Found problems: 150
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 $0 < b_1 < a_1 < b_2 < a_2 < ... < b_n < a_n$.
If $ a$, $ b$, $ c$, and $ d$ are positive real numbers such that $ a$, $ b$, $ c$, $ d$ form an increasing arithmetic sequence and $ a$, $ b$, $ d$ form a geometric sequence, then $ \frac{a}{d}$ is
$ \textbf{(A)}\ \frac{1}{12} \qquad
\textbf{(B)}\ \frac{1}{6} \qquad
\textbf{(C)}\ \frac{1}{4} \qquad
\textbf{(D)}\ \frac{1}{3} \qquad
\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{1}{2}$
If $a_1,a_2,a_3,\dots$ is a sequence of positive numbers such that $a_{n+2}=a_na_{n+1}$ for all positive integers $n$, then the sequence $a_1,a_2,a_3,\dots$ is a geometric progression
$\textbf{(A) }\text{for all positive values of }a_1\text{ and }a_2\qquad$
$\textbf{(B) }\text{if and only if }a_1=a_2\qquad$
$\textbf{(C) }\text{if and only if }a_1=1\qquad$
$\textbf{(D) }\text{if and only if }a_2=1\qquad $
$\textbf{(E) }\text{if and only if }a_1=a_2=1$
Five distinct $2$-digit numbers are in a geometric progression. Find the middle term.
Alice, Bob, and Carol repeatedly take turns tossing a die. Alice begins; Bob always follows Alice; Carol always follows Bob; and Alice always follows Carol. Find the probability that Carol will be the first one to toss a six. (The probability of obtaining a six on any toss is $ \frac{1}{6}$, independent of the outcome of any other toss.)
$ \textbf{(A)}\ \frac{1}{3}\qquad
\textbf{(B)}\ \frac{2}{9}\qquad
\textbf{(C)}\ \frac{5}{18}\qquad
\textbf{(D)}\ \frac{25}{91}\qquad
\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{36}{91}$
Let $a,b,c>0.$ If $\frac 1a,\frac 1b,\frac 1c$ are in arithmetic progression, and if $a^2+b^2,b^2+c^2,c^2+a^2$ are in geometric progression, show that $a=b=c.$
For an integer $n \geq 3$ we define the sequence $\alpha_1, \alpha_2, \ldots, \alpha_k$ as the sequence of exponents in the prime factorization of $n! = p_1^{\alpha_1}p_2^{\alpha_2} \ldots p_k^{\alpha_k}$, where $p_1 < p_2 < \ldots < p_k$ are primes. Determine all integers $n \geq 3$ for which $\alpha_1, \alpha_2, \ldots, \alpha_k$ is a geometric progression.
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 $r^1,r^2,\ldots,r^{\frac{1}{2}n(n-1)}$.
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.
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$
Given four weights in geometric progression and an equal arm balance, show how to find the heaviest weight using the balance only twice.
A geometric sequence $ (a_n)$ has $ a_1\equal{}\sin{x}, a_2\equal{}\cos{x},$ and $ a_3\equal{}\tan{x}$ for some real number $ x$. For what value of $ n$ does $ a_n\equal{}1\plus{}\cos{x}$?
$ \textbf{(A)}\ 4 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 5 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 6 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 7 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 8$
For an integer $m\geq 4,$ let $T_{m}$ denote the number of sequences $a_{1},\dots,a_{m}$ such that the following conditions hold:
(1) For all $i=1,2,\dots,m$ we have $a_{i}\in \{1,2,3,4\}$
(2) $a_{1} = a_{m} = 1$ and $a_{2}\neq 1$
(3) For all $i=3,4\cdots, m, a_{i}\neq a_{i-1}, a_{i}\neq a_{i-2}.$
Prove that there exists a geometric sequence of positive integers $\{g_{n}\}$ such that for $n\geq 4$ we have that \[ g_{n} - 2\sqrt{g_{n}} < T_{n} < g_{n} + 2\sqrt{g_{n}}.\]
In an increasing sequence of four positive integers, the first three terms form an arithmetic progression, the last three terms form a geometric progression, and the first and fourth terms differ by 30. Find the sum of the four terms.
Prove: if an infinte arithmetic sequence ($ a_n\equal{}a_0\plus{}nd$) of positive real numbers contains two different powers of an integer $ a>1$, then the sequence contains an infinite geometric sequence ($ b_n\equal{}b_0q^n$) of real numbers.
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
$$
a_0x^2+a_1x+a_2=b_0x^2+b_1x+b_2=0
$$
There are two positive numbers that may be inserted between $3$ and $9$ such that the first three are in geometric progression while the last three are in arithmetic progression. The sum of those two positive numbers is
$\textbf{(A) }13\textstyle\frac{1}{2}\qquad\textbf{(B) }11\frac{1}{4}\qquad\textbf{(C) }10\frac{1}{2}\qquad\textbf{(D) }10\qquad \textbf{(E) }9\frac{1}{2}$
Sines of three acute angles form an arithmetic progression, while the cosines of these angles form a geometric progression. Prove that all three angles are equal.
The cubic equation $x^3+2x-1=0$ has exactly one real root $r$. Note that $0.4<r<0.5$.
(a) Find, with proof, an increasing sequence of positive integers $a_1 < a_2 < a_3 < \cdots$ such that
\[\frac{1}{2}=r^{a_1}+r^{a_2}+r^{a_3}+\cdots.\]
(b) Prove that the sequence that you found in part (a) is the unique increasing sequence with the above property.
Let $n$ be a positive integer. Determine the smallest possible value of $1-n+n^2-n^3+\dots+n^{1000}$.
[i]Proposed by Evan Chen[/i]
From an infinite arithmetic progression $ 1,a_1,a_2,\dots$ of real numbers some terms are deleted, obtaining an infinite geometric progression $ 1,b_1,b_2,\dots$ whose ratio is $ q$. Find all the possible values of $ q$.
Consider a circle $O_1$ with radius $R$ and a point $A$ outside the circle. It is known that $\angle BAC=60^\circ$, where $AB$ and $AC$ are tangent to $O_1$. We construct infinitely many circles $O_i$ $(i=1,2,\dots\>)$ such that for $i>1$, $O_i$ is tangent to $O_{i-1}$ and $O_{i+1}$, that they share the same tangent lines $AB$ and $AC$ with respect to $A$, and that none of the $O_i$ are larger than $O_1$. Find the total area of these circles.
I know this problem was easy, but it still appeared in the TST, and so I posted it. It was kind of a disappointment for me.
Two real number sequences are guiven, one arithmetic $\left(a_n\right)_{n\in \mathbb {N}}$ and another geometric sequence $\left(g_n\right)_{n\in \mathbb {N}}$ none of them constant. Those sequences verifies $a_1=g_1\neq 0$, $a_2=g_2$ and $a_{10}=g_3$. Find with proof that, for every positive integer $p$, there is a positive integer $m$, such that $g_p=a_m$.
Let $\{a_n\}_{n\geq 1}$ be an arithmetic sequence and $\{g_n\}_{n\geq 1}$ be a geometric sequence such that the first four terms of $\{a_n+g_n\}$ are $0$, $0$, $1$, and $0$, in that order. What is the $10$th term of $\{a_n+g_n\}$?
Let $a_1$, $a_2$, $\ldots$, $a_n$ be a geometric progression with $a_1 = \sqrt{2}$ and $a_2 = \sqrt[3]{3}$. What is \[\displaystyle{\frac{a_1+a_{2013}}{a_7+a_{2019}}}?\]