Found problems: 1239
Kvant 2020, M2603
For an infinite sequence $a_1, a_2,. . .$ denote as it's [i]first derivative[/i] is the sequence $a'_n= a_{n + 1} - a_n$ (where $n = 1, 2,..$.), and her $k$- th derivative as the first derivative of its $(k-1)$-th derivative ($k = 2, 3,...$). We call a sequence [i]good[/i] if it and all its derivatives consist of positive numbers.
Prove that if $a_1, a_2,. . .$ and $b_1, b_2,. . .$ are good sequences, then sequence $a_1\cdot b_1, a_2 \cdot b_2,..$ is also a good one.
R. Salimov
1973 Bulgaria National Olympiad, Problem 1
Let the sequence $a_1,a_2,\ldots,a_n,\ldots$ is defined by the conditions: $a_1=2$ and $a_{n+1}=a_n^2-a_n+1$ $(n=1,2,\ldots)$. Prove that:
(a) $a_m$ and $a_n$ are relatively prime numbers when $m\ne n$.
(b) $\lim_{n\to\infty}\sum_{k=1}^n\frac1{a_k}=1$
[i]I. Tonov[/i]
2009 IMO Shortlist, 4
Find all positive integers $n$ such that there exists a sequence of positive integers $a_1$, $a_2$,$\ldots$, $a_n$ satisfying: \[a_{k+1}=\frac{a_k^2+1}{a_{k-1}+1}-1\] for every $k$ with $2\leq k\leq n-1$.
[i]Proposed by North Korea[/i]
2025 SEEMOUS, P4
Let $(a_n)_{n\geq 1}$ be a monotone decreasing sequence of real numbers that converges to $0$. Prove that $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{a_n}{n}$ is convergent if and only if the sequence $(a_n\ln n)_{n\geq 1}$ is bounded and $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} (a_n-a_{n+1})\ln n$ is convergent.
2021 Estonia Team Selection Test, 3
For any odd prime $p$ and any integer $n,$ let $d_p (n) \in \{ 0,1, \dots, p-1 \}$ denote the remainder when $n$ is divided by $p.$ We say that $(a_0, a_1, a_2, \dots)$ is a [i]p-sequence[/i], if $a_0$ is a positive integer coprime to $p,$ and $a_{n+1} =a_n + d_p (a_n)$ for $n \geqslant 0.$
(a) Do there exist infinitely many primes $p$ for which there exist $p$-sequences $(a_0, a_1, a_2, \dots)$ and $(b_0, b_1, b_2, \dots)$ such that $a_n >b_n$ for infinitely many $n,$ and $b_n > a_n$ for infinitely many $n?$
(b) Do there exist infinitely many primes $p$ for which there exist $p$-sequences $(a_0, a_1, a_2, \dots)$ and $(b_0, b_1, b_2, \dots)$ such that $a_0 <b_0,$ but $a_n >b_n$ for all $n \geqslant 1?$
[I]United Kingdom[/i]
1979 Dutch Mathematical Olympiad, 3
Define $a_1 = 1979$ and $a_{n+1} = 9^{a_n}$ for $n = 1,2,3,...$. Determine the last two digits of $a_{1979}$.
2007 Nicolae Coculescu, 2
Let $ F:\mathbb{R}\longrightarrow\mathbb{R} $ be a primitive with $ F(0)=0 $ of the function $ f:\mathbb{R}\longrightarrow\mathbb{R} $ defined by $ f(x)=\frac{x}{1+e^x} , $ and let be a sequence $ \left( x_n \right)_{n\ge 0} $ such that $ x_0>0 $ and defined as $ x_n=F\left( x_{n-1} \right) . $
Calculate $ \lim_{n\to\infty } \frac{1}{n}\sum_{k=1}^n \frac{x_k}{\sqrt{x_{k+1}}} $
[i]Florian Dumitrel[/i]
2018 Vietnam National Olympiad, 6
The sequence $(x_n)$ is defined as follows:
$$x_0=2,\, x_1=1,\, x_{n+2}=x_{n+1}+x_n$$
for every non-negative integer $n$.
a. For each $n\geq 1$, prove that $x_n$ is a prime number only if $n$ is a prime number or $n$ has no odd prime divisors
b. Find all non-negative pairs of integers $(m,n)$ such that $x_m|x_n$.
1998 Brazil Team Selection Test, Problem 5
Consider $k$ positive integers $a_1,a_2,\ldots,a_k$ satisfying $1\le a_1<a_2<\ldots<a_k\le n$ and $\operatorname{lcm}(a_i,a_j)\le n$ for any $i,j$. Prove that
$$k\le2\lfloor\sqrt n\rfloor.$$
2023 Brazil Undergrad MO, 6
Determine all pairs $(c, d) \in \mathbb{R}^2$ of real constants such that there is a sequence $(a_n)_{n\geq1}$ of positive real numbers such that, for all $n \geq 1$, $$a_n \geq c \cdot a_{n+1} + d \cdot \sum_{1 \leq j < n} a_j .$$
2011 German National Olympiad, 6
Let $p>2$ be a prime. Define a sequence $(Q_{n}(x))$ of polynomials such that $Q_{0}(x)=1, Q_{1}(x)=x$ and $Q_{n+1}(x) =xQ_{n}(x) + nQ_{n-1}(x)$ for $n\geq 1.$ Prove that $Q_{p}(x)-x^p $ is divisible by $p$ for all integers $x.$
2017 Brazil Undergrad MO, 4
Let $(a_n)_{n\geq 1}$ be a sequence of positive real numbers in which $\lim_{n\to\infty} a_n = 0$ such that there is a constant $c >0$ so that for all $n \geq 1$, $|a_{n+1}-a_n| \leq c\cdot a_n^2$. Show that exists $d>0$ with $na_n \geq d, \forall n \geq 1$.
1996 Yugoslav Team Selection Test, Problem 3
The sequence $\{x_n\}$ is given by
$$x_n=\frac14\left(\left(2+\sqrt3\right)^{2n-1}+\left(2-\sqrt3\right)^{2n-1}\right),\qquad n\in\mathbb N.$$Prove that each $x_n$ is equal to the sum of squares of two consecutive integers.
2015 Peru IMO TST, 16
Let $c \ge 1$ be an integer. Define a sequence of positive integers by $a_1 = c$ and \[a_{n+1}=a_n^3-4c\cdot a_n^2+5c^2\cdot a_n+c\] for all $n\ge 1$. Prove that for each integer $n \ge 2$ there exists a prime number $p$ dividing $a_n$ but none of the numbers $a_1 , \ldots , a_{n -1}$ .
[i]Proposed by Austria[/i]
1992 IMO Longlists, 62
Let $c_1, \cdots, c_n \ (n \geq 2)$ be real numbers such that $0 \leq \sum c_i \leq n$. Prove that there exist integers $k_1, \cdots , k_n$ such that $\sum k_i=0$ and $1-n \leq c_i + nk_i \leq n$ for every $i = 1, \cdots , n.$
2010 VTRMC, Problem 7
Let $\sum_{n=1}^\infty a_n$ be a convergent series of positive terms (so $a_i>0$ for all $i$) and set $b_n=\frac1{na_n^2}$ for $n\ge1$. Prove that $\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac n{b_1+b_2+\ldots+b_n}$ is convergent.
2019 Nigerian Senior MO Round 4, 4
We consider the real sequence ($x_n$) defined by $x_0=0, x_1=1$ and $x_{n+2}=3x_{n+1}-2 x_{n}$ for $n=0,1,2,...$
We define the sequence ($y_n$) by $y_n=x^2_n+2^{n+2}$ for every nonnegative integer $n$.
Prove that for every $n>0, y_n$ is the square of an odd integer.
2022 Iran Team Selection Test, 5
Find all $C\in \mathbb{R}$ such that every sequence of integers $\{a_n\}_{n=1}^{\infty}$ which is bounded from below and for all $n\geq 2$ satisfy $$0\leq a_{n-1}+Ca_n+a_{n+1}<1$$ is periodic.
Proposed by Navid Safaei
2020 Federal Competition For Advanced Students, P2, 3
Let $a$ be a fixed positive integer and $(e_n)$ the sequence, which is defined by $e_0=1$ and
$$ e_n=a + \prod_{k=0}^{n-1} e_k$$
for $n \geq 1$.
Prove that
(a) There exist infinitely many prime numbers that divide one element of the sequence.
(b) There exists one prime number that does not divide an element of the sequence.
(Theresia Eisenkölbl)
2023 Romania Team Selection Test, P5
Let $(a_n)_{n\geq 1}$ be a sequence of positive real numbers with the property that
$$(a_{n+1})^2 + a_na_{n+2} \leq a_n + a_{n+2}$$
for all positive integers $n$. Show that $a_{2022}\leq 1$.
2024 Bulgaria MO Regional Round, 12.2
Let $N$ be a positive integer. The sequence $x_1, x_2, \ldots$ of non-negative reals is defined by $$x_n^2=\sum_{i=1}^{n-1} \sqrt{x_ix_{n-i}}$$ for all positive integers $n>N$. Show that there exists a constant $c>0$, such that $x_n \leq \frac{n} {2}+c$ for all positive integers $n$.
1960 Putnam, B5
Define a sequence $(a_n)$ by $a_0 =0$ and $a_n = 1 +\sin(a_{n-1}-1)$ for $n\geq 1$. Evaluate
$$\lim_{n\to \infty} \frac{1}{n} \sum_{k=1}^{n} a_k.$$
2005 AMC 12/AHSME, 10
The first term of a sequence is 2005. Each succeeding term is the sum of the cubes of the digits of the previous terms. What is the 2005th term of the sequence?
$ \textbf{(A)}\ 29\qquad
\textbf{(B)}\ 55\qquad
\textbf{(C)}\ 85\qquad
\textbf{(D)}\ 133\qquad
\textbf{(E)}\ 250$
2008 China Team Selection Test, 2
The sequence $ \{x_{n}\}$ is defined by $ x_{1} \equal{} 2,x_{2} \equal{} 12$, and $ x_{n \plus{} 2} \equal{} 6x_{n \plus{} 1} \minus{} x_{n}$, $ (n \equal{} 1,2,\ldots)$. Let $ p$ be an odd prime number, let $ q$ be a prime divisor of $ x_{p}$. Prove that if $ q\neq2,3,$ then $ q\geq 2p \minus{} 1$.
2015 Estonia Team Selection Test, 12
Call an $n$-tuple $(a_1, . . . , a_n)$ [i]occasionally periodic [/i] if there exist a nonnegative integer $i$ and a positive integer $p$ satisfying $i + 2p \le n$ and $a_{i+j} = a_{i+p+j}$ for every $j = 1, 2, . . . , p$. Let $k$ be a positive integer. Find the least positive integer $n$ for which there exists an $n$-tuple $(a_1, . . . , a_n)$ with elements from set $\{1, 2, . . . , k\}$, which is not occasionally periodic but whose arbitrary extension $(a_1, . . . , a_n, a_{n+1})$ is occasionally periodic for any $a_{n+1} \in \{1, 2, . . . , k\}$.