_{1},Y_{1}Y_{2},Y_{2}Y_{3},\ldots$ form an infinite geometric progression with starting value $3$ and common ratio $\frac{1}{2}$. On the segment $AC$ consecutively lie points $Z_{1},Z_{2},Z_{3},\ldots$ such that the lengths of the segments $AZ_{1},Z_{1}Z_{2},Z_{2}Z_{3},\ldots$ form an infinite geometric progression with starting value $3$ and common ratio $\frac{1}{2}$. Find all triplets of positive integers $(a,b,c)$ such that the segments $AY_{a}$, $BZ_{b}$ and $CX_{c}$ are concurrent.

$(a_i),(b_i)$ are nonconstant arithmetic and geometric progressions. $a_1=b_1,a_2/b_2=2,a_4/b_4=8$ Find $a_3/b_3$.

The second and fourth terms of a geometric sequence are $ 2$ and $ 6$. Which of the following is a possible first term? $ \textbf{(A)}\ \minus{}\!\sqrt3 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \minus{}\!\frac{2\sqrt3}{3} \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ \minus{}\!\frac{\sqrt3}{3} \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ \sqrt3 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 3$

Prove that for any integer $n$, $n\geq 3$, there exist $n$ positive integers $a_1,a_2,\ldots,a_n$ in arithmetic progression, and $n$ positive integers in geometric progression $b_1,b_2,\ldots,b_n$ such that \[ b_1 < a_1 < b_2 < a_2 <\cdots < b_n < a_n . \] Give an example of two such progressions having at least five terms. [i]Mihai Baluna[/i]

A line initially $ 1$ inch long grows according to the following law, where the first term is the initial length. \[ 1 \plus{} \frac {1}{4}\sqrt {2} \plus{} \frac {1}{4} \plus{} \frac {1}{16}\sqrt {2} \plus{} \frac {1}{16} \plus{} \frac {1}{64}\sqrt {2} \plus{} \frac {1}{64} \plus{} \cdots. \]If the growth process continues forever, the limit of the length of the line is: $ \textbf{(A)}\ \infty \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \frac {4}{3} \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \frac {8}{3} \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \frac {1}{3}(4 \plus{} \sqrt {2}) \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \frac {2}{3}(4 \plus{} \sqrt {2})$

Suppose $x$ is a positive real number such that $\{x\}, [x]$ and $x$ are in a geometric progression. Find the least positive integer $n$ such that $x^n > 100$. (Here $[x]$ denotes the integer part of $x$ and $\{x\} = x - [x]$.)