Olympiad problems

1977 IMO Shortlist, 15

Tags: linear algebra , algebra , sequence , maximization , extremal combinatorics

In a finite sequence of real numbers the sum of any seven successive terms is negative and the sum of any eleven successive terms is positive. Determine the maximum number of terms in the sequence.

2012 China Northern MO, 5

Tags: sequence , recurrence relation , algebra

Let $\{a_n\}$ be the sequance with $a_0=0$, $a_n=\frac{1}{a_{n-1}-2}$ ($n\in N_+$). Select an arbitrary term $a_k$ in the sequence $\{a_n\}$ and construct the sequence $\{b_n\}$: $b_0=a_k$, $b_n=\frac{2b_{n-1}+1} {b_{n-1}}$ ($n\in N_+$) . Determine whether the sequence $\{b_n\}$ is a finite sequence or an infinite sequence and give proof.

2010 Indonesia TST, 1

Tags: sequence , algebra

Sequence ${u_n}$ is defined with $u_0=0,u_1=\frac{1}{3}$ and $$\frac{2}{3}u_n=\frac{1}{2}(u_{n+1}+u_{n-1})$$ $\forall n=1,2,...$ Show that $|u_n|\leq1$ $\forall n\in\mathbb{N}.$

1949 Putnam, B5

Tags: sequence

let $(a_{n})$ be an arbitrary sequence of positive numbers. Show that $$\limsup_{n\to \infty} \left(\frac{a_1 +a_{n+1}}{a_{n}}\right)^{n} \geq e.$$

1979 All Soviet Union Mathematical Olympiad, 273

Tags: sequence , algebra , inequalities

For every $n$, the decreasing sequence $\{x_k\}$ satisfies a condition $$x_1+x_4/2+x_9/3+...+x_n^2/n \le 1$$ Prove that for every $n$, it also satisfies $$x_1+x_2/2+x_3/3+...+x_n/n\le 3$$

2015 Hanoi Open Mathematics Competitions, 1

Tags: algebra , sequence

What is the $7$th term of the sequence $\{-1, 4,-2, 3,-3, 2,...\}$? (A) $ -1$ (B) $ -2$ (C) $-3$ (D) $-4$ (E) None of the above

2023 Francophone Mathematical Olympiad, 1

Tags: inequalities , number theory , sequence

Let $u_0, u_1, u_2, \ldots$ be integers such that $u_0 = 100$; $u_{k+2} \geqslant 2 + u_k$ for all $k \geqslant 0$; and $u_{\ell+5} \leqslant 5 + u_\ell$ for all $\ell \geqslant 0$. Find all possible values for the integer $u_{2023}$.

1985 IMO Longlists, 63

Tags: algebra , sequence , inequality , calculus , recurrence relation , inequalities

Let $x_n = \sqrt[2]{2+\sqrt[3]{3+\cdots+\sqrt[n]{n}}}.$ Prove that \[x_{n+1}-x_n <\frac{1}{n!} \quad n=2,3,\cdots\]

2017 Mathematical Talent Reward Programme, MCQ: P 8

Tags: sequence , summation , algebra

How many finite sequances $x_1,x_2,\cdots,x_m$ are there such that $x_i=1$ or 2 and $\sum \limits_{i=1}^mx_i=10$ ? [list=1] [*] 89 [*] 73 [*] 107 [*] 119 [/list]

2022 Korea National Olympiad, 3

Tags: perfect square , number theory , sequence , integer sequence

Suppose that the sequence $\{a_n\}$ of positive integers satisfies the following conditions: [list] [*]For an integer $i \geq 2022$, define $a_i$ as the smallest positive integer $x$ such that $x+\sum_{k=i-2021}^{i-1}a_k$ is a perfect square. [*]There exists infinitely many positive integers $n$ such that $a_n=4\times 2022-3$. [/list] Prove that there exists a positive integer $N$ such that $\sum_{k=n}^{n+2021}a_k$ is constant for every integer $n \geq N$. And determine the value of $\sum_{k=N}^{N+2021}a_k$.

2024 District Olympiad, P2

Tags: limit , analysis , sequence

Let $k\geqslant 2$ be an integer. Consider the sequence $(x_n)_{n\geqslant 1}$ defined by $x_1=a>0$ and $x_{n+1}=x_n+\lfloor k/x_n\rfloor$ for $n\geqslant 1.$ Prove that the sequence is convergent and determine its limit.

1996 Singapore Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: sequence , number theory , divide , divisible

Let $S = \{0, 1, 2, .., 1994\}$. Let $a$ and $b$ be two positive numbers in $S$ which are relatively prime. Prove that the elements of $S$ can be arranged into a sequence $s_1, s_2, s_3,... , s_{1995}$ such that $s_{i+1} - s_i \equiv \pm a$ or $\pm b$ (mod $1995$) for $i = 1, 2, ... , 1994$

2011 Germany Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: algebra , inequality , sequence , get the smallest

A sequence $x_1, x_2, \ldots$ is defined by $x_1 = 1$ and $x_{2k}=-x_k, x_{2k-1} = (-1)^{k+1}x_k$ for all $k \geq 1.$ Prove that $\forall n \geq 1$ $x_1 + x_2 + \ldots + x_n \geq 0.$ [i]Proposed by Gerhard Wöginger, Austria[/i]

2011 Singapore Junior Math Olympiad, 4

Tags: number theory , sequence , odd

Any positive integer $n$ can be written in the form $n = 2^aq$, where $a \ge 0$ and $q$ is odd. We call $q$ the [i]odd part[/i] of $n$. Define the sequence $a_0,a_1,...$ as follows: $a_0 = 2^{2011}-1$ and for $m > 0, a_{m+i}$ is the odd part of $3a_m + 1$. Find $a_{2011}$.

1982 IMO Shortlist, 11

Tags: algebra , sequence , maximization , minimization , rearrangement

[b](a)[/b] Find the rearrangement $\{a_1, \dots , a_n\}$ of $\{1, 2, \dots, n\}$ that maximizes \[a_1a_2 + a_2a_3 + \cdots + a_na_1 = Q.\] [b](b)[/b] Find the rearrangement that minimizes $Q.$

2010 Belarus Team Selection Test, 1.4

Tags: number theory , sequence , algebra

$x_1=\frac{1}{2}$ and $x_{k+1}=\frac{x_k}{x_1^2+...+x_k^2}$ Prove that $\sqrt{x_k^4+4\frac{x_{k-1}}{x_{k+1}}}$ is rational

2015 Peru IMO TST, 6

Tags: floor function , number theory , sequence , parity

Let $n > 1$ be a given integer. Prove that infinitely many terms of the sequence $(a_k )_{k\ge 1}$, defined by \[a_k=\left\lfloor\frac{n^k}{k}\right\rfloor,\] are odd. (For a real number $x$, $\lfloor x\rfloor$ denotes the largest integer not exceeding $x$.) [i]Proposed by Hong Kong[/i]

2023 Indonesia TST, 2

Tags: number theory , sequence

Let $a > 1$ be a positive integer and $d > 1$ be a positive integer coprime to $a$. Let $x_1=1$, and for $k\geq 1$, define $$x_{k+1} = \begin{cases} x_k + d &\text{if } a \text{ does not divide } x_k \\ x_k/a & \text{if } a \text{ divides } x_k \end{cases}$$ Find, in terms of $a$ and $d$, the greatest positive integer $n$ for which there exists an index $k$ such that $x_k$ is divisible by $a^n$.

1953 Moscow Mathematical Olympiad, 257

Tags: recurrence relation , sequence , inequalities , algebra

Let $x_0 = 10^9$, $x_n = \frac{x^2_{n-1}+2}{2x_{n-1}}$ for $n > 0$. Prove that $0 < x_{36} - \sqrt2 < 10^{-9}$.

2020 IMO Shortlist, N7

Tags: number theory , sequence

Let $\mathcal{S}$ be a set consisting of $n \ge 3$ positive integers, none of which is a sum of two other distinct members of $\mathcal{S}$. Prove that the elements of $\mathcal{S}$ may be ordered as $a_1, a_2, \dots, a_n$ so that $a_i$ does not divide $a_{i - 1} + a_{i + 1}$ for all $i = 2, 3, \dots, n - 1$.

2010 Saudi Arabia BMO TST, 4

Tags: sequence , number theory , functional , function , algebra

Let $f : N \to [0, \infty)$ be a function satisfying the following conditions: a) $f(4)=2$ b) $\frac{1}{f( 0 ) + f( 1)} + \frac{1}{f( 1 ) + f( 2 )} + ... + \frac{1}{f (n ) + f(n + 1) }= f ( n + 1)$ for all integers $n \ge 0$. Find $f(n)$ in closed form.

2012 Grand Duchy of Lithuania, 4

Tags: algebra , sequence

Let $m$ be a positive integer. Find all bounded sequences of integers $a_1, a_2, a_3,... $for which $a_n + a_{n+1} + a_{n+m }= 0$ for all $n \in N$.

1996 Singapore Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: number theory , sequence , algebra

Let $S$ be a sequence $n_1, n_2,..., n_{1995}$ of positive integers such that $n_1 +...+ n_{1995 }=m < 3990$. Prove that for each integer $q$ with $1 \le q \le m$, there is a sequence $n_{i_1} , n_{i_2} , ... , n_{i_k}$ , where $1 \le i_1 < i_2 < ...< i_k \le 1995$, $n_{i_1} + ...+ n_{i_k} = q$ and $k$ depends on $q$.

2025 District Olympiad, P4

Tags: sequence

Let $(x_n)_{n\geq 1}$ be an increasing and unbounded sequence of positive integers such that $x_1=1$ and $x_{n+1}\leq 2x_n$ for all $n\geq 1$. Prove that every positive integer can be written as a finite sum of distinct terms of the sequence. [i]Note:[/i] Two terms $x_i$ and $x_j$ of the sequence are considered distinct if $i\neq j$.

1999 Yugoslav Team Selection Test, Problem 3

Tags: algebra , sequence

Consider the set $A_n=\{x_1,x_2,\ldots,x_n,y_1,y_2,\ldots,y_n\}$ of $2n$ variables. How many permutations of set $A_n$ are there for which it is possible to assign real values from the interval $(0,1)$ to the $2n$ variables so that: (i) $x_i+y_i=1$ for each $i$; (ii) $x_1<x_2<\ldots<x_n$; (iii) the $2n$ terms of the permutation form a strictly increasing sequence?