Found problems: 307
1976 IMO Shortlist, 9
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.
1984 Czech And Slovak Olympiad IIIA, 3
Let the sequence $\{a_n\}$ , $n \ge 0$ satisfy the recurrence relation
$$a_{n + 2} =4a_{n + 1}-3a_n, \ \ (1) $$
Let us define the sequence $\{b_n\}$ , $n \ge 1$ by the relation
$$b_n= \left[ \frac{a_{n+1}}{a_{n-1}} \right]$$
where we put $b_n =1$ for $a_{n-1}=0$. Prove that, starting from a certain term, the sequence also satisfies the recurrence relation (1).
Note: $[x]$ indicates the whole part of the number $x$.
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 $\frac13 < \frac{b_n}{n \cdot a_n} < 1$
2015 Peru MO (ONEM), 4
Let $b$ be an odd positive integer. The sequence $a_1, a_2, a_3, a_4$, is definedin the next way: $a_1$ and $a_2$ are positive integers and for all $k \ge 2$,
$$a_{k+1}= \begin{cases} \frac{a_k + a_{k-1}}{2} \,\,\, if \,\,\, a_k + a_{k-1} \,\,\, is \,\,\, even \\ \frac{a_k + a_{k-1+b}}{2}\,\,\, if \,\,\, a_k + a_{k-1}\,\,\, is \,\,\,odd\end{cases}$$
a) Prove that if $b = 1$, then after a certain term, the sequence will become constant.
b) For each $b \ge 3$ (odd), prove that there exist values of $a_1$ and $a_2$ for which the sequence will become constant after a certain term.
2005 Czech And Slovak Olympiad III A, 1
Consider all arithmetical sequences of real numbers $(x_i)^{\infty}=1$ and $(y_i)^{\infty} =1$ with the common first term, such that for some $k > 1, x_{k-1}y_{k-1} = 42, x_ky_k = 30$, and $x_{k+1}y_{k+1} = 16$. Find all such pairs of sequences with the maximum possible $k$.
2024 Canadian Mathematical Olympiad Qualification, 4
A sequence $\{a_i\}$ is given such that $a_1 = \frac13$ and for all positive integers $n$
$$a_{n+1} =\frac{a^2_n}{a^2_n - a_n + 1}.$$
Prove that $$\frac12 - \frac{1}{3^{2^{n-1}}} < a_1 + a_2 +... + a_n <\frac12 - \frac{1}{3^{2^n}} ,$$
for all positive integers $n$.
1974 Swedish Mathematical Competition, 3
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 $a_9$.
1969 IMO Longlists, 41
$(MON 2)$ Given reals $x_0, x_1, \alpha, \beta$, find an expression for the solution of the system \[x_{n+2} -\alpha x_{n+1} -\beta x_n = 0, \qquad n= 0, 1, 2, \ldots\]
2019 Saudi Arabia BMO TST, 2
Let sequences of real numbers $(x_n)$ and $(y_n)$ satisfy $x_1 = y_1 = 1$ and $x_{n+1} =\frac{x_n + 2}{x_n + 1}$ and $y_{n+1} = \frac{y_n^2 + 2}{2y_n}$ for $n = 1,2, ...$ Prove that $y_{n+1} = x_{2^n}$ holds for $n =0, 1,2, ... $
1992 French Mathematical Olympiad, Problem 4
Given $u_0,u_1$ with $0<u_0,u_1<1$, define the sequence $(u_n)$ recurrently by the formula
$$u_{n+2}=\frac12\left(\sqrt{u_{n+1}}+\sqrt{u_n}\right).$$(a) Prove that the sequence $u_n$ is convergent and find its limit.
(b) Prove that, starting from some index $n_0$, the sequence $u_n$ is monotonous.
2022 Switzerland - Final Round, 5
For an integer $a \ge 2$, denote by $\delta_(a) $ the second largest divisor of $a$. Let $(a_n)_{n\ge 1}$ be a sequence
of integers such that $a_1 \ge 2$ and $$a_{n+1} = a_n + \delta_(a_n)$$
for all $n \ge 1$. Prove that there exists a positive integer $k$ such that $a_k$ is divisible by $3^{2022}$.
1971 IMO Longlists, 5
Consider a sequence of polynomials $P_0(x), P_1(x), P_2(x), \ldots, P_n(x), \ldots$, where $P_0(x) = 2, P_1(x) = x$ and for every $n \geq 1$ the following equality holds:
\[P_{n+1}(x) + P_{n-1}(x) = xP_n(x).\]
Prove that there exist three real numbers $a, b, c$ such that for all $n \geq 1,$
\[(x^2 - 4)[P_n^2(x) - 4] = [aP_{n+1}(x) + bP_n(x) + cP_{n-1}(x)]^2.\]
1976 IMO Longlists, 11
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.
1992 Tournament Of Towns, (354) 3
Consider the sequence $a(n)$ defined by the following conditions:$$a(1) = 1\,\,\,\, a(n + 1) = a(n) + [\sqrt{a(n)}] \,\,\, , \,\,\,\, n = 1,2,3,...$$ How many perfect squares no greater in value than $1000 000$ will be found among the first terms of the sequence? ( (Note: $[x]$ means the integer part of $x$, that is the greatest integer not greater than $x$.)
(A Andjans)
2016 India IMO Training Camp, 1
Let $n$ be a natural number. We define sequences $\langle a_i\rangle$ and $\langle b_i\rangle$ of integers as follows. We let $a_0=1$ and $b_0=n$. For $i>0$, we let $$\left( a_i,b_i\right)=\begin{cases} \left(2a_{i-1}+1,b_{i-1}-a_{i-1}-1\right) & \text{if } a_{i-1}<b_{i-1},\\
\left( a_{i-1}-b_{i-1}-1,2b_{i-1}+1\right) & \text{if } a_{i-1}>b_{i-1},\\
\left(a_{i-1},b_{i-1}\right) & \text{if } a_{i-1}=b_{i-1}.\end{cases}$$
Given that $a_k=b_k$ for some natural number $k$, prove that $n+3$ is a power of two.
1975 Kurschak Competition, 3
Let $$x_0 = 5\,\, ,\, \,\,x_{n+1} = x_n +\frac{1}{x_n}.$$
Prove that $45 < x_{1000} < 45.1$.
2019 IMC, 4
Let $(n+3)a_{n+2}=(6n+9)a_{n+1}-na_n$ and $a_0=1$ and $a_1=2$ prove that all the terms of the sequence are integers
2010 Morocco TST, 1
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 ?
1987 Greece National Olympiad, 3
There is no sequence $x_n$ strictly increasing with terms natural numbers such that : $$ x_n+x_{k}=x_{nk}, \ \ for \, any \,\,\, n, k \in \mathbb{N}^*$$
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.
2016 Saudi Arabia IMO TST, 1
Define the sequence $a_1, a_2,...$ as follows: $a_1 = 1$, and for every $n \ge 2$, $a_n = n - 2$ if $a_{n-1} = 0$ and $a_n = a_{n-1} - 1$, otherwise. Find the number of $1 \le k \le 2016$ such that there are non-negative integers $r, s$ and a positive integer $n$ satisfying $k = r + s$ and $a_{n+r} = a_n + s$.
1969 IMO Shortlist, 41
$(MON 2)$ Given reals $x_0, x_1, \alpha, \beta$, find an expression for the solution of the system \[x_{n+2} -\alpha x_{n+1} -\beta x_n = 0, \qquad n= 0, 1, 2, \ldots\]
1973 Dutch Mathematical Olympiad, 5
An infinite sequence of integers $a_1,a_2,a_3, ...$ is given with $a_1 = 0$ and further holds for every natural number $n$ that $a_{n+1} = a_n - n$ if $a_n \ge n$ and $a_{n+1} = a_n + n$ if $a_n < n$ .
(a) Prove that there are infinitely many numbers in the sequence equal to $0$.
(b) Express in terms of $k$ the ordinal number of the $k^e$ number from the sequence, which is equal to $0$.
2022 New Zealand MO, 5
The sequence $x_1, x_2, x_3, . . .$ is defined by $x_1 = 2022$ and $x_{n+1}= 7x_n + 5$ for all positive integers $n$. Determine the maximum positive integer $m$ such that $$\frac{x_n(x_n - 1)(x_n - 2) . . . (x_n - m + 1)}{m!}$$ is never a multiple of $7$ for any positive integer $n$.
2015 Saudi Arabia BMO TST, 1
Prove that for any integer $n \ge 2$, there exists a unique finite sequence $x_0, x_1,..., x_n$ of real numbers which satisfies $x_0 = x_n = 0$ and $x_{i+1} - 8x_i^3 -4x_i + 3x_{i-1} + 1 = 0$ for all $i = 1,2,...,n - 1$. Prove moreover that $ |x_i| \le \frac12$ for all $i = 1,2,...,n - 1$.
Nguyễn Duy Thái Sơn