Olympiad problems

2007 Cuba MO, 8

For each positive integer $n$, let $S(n)$ be the sum of the digits of $n^2 +1$. A sequence $\{a_n\}$ is defined, with $a_0$ an arbitrary positive integer and $a_{n+1} = S(a_n)$. Prove that the sequence $\{a_n\}$ is eventually periodic with period three.

1964 German National Olympiad, 4

Tags: number theory , last digit , periodic , digit

Denote by $a_n$ the last digit of the number $n^{(n^n)}$ (let $n\ne 0$ be a natural number ). Prove that the numbers $a_n$ form a periodic sequence and state this period!

1989 Greece National Olympiad, 1

Tags: algebra , periodic function , periodic

Consider two functions $f , \,g \,:\mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ such that from some $a>0$ holds $g(x)=f(x+a)$ for any $x \in \mathbb{R}$. If $f$ is even and $g$ is odd, prove that both functions are periodic.

2015 Brazil Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: function , odd , even , periodic , algebra

Let's call a function $f : R \to R$ [i]cool[/i] if there are real numbers $a$ and $b$ such that $f(x + a)$ is an even function and $f(x + b)$ is an odd function. (a) Prove that every cool function is periodic. (b) Give an example of a periodic function that is not cool.

2008 District Olympiad, 2

Tags: real analysis , periodic , analysis , integral , primitive , function

Let $ f:\mathbb{R}\longrightarrow\mathbb{R} $ be a countinuous and periodic function, of period $ T. $ If $ F $ is a primitive of $ f, $ show that: [b]a)[/b] the function $ G:\mathbb{R}\longrightarrow\mathbb{R}, G(x)=F(x)-\frac{x}{T}\int_0^T f(t)dt $ is periodic. [b]b)[/b] $ \lim_{n\to\infty}\sum_{i=1}^n\frac{F(i)}{n^2+i^2} =\frac{\ln 2}{2T}\int_0^T f(x)dx. $

1989 Bundeswettbewerb Mathematik, 1

Tags: rational , decimal representation , periodic , number theory

For a given positive integer $n$, let $f(x) =x^{n}$. Is it possible for the decimal number $$0.f(1)f(2)f(3)\ldots$$ to be rational? (Example: for $n=2$, we are considering $0.1491625\ldots$)

1998 Switzerland Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: functional , periodic , function , algebra

A function $f : R -\{0\} \to R$ has the following properties: (i) $f(x)- f(y) = f(x)f\left(\frac{1}{y}\right)- f(y)f\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)$ for all $x,y \ne 0$, (ii) $f$ takes the value $\frac12$ at least once. Determine $f(-1)$. Prove that $f$ is a periodic function

2025 Bulgarian Spring Mathematical Competition, 12.2

Tags: algebra , periodic

Determine all values of $a_0$ for which the sequence of real numbers with $a_{n+1}=3a_n - 4a_n^3$ for all $n\geq 0$ is periodic from the beginning.

I Soros Olympiad 1994-95 (Rus + Ukr), 11.8

Tags: polynomial , algebra , periodic

A polynomial with rational coefficients is called [i]integer[/i], if it takes integer values for all integer values of the variable. For an integer polynomial $P$, consider the sequence $(-1)^{P(1)},(-1)^{P(2)},(-1)^{P(3)},...$ a) Prove that this sequence is periodic, the period of which is some power of two (i.e. for some integer $k$ and for all natural $i$, the $i$-th and ($i+2^k$)th members of the sequence are equal). b) Prove that for any periodic sequence consisting of $(- 1)$ and $ 1$ and with a period of some power of two, there exists a integer, polynomial P for which this sequence is $(-1)^{P(1)},(-1)^{P(2)},(-1)^{P(3)},...$

1994 Bulgaria National Olympiad, 5

Tags: number theory , periodic , remainder

Let $k$ be a positive integer and $r_n$ be the remainder when ${2 n} \choose {n}$ is divided by $k$. Find all $k$ for which the sequence $(r_n)_{n=1}^{\infty}$ is eventually periodic.

1994 Tournament Of Towns, (439) 5

Tags: algebra , periodic

The periods of two periodic sequences are coprime (i.e. relatively prime) numbers $m$ and $n$.. What is the maximal length of initial sections of the two sequences which can coincide? (The period $p$ of a sequence $a_1$,$a_2$, $...$ is the minimal $p$ such that $a_n = a_{n+p}$ for all $n$.) (AY Belov)

2000 Chile National Olympiad, 3

Tags: number theory , divide , divisible , periodic

A number $N_k$ is defined as [i]periodic[/i] if it is composed in number base $N$ of a repeated $k$ times . Prove that $7$ divides to infinite periodic numbers of the set $N_1, N_2, N_3,...$

1964 Putnam, A4

Tags: recurrence relation , periodic

Let $p_n$ be a bounded sequence of integers which satisfies the recursion $$p_n =\frac{p_{n-1} +p_{n-2} + p_{n-3}p _{n-4}}{p_{n-1} p_{n-2}+ p_{n-3} +p_{n-4}}.$$ Show that the sequence eventually becomes periodic.