Olympiad problems

2019 Pan-African Shortlist, A1

Let $(a_n)_{n=0}^{\infty}$ be a sequence of real numbers defined as follows: [list] [*] $a_0 = 3$, $a_1 = 2$, and $a_2 = 12$; and [*] $2a_{n + 3} - a_{n + 2} - 8a_{n + 1} + 4a_n = 0$ for $n \geq 0$. [/list] Show that $a_n$ is always a strictly positive integer.

2020 China Second Round Olympiad, 3

Tags: recurrence relation , linear recurrence , number theory

Let $a_1=1,$ $a_2=2,$ $a_n=2a_{n-1}+a_{n-2},$ $n=3,4,\cdots.$ Prove that for any integer $n\geq5,$ $a_n$ has at least one prime factor $p,$ such that $p\equiv 1\pmod{4}.$

2015 Saudi Arabia GMO TST, 1

Tags: recurrence relation , sequence , floor function , algebra

Let be given the sequence $(x_n)$ defined by $x_1 = 1$ and $x_{n+1} = 3x_n + \lfloor x_n \sqrt5 \rfloor$ for all $n = 1,2,3,...,$ where $\lfloor x \rfloor$ denotes the greatest integer that does not exceed $x$. Prove that for any positive integer $n$ we have $$x_nx_{n+2} - x^2_{n+1} = 4^{n-1}$$ Trần Nam Dũng

1975 IMO Shortlist, 14

Tags: approximation , inequality , sequence , recurrence relation , integration , algebra

Let $x_0 = 5$ and $x_{n+1} = x_n + \frac{1}{x_n} \ (n = 0, 1, 2, \ldots )$. Prove that \[45 < x_{1000} < 45. 1.\]

1976 IMO Shortlist, 9

Tags: polynomial , chebyshev polynomial , root , recurrence relation , algebra

Let $P_{1}(x)=x^{2}-2$ and $P_{j}(x)=P_{1}(P_{j-1}(x))$ for j$=2,\ldots$ Prove that for any positive integer n the roots of the equation $P_{n}(x)=x$ are all real and distinct.

1998 Slovenia Team Selection Test, 6

Tags: sequence , recurrence relation , algebra

Let $a_0 = 1998$ and $a_{n+1} =\frac{a_n^2}{a_n +1}$ for each nonnegative integer $n$. Prove that $[a_n] = 1994- n$ for $0 \le n \le 1000$

1998 German National Olympiad, 5

Tags: sum , sequence , recurrence relation , algebra , inequalities

A sequence ($a_n$) is given by $a_0 = 0, a_1 = 1$ and $a_{k+2} = a_{k+1} +a_k$ for all integers $k \ge 0$. Prove that the inequality $\sum_{k=0}^n \frac{a_k}{2^k}< 2$ holds for all positive integers $n$.

1974 Swedish Mathematical Competition, 3

Tags: last digit , digit , number theory , recurrence relation

Let $a_1=1$, $a_2=2^{a_1}$, $a_3=3^{a_2}$, $a_4=4^{a_3}$, $\dots$, $a_9 = 9^{a_8}$. Find the last two digits of $a_9$.

1989 IMO Longlists, 55

Tags: recurrence relation , sequence , inequality , algebra

The set $ \{a_0, a_1, \ldots, a_n\}$ of real numbers satisfies the following conditions: [b](i)[/b] $ a_0 \equal{} a_n \equal{} 0,$ [b](ii)[/b] for $ 1 \leq k \leq n \minus{} 1,$ \[ a_k \equal{} c \plus{} \sum^{n\minus{}1}_{i\equal{}k} a_{i\minus{}k} \cdot \left(a_i \plus{} a_{i\plus{}1} \right)\] Prove that $ c \leq \frac{1}{4n}.$

1967 IMO, 6

Tags: recurrence relation , combinatorics , system of equations

In a sports meeting a total of $m$ medals were awarded over $n$ days. On the first day one medal and $\frac{1}{7}$ of the remaining medals were awarded. On the second day two medals and $\frac{1}{7}$ of the remaining medals were awarded, and so on. On the last day, the remaining $n$ medals were awarded. How many medals did the meeting last, and what was the total number of medals ?

2024 Regional Olympiad of Mexico West, 5

Tags: recurrence relation , number theory

Consider a sequence of positive integers $a_1,a_2,a_3,...$ such that $a_1>1$ and $$a_{n+1}=\frac{a_n}{p}+p,$$ where $p$ is the greatest prime factor of $a_n$. Prove that for any choice of $a_1$, the sequence $a_1,a_2,a_3,...$ has an infinite terms that are equal between them.

1996 Greece National Olympiad, 1

Tags: recurrence relation , algebra , geometric progression , sequence , geometric sequence

Let $a_n$ be a sequence of positive numbers such that: i) $\dfrac{a_{n+2}}{a_n}=\dfrac{1}{4}$, for every $n\in\mathbb{N}^{\star}$ ii) $\dfrac{a_{k+1}}{a_k}+\dfrac{a_{n+1}}{a_n}=1$, for every $ k,n\in\mathbb{N}^{\star}$ with $|k-n|\neq 1$. (a) Prove that $(a_n)$ is a geometric progression. (n) Prove that exists $t>0$, such that $\sqrt{a_{n+1}}\leq \dfrac{1}{2}a_n+t$

1979 IMO Longlists, 28

Tags: recurrence relation , counting , linear recurrence , combinatorics

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: \[ a_{2n-1}=0, \quad a_{2n}={(2+\sqrt2)^{n-1} - (2-\sqrt2)^{n-1} \over\sqrt2}. \]

1980 Yugoslav Team Selection Test, Problem 3

Tags: recurrence relation , number theory , sequence

A sequence $(x_n)$ satisfies $x_{n+1}=\frac{x_n^2+a}{x_{n-1}}$ for all $n\in\mathbb N$. Prove that if $x_0,x_1$, and $\frac{x_0^2+x_1^2+a}{x_0x_1}$ are integers, then all the terms of sequence $(x_n)$ are integers.

2018 IFYM, Sozopol, 7

Tags: recurrence relation , recursion , algebra

The rows $x_n$ and $y_n$ of positive real numbers are such that: $x_{n+1}=x_n+\frac{1}{2y_n}$ and $y_{n+1}=y_n+\frac{1}{2x_n}$ for each positive integer $n$. Prove that at least one of the numbers $x_{2018}$ and $y_{2018}$ is bigger than 44,9

2006 IMO Shortlist, 1

Tags: sequence , periodic sequence , recurrence relation , floor function , algebra

A sequence of real numbers $ a_{0},\ a_{1},\ a_{2},\dots$ is defined by the formula \[ a_{i \plus{} 1} \equal{} \left\lfloor a_{i}\right\rfloor\cdot \left\langle a_{i}\right\rangle\qquad\text{for}\quad i\geq 0; \]here $a_0$ is an arbitrary real number, $\lfloor a_i\rfloor$ denotes the greatest integer not exceeding $a_i$, and $\left\langle a_i\right\rangle=a_i-\lfloor a_i\rfloor$. Prove that $a_i=a_{i+2}$ for $i$ sufficiently large. [i]Proposed by Harmel Nestra, Estionia[/i]

2024 VJIMC, 3

Tags: recurrence relation , asymptotic behaviour , sequence , real analysis , limit

Let $a_1>0$ and for $n \ge 1$ define \[a_{n+1}=a_n+\frac{1}{a_1+a_2+\dots+a_n}.\] Prove that \[\lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{a_n^2}{\ln n}=2.\]

1987 Greece National Olympiad, 3

Tags: sequence , recurrence relation , algebra

There is no sequence $x_n$ strictly increasing with terms natural numbers such that : $$ x_n+x_{k}=x_{nk}, \ \ for \, any \,\,\, n, k \in \mathbb{N}^*$$

1984 Polish MO Finals, 4

Tags: probability , coin , sum , sequence , recurrence relation

A coin is tossed $n$ times, and the outcome is written in the form ($a_1,a_2,...,a_n$), where $a_i = 1$ or $2$ depending on whether the result of the $i$-th toss is the head or the tail, respectively. Set $b_j = a_1 +a_2 +...+a_j$ for $j = 1,2,...,n$, and let $p(n)$ be the probability that the sequence $b_1,b_2,...,b_n$ contains the number $n$. Express $p(n)$ in terms of $p(n-1)$ and $p(n-2)$.

1983 Austrian-Polish Competition, 8

Tags: sequence , divide , product , factorial , number theory , recurrence relation , divisible

(a) Prove that $(2^{n+1}-1)!$ is divisible by $ \prod_{i=0}^n (2^{n+1-i}-1)^{2^i }$, for every natural number n (b) Define the sequence ($c_n$) by $c_1=1$ and $c_{n}=\frac{4n-6}{n}c_{n-1}$ for $n\ge 2$. Show that each $c_n$ is an integer.

1986 Bulgaria National Olympiad, Problem 6

Tags: recurrence relation , algebra , sequence , inequalities

Let $0<k<1$ be a given real number and let $(a_n)_{n\ge1}$ be an infinite sequence of real numbers which satisfies $a_{n+1}\le\left(1+\frac kn\right)a_n-1$. Prove that there is an index $t$ such that $a_t<0$.

2007 IMO Shortlist, 5

Tags: bounded , sequence , recurrence relation , bodan last post , inequalities

Let $ c > 2,$ and let $ a(1), a(2), \ldots$ be a sequence of nonnegative real numbers such that \[ a(m \plus{} n) \leq 2 \cdot a(m) \plus{} 2 \cdot a(n) \text{ for all } m,n \geq 1, \] and $ a\left(2^k \right) \leq \frac {1}{(k \plus{} 1)^c} \text{ for all } k \geq 0.$ Prove that the sequence $ a(n)$ is bounded. [i]Author: Vjekoslav Kovač, Croatia[/i]

2012 Balkan MO Shortlist, N2

Tags: recurrence relation , sequence , number theory with sequences , number theory

Let the sequences $(a_n)_{n=1}^{\infty}$ and $(b_n)_{n=1}^{\infty}$ satisfy $a_0 = b_0 = 1, a_n = 9a_{n-1} -2b_{n-1}$ and $b_n = 2a_{n-1} + 4b_{n-1}$ for all positive integers $n$. Let $c_n = a_n + b_n$ for all positive integers $n$. Prove that there do not exist positive integers $k, r, m$ such that $c^2_r = c_kc_m$.

2007 India IMO Training Camp, 1

Tags: recurrence relation , sequence , periodic sequence , floor function , algebra

A sequence of real numbers $ a_{0},\ a_{1},\ a_{2},\dots$ is defined by the formula \[ a_{i \plus{} 1} \equal{} \left\lfloor a_{i}\right\rfloor\cdot \left\langle a_{i}\right\rangle\qquad\text{for}\quad i\geq 0; \]here $a_0$ is an arbitrary real number, $\lfloor a_i\rfloor$ denotes the greatest integer not exceeding $a_i$, and $\left\langle a_i\right\rangle=a_i-\lfloor a_i\rfloor$. Prove that $a_i=a_{i+2}$ for $i$ sufficiently large. [i]Proposed by Harmel Nestra, Estionia[/i]

2018 Estonia Team Selection Test, 10

Tags: recurrence relation , sequence , algebra , inequalities

A sequence of positive real numbers $a_1, a_2, a_3, ... $ satisfies $a_n = a_{n-1} + a_{n-2}$ for all $n \ge 3$. A sequence $b_1, b_2, b_3, ...$ is defined by equations $b_1 = a_1$ , $b_n = a_n + (b_1 + b_3 + ...+ b_{n-1})$ for even $n > 1$ , $b_n = a_n + (b_2 + b_4 + ... +b_{n-1})$ for odd $n > 1$. Prove that if $n\ge 3$, then $\frac13 < \frac{b_n}{n \cdot a_n} < 1$