Found problems: 307
1988 Austrian-Polish Competition, 5
Two sequences $(a_k)_{k\ge 0}$ and $(b_k)_{k\ge 0}$ of integers are given by $b_k = a_k + 9$ and $a_{k+1} = 8b_k + 8$ for $k\ge 0$. Suppose that the number $1988$ occurs in one of these sequences. Show that the sequence $(a_k)$ does not contain any nonzero perfect square.
VMEO IV 2015, 10.1
Where $n$ is a positive integer, the sequence $a_n$ is determined by the formula $$a_{n+1}=\frac{1}{a_1 + a_2 +... + a_n} -\sqrt2, \,a_1 = 1.$$ Find the limit of the sequence $S_n$ defined by $S_n=a_1 + a_2 +... + a_n$.
2020 Jozsef Wildt International Math Competition, W26
Let $P_n$ denote the $n$-th Pell number defined by $P_{n+1}=2P_n+P_{n-1}$, $P_0=0$, $P_1=1$. Furthermore, let $T_n$ denote the $n$-th triangular number, that is
$T_n=\binom{n+1}2$. Show that
$$\sum_{n=0}^\infty4T_n\cdot\frac{P_n}{3^{n+2}}=P_3+P_4$$
[i]Proposed by Ángel Plaza[/i]
2014 Contests, 3
The sequence $(a_n)$ is defined with the recursion $a_{n + 1} = 5a^6_n + 3a^3_{n-1} + a^2_{n-2}$ for $n\ge 2$ and the set of initial values $\{a_0, a_1, a_2\} = \{2013, 2014, 2015\}$. (That is, the initial values are these three numbers in any order.)
Show that the sequence contains no sixth power of a natural number.
2003 Olympic Revenge, 2
Let $x_n$ the sequence defined by any nonnegatine integer $x_0$ and $x_{n+1}=1+\prod_{0 \leq i \leq n}{x_i}$
Show that there exists prime $p$ such that $p\not|x_n$ for any $n$.
2007 Denmark MO - Mohr Contest, 5
The sequence of numbers $a_0,a_1,a_2,...$ is determined by $a_0 = 0$, and
$$a_n= \begin{cases} 1+a_{n-1} \,\,\, when\,\,\, n \,\,\, is \,\,\, positive \,\,\, and \,\,\, odd \\
3a_{n/2} \,\,\,when \,\,\,n \,\,\,is \,\,\,positive \,\,\,and \,\,\,even\end{cases}$$
How many of these numbers are less than $2007$ ?
2020 CHKMO, 1
Given that ${a_n}$ and ${b_n}$ are two sequences of integers defined by
\begin{align*}
a_1=1, a_2=10, a_{n+1}=2a_n+3a_{n-1} & ~~~\text{for }n=2,3,4,\ldots, \\
b_1=1, b_2=8, b_{n+1}=3b_n+4b_{n-1} & ~~~\text{for }n=2,3,4,\ldots.
\end{align*}
Prove that, besides the number $1$, no two numbers in the sequences are identical.
2018 IFYM, Sozopol, 8
The row $x_1, x_2,…$ is defined by the following recursion
$x_1=1$ and $x_{n+1}=x_n+\sqrt{x_n}$
Prove that
$\sum_{n=1}^{2018}{\frac{1}{x_n}}<3$.
1969 IMO Shortlist, 41
$(MON 2)$ Given reals $x_0, x_1, \alpha, \beta$, find an expression for the solution of the system \[x_{n+2} -\alpha x_{n+1} -\beta x_n = 0, \qquad n= 0, 1, 2, \ldots\]
1990 Czech and Slovak Olympiad III A, 1
Let $(a_n)_{n\ge1}$ be a sequence given by
\begin{align*}
a_1 &= 1, \\
a_{2^k+j} &= -a_j\text{ for any } k\ge0,1\le j\le 2^k.
\end{align*}
Show that the sequence is not periodic.
2014 Federal Competition For Advanced Students, 3
Let $a_n$ be a sequence de fined by some $a_0$ and the recursion $a_{n+1} = a_n + 2 \cdot 3^n$ for $n \ge 0$.
Determine all rational values of $a_0$ such that $a^j_k / a^k_j$ is an integer for all integers $j$ and $k$ with $0 < j < k$.
2016 Saudi Arabia IMO TST, 1
On the Cartesian coordinate system $Oxy$, consider a sequence of points $A_n(x_n, y_n)$ in which $(x_n)^{\infty}_{n=1}$,$(y_n)^{\infty}_{n=1}$ are two sequences of positive numbers satisfing the following conditions:
$$x_{n+1} =\sqrt{\frac{x_n^2+x_{n+2}^2}{2}}, y_{n+1} =\big( \frac{\sqrt{y_n}+\sqrt{y_{n+2}}}{2} \big)^2 \,\, \forall n \ge 1 $$ Suppose that $O, A_1, A_{2016}$ belong to a line $d$ and $A_1, A_{2016}$ are distinct.
Prove that all the points $A_2, A_3,. .. , A_{2015}$ lie on one side of $d$.
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.
2019 Pan-African, 1
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.
2007 Germany Team Selection Test, 1
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]
2022 Saudi Arabia IMO TST, 1
Let $(a_n)$ be the integer sequence which is defined by $a_1= 1$ and
$$ a_{n+1}=a_n^2 + n \cdot a_n \,\, , \,\, \forall n \ge 1.$$
Let $S$ be the set of all primes $p$ such that there exists an index $i$ such that $p|a_i$.
Prove that the set $S$ is an infinite set and it is not equal to the set of all primes.
2019 Peru EGMO TST, 5
Define the sequence sequence $a_0,a_1, a_2,....,a_{2018}, a_{2019}$ of real numbers as follows:
$\bullet$ $a_0 = 1$.
$\bullet$ $a_{n + 1} = a_n - \frac{a_n^2}{2019}$ for $n = 0, 1, ...,2018$.
Prove that $a_{2019} < \frac12 <a_{2018}$.
2018 MMATHS, 4
A sequence of integers fsng is defined as follows: fix integers $a$, $b$, $c$, and $d$, then set $s_1 = a$, $s_2 = b$, and $$s_n = cs_{n-1} + ds_{n-2}$$ for all $n \ge 3$. Create a second sequence $\{t_n\}$ by defining each $t_n$ to be the remainder when $s_n$ is divided by $2018$ (so we always have $0 \le t_n \le 2017$). Let $N = (2018^2)!$. Prove that $t_N = t_{2N}$ regardless of the choices of $a$, $b$, $c$, and $d$.
2008 Mathcenter Contest, 5
Let $P_1(x)=\frac{1}{x}$ and $P_n(x)=P_{n-1}(x)+P_{n-1}(x-1)$ for every natural $ n$ greater than $1$. Find the value of $P_{2008}(2008)$.
[i](Mathophile)[/i]
2019 Miklós Schweitzer, 6
Let $d$ be a positive integer and $1 < a \le (d+2)/(d+1)$. For given $x_0, x_1,\dots, x_d \in (0, a-1)$, let $x_{k+1} = x_k (a - x_{k-d})$, $k \ge d$. Prove that $\lim_{k \to \infty} x_k = a-1$.
1993 IMO Shortlist, 1
Define a sequence $\langle f(n)\rangle^{\infty}_{n=1}$ of positive integers by $f(1) = 1$ and \[f(n) = \begin{cases} f(n-1) - n & \text{ if } f(n-1) > n;\\ f(n-1) + n & \text{ if } f(n-1) \leq n, \end{cases}\]
for $n \geq 2.$ Let $S = \{n \in \mathbb{N} \;\mid\; f(n) = 1993\}.$
[b](i)[/b] Prove that $S$ is an infinite set.
[b](ii)[/b] Find the least positive integer in $S.$
[b](iii)[/b] If all the elements of $S$ are written in ascending order as \[ n_1 < n_2 < n_3 < \ldots , \] show that \[ \lim_{i\rightarrow\infty} \frac{n_{i+1}}{n_i} = 3. \]
1980 IMO Longlists, 19
Find the greatest natural number $n$ such there exist natural numbers $x_{1}, x_{2}, \ldots, x_{n}$ and natural $a_{1}< a_{2}< \ldots < a_{n-1}$ satisfying the following equations for $i =1,2,\ldots,n-1$: \[x_{1}x_{2}\ldots x_{n}= 1980 \quad \text{and}\quad x_{i}+\frac{1980}{x_{i}}= a_{i}.\]
OIFMAT III 2013, 10
Prove that the sequence defined by:
$$ y_ {n + 1} = \frac {1} {2} (3y_ {n} + \sqrt {5y_ {n} ^ {2} -4}) , \,\, \forall n \ge 0$$ with $ y_ {0} = 1$ consists only of integers.
1980 IMO Shortlist, 19
Find the greatest natural number $n$ such there exist natural numbers $x_{1}, x_{2}, \ldots, x_{n}$ and natural $a_{1}< a_{2}< \ldots < a_{n-1}$ satisfying the following equations for $i =1,2,\ldots,n-1$: \[x_{1}x_{2}\ldots x_{n}= 1980 \quad \text{and}\quad x_{i}+\frac{1980}{x_{i}}= a_{i}.\]
2018 Estonia Team Selection Test, 10
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 $\frac13 < \frac{b_n}{n \cdot a_n} < 1$