Found problems: 307
2020 Australian Maths Olympiad, 4
Define the sequence $A_1, A_2, A_3, \dots$ by $A_1 = 1$ and for $n=1,2,3,\dots$
$$A_{n+1}=\frac{A_n+2}{A_n +1}.$$
Define the sequences $B_1, B_2, B_3,\dots$ by $B_1=1$ and for $n=1,2,3,\dots$
$$B_{n+1}=\frac{B_n^2 +2}{2B_n}.$$
Prove that $B_{n+1}=A_{2^n}$ for all non-negative integers $n$.
2024 IMC, 8
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
\[\frac{1+\sqrt{3}}{2} \le \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{x_n}{2^n} \le \frac{3}{2}.\]
1966 Dutch Mathematical Olympiad, 2
For all $n$, $t_{n+1} = 2(t_n)^2 - 1$. Prove that gcd $(t_n,t_m) = 1$ if $n \ne m$.
1998 Belarusian National Olympiad, 5
Is there an infinite sequence of positive real numbers $x_1,x_2,...,x_n$ satisfying for all $n\ge 1$ the relation $x_{n+2}= \sqrt{x_{n+1}}-\sqrt{x_n}$?
2004 VTRMC, Problem 2
A sequence of integers $\{f(n)\}$ for $n=0,1,2,\ldots$ is defined as follows: $f(0)=0$ and for $n>0$,
$$\begin{matrix}f(n)=&f(n-1)+3,&\text{if }n=0\text{ or }1\pmod6,\\&f(n-1)+1,&\text{if }n=2\text{ or }5\pmod6,\\&f(n-1)+2,&\text{if }n=3\text{ or }4\pmod6.\end{matrix}$$Derive an explicit formula for $f(n)$ when $n\equiv0\pmod6$, showing all necessary details in your derivation.
1981 Austrian-Polish Competition, 6
The sequences $(x_n), (y_n), (z_n)$ are given by $x_{n+1}=y_n +\frac{1}{x_n}$,$ y_{n+1}=z_n +\frac{1}{y_n}$,$z_{n+1}=x_n +\frac{1}{z_n} $ for $n \ge 0$ where $x_0,y_0, z_0$ are given positive numbers. Prove that these sequences are unbounded.
2001 IMO Shortlist, 5
Find all positive integers $a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_n$ such that
\[
\frac{99}{100} = \frac{a_0}{a_1} + \frac{a_1}{a_2} + \cdots +
\frac{a_{n-1}}{a_n},
\]
where $a_0 = 1$ and $(a_{k+1}-1)a_{k-1} \geq a_k^2(a_k - 1)$ for $k = 1,2,\ldots,n-1$.
1976 IMO Longlists, 13
A sequence $(u_{n})$ is defined by \[ u_{0}=2 \quad u_{1}=\frac{5}{2}, u_{n+1}=u_{n}(u_{n-1}^{2}-2)-u_{1} \quad \textnormal{for } n=1,\ldots \] Prove that for any positive integer $n$ we have \[ [u_{n}]=2^{\frac{(2^{n}-(-1)^{n})}{3}} \](where $[x]$ denotes the smallest integer $\leq x)$
1985 IMO Shortlist, 12
A sequence of polynomials $P_m(x, y, z), m = 0, 1, 2, \cdots$, in $x, y$, and $z$ is defined by $P_0(x, y, z) = 1$ and by
\[P_m(x, y, z) = (x + z)(y + z)P_{m-1}(x, y, z + 1) - z^2P_{m-1}(x, y, z)\]
for $m > 0$. Prove that each $P_m(x, y, z)$ is symmetric, in other words, is unaltered by any permutation of $x, y, z.$
1976 IMO, 3
A sequence $(u_{n})$ is defined by \[ u_{0}=2 \quad u_{1}=\frac{5}{2}, u_{n+1}=u_{n}(u_{n-1}^{2}-2)-u_{1} \quad \textnormal{for } n=1,\ldots \] Prove that for any positive integer $n$ we have \[ [u_{n}]=2^{\frac{(2^{n}-(-1)^{n})}{3}} \](where $[x]$ denotes the smallest integer $\leq x)$
1987 IMO Longlists, 19
How many words with $n$ digits can be formed from the alphabet $\{0, 1, 2, 3, 4\}$, if neighboring digits must differ by exactly one?
[i]Proposed by Germany, FR.[/i]
1990 IMO Longlists, 37
An eccentric mathematician has a ladder with $ n$ rungs that he always ascends and descends in the following way: When he ascends, each step he takes covers $ a$ rungs of the ladder, and when he descends, each step he takes covers $ b$ rungs of the ladder, where $ a$ and $ b$ are fixed positive integers. By a sequence of ascending and descending steps he can climb from ground level to the top rung of the ladder and come back down to ground level again. Find, with proof, the minimum value of $ n,$ expressed in terms of $ a$ and $ b.$
2020 Dutch Mathematical Olympiad, 2
For a given value $t$, we consider number sequences $a_1, a_2, a_3,...$ such that $a_{n+1} =\frac{a_n + t}{a_n + 1}$ for all $n \ge 1$.
(a) Suppose that $t = 2$. Determine all starting values $a_1 > 0$ such that $\frac43 \le a_n \le \frac32$ holds for all $n \ge 2$.
(b) Suppose that $t = -3$. Investigate whether $a_{2020} = a_1$ for all starting values $a_1$ different from $-1$ and $1$.
1992 IMO Longlists, 32
Let $S_n = \{1, 2,\cdots, n\}$ and $f_n : S_n \to S_n$ be defined inductively as follows: $f_1(1) = 1, f_n(2j) = j \ (j = 1, 2, \cdots , [n/2])$ and
[list]
[*][b][i](i)[/i][/b] if $n = 2k \ (k \geq 1)$, then $f_n(2j - 1) = f_k(j) + k \ (j = 1, 2, \cdots, k);$
[*][b][i](ii)[/i][/b] if $n = 2k + 1 \ (k \geq 1)$, then $f_n(2k + 1) = k + f_{k+1}(1), f_n(2j - 1) = k + f_{k+1}(j + 1) \ (j = 1, 2,\cdots , k).$[/list]
Prove that $f_n(x) = x$ if and only if $x$ is an integer of the form
\[\frac{(2n + 1)(2^d - 1)}{2^{d+1} - 1}\]
for some positive integer $d.$
2003 Czech And Slovak Olympiad III A, 3
A sequence $(x_n)_{n= 1}^{\infty}$ satisfies $x_1 = 1$ and for each $n > 1, x_n = \pm (n-1)x_{n-1} \pm (n-2)x_{n-2} \pm ... \pm 2x_2 \pm x_1$. Prove that the signs ” $\pm$” can be chosen so that $x_n \ne 12$ holds only for finitely many $n$.
1979 IMO, 3
Let $A$ and $E$ be opposite vertices of an octagon. A frog starts at vertex $A.$ From any vertex except $E$ it jumps to one of the two adjacent vertices. When it reaches $E$ it stops. Let $a_n$ be the number of distinct paths of exactly $n$ jumps ending at $E$. Prove that: \[ a_{2n-1}=0, \quad a_{2n}={(2+\sqrt2)^{n-1} - (2-\sqrt2)^{n-1} \over\sqrt2}. \]
1984 IMO Longlists, 14
Let $c$ be a positive integer. The sequence $\{f_n\}$ is defined as follows:
\[f_1 = 1, f_2 = c, f_{n+1} = 2f_n - f_{n-1} + 2 \quad (n \geq 2).\]
Show that for each $k \in \mathbb N$ there exists $r \in \mathbb N$ such that $f_kf_{k+1}= f_r.$
1989 ITAMO, 6
Given a real number $\alpha$, a function $f$ is defined on pairs of nonnegative integers by
$f(0,0) = 1, f(m,0) = f(0,m) = 0$ for $m > 0$,
$f(m,n) = \alpha f(m,n-1)+(1- \alpha)f(m -1,n-1)$ for $m,n > 0$.
Find the values of $\alpha$ such that $| f(m,n)| < 1989$ holds for any integers $m,n \ge 0$.
2014 Costa Rica - Final Round, 5
Let $f : N\to N$ such that $$f(1) = 0\,\, , \,\,f(3n) = 2f(n) + 2\,\, , \,\,f(3n-1) = 2f(n) + 1\,\, , \,\,f(3n-2) = 2f(n).$$ Determine the smallest value of $n$ so that $f (n) = 2014.$
1976 IMO Longlists, 3
Let $a_0, a_1, \ldots, a_n, a_{n+1}$ be a sequence of real numbers satisfying the following conditions:
\[a_0 = a_{n+1 }= 0,\]\[ |a_{k-1} - 2a_k + a_{k+1}| \leq 1 \quad (k = 1, 2,\ldots , n).\]
Prove that $|a_k| \leq \frac{k(n+1-k)}{2} \quad (k = 0, 1,\ldots ,n + 1).$
1991 Romania Team Selection Test, 2
The sequence ($a_n$) is defined by $a_1 = a_2 = 1$ and $a_{n+2 }= a_{n+1} +a_n +k$, where $k$ is a positive integer.
Find the least $k$ for which $a_{1991}$ and $1991$ are not coprime.
1985 IMO Shortlist, 6
Let $x_n = \sqrt[2]{2+\sqrt[3]{3+\cdots+\sqrt[n]{n}}}.$ Prove that
\[x_{n+1}-x_n <\frac{1}{n!} \quad n=2,3,\cdots\]
1953 Moscow Mathematical Olympiad, 257
Let $x_0 = 10^9$, $x_n = \frac{x^2_{n-1}+2}{2x_{n-1}}$ for $n > 0$. Prove that $0 < x_{36} - \sqrt2 < 10^{-9}$.
2011 China Northern MO, 1
It is known that the general term $\{a_n\}$ of the sequence is $a_n =(\sqrt3 +\sqrt2)^{2n}$ ($n \in N*$), let $b_n= a_n +\frac{1}{a_n}$ .
(1) Find the recurrence relation between $b_{n+2}$, $b_{n+1}$, $b_n$.
(2) Find the unit digit of the integer part of $a_{2011}$.
1969 IMO Longlists, 28
$(GBR 5)$ Let us define $u_0 = 0, u_1 = 1$ and for $n\ge 0, u_{n+2} = au_{n+1}+bu_n, a$ and $b$ being positive integers. Express $u_n$ as a polynomial in $a$ and $b.$ Prove the result. Given that $b$ is prime, prove that $b$ divides $a(u_b -1).$