Olympiad problems

2023 Francophone Mathematical Olympiad, 1

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 $u_{2023}$.

2018 Iran MO (1st Round), 24

Tags: number theory , sequence , algebra

The sequence $\{a_n\}$ is defined as follows: \begin{align*} a_n = \sqrt{1 + \left(1 + \frac 1n \right)^2} + \sqrt{1 + \left(1 - \frac 1n \right)^2}. \end{align*} What is the value of the expression given below? \begin{align*} \frac{4}{a_1} + \frac{4}{a_2} + \dots + \frac{4}{a_{96}}.\end{align*} $\textbf{(A)}\ \sqrt{18241} \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \sqrt{18625} - 1 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \sqrt{18625} \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \sqrt{19013} - 1\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \sqrt{19013}$

1992 IMO Longlists, 19

Tags: trigonometry , algebra , sequence , counting , recurrence relation

Denote by $a_n$ the greatest number that is not divisible by $3$ and that divides $n$. Consider the sequence $s_0 = 0, s_n = a_1 +a_2+\cdots+a_n, n \in \mathbb N$. Denote by $A(n)$ the number of all sums $s_k \ (0 \leq k \leq 3^n, k \in \mathbb N_0)$ that are divisible by $3$. Prove the formula \[A(n) = 3^{n-1} + 2 \cdot 3^{(n/2)-1} \cos \left(\frac{n\pi}{6}\right), \qquad n\in \mathbb N_0.\]

2022 Kazakhstan National Olympiad, 6

Tags: number theory , sequence , divisibility

Given an infinite positive integer sequence $\{x_i\}$ such that $$x_{n+2}=x_nx_{n+1}+1$$ Prove that for any positive integer $i$ there exists a positive integer $j$ such that $x_j^j$ is divisible by $x_i^i$. [i]Remark: Unfortunately, there was a mistake in the problem statement during the contest itself. In the last sentence, it should say "for any positive integer $i>1$ ..."[/i]

1971 IMO Longlists, 35

Tags: relatively prime , number theory , euler s theorem , sequence

Prove that we can find an infinite set of positive integers of the from $2^n-3$ (where $n$ is a positive integer) every pair of which are relatively prime.

2023 Belarusian National Olympiad, 11.5

Tags: combinatorics , sequence

A sequence of positive integers is given such that the sum of any $6$ consecutive terms does not exceed $11$. Prove that for any positive integer $a$ in the sequence one can find consecutive terms with sum $a$

2021 Taiwan TST Round 2, 2

Tags: sequence , number theory

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 $i = 2, 3, \dots, n - 1$.

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.

2023 Ukraine National Mathematical Olympiad, 10.4

Tags: algebra , sequence

Let $(x_n)$ be an infinite sequence of real numbers from interval $(0, 1)$. An infinite sequence $(a_n)$ of positive integers is defined as follows: $a_1 = 1$, and for $i \ge 1$, $a_{i+1}$ is equal to the smallest positive integer $m$, for which $[x_1 + x_2 + \ldots + x_m] = a_i$. Show that for any indexes $i, j$ holds $a_{i+j} \ge a_i + a_j$. [i]Proposed by Nazar Serdyuk[/i]

2015 Dutch BxMO/EGMO TST, 2

Tags: algebra , number theory , integer sequence , sequence

Given are positive integers $r$ and $k$ and an infinite sequence of positive integers $a_1 \le a_2 \le ...$ such that $\frac{r}{a_r}= k + 1$. Prove that there is a $t$ satisfying $\frac{t}{a_t}=k$.

2024 China Second Round, 1

Tags: sequence , algebra

A positive integer $ r $ is given, find the largest real number $ C $ such that there exists a geometric sequence $\{ a_n \}_{n\ge 1}$ with common ratio $ r $ satisfying $$ \| a_n \| \ge C $$ for all positive integers $ n $. Here, $\| x \|$ denotes the distance from the real number $ x $ to the nearest integer.

2008 Alexandru Myller, 3

Tags: limit , squeeze theorem , sequence

Let be a $ \beta >1. $ Calculate $ \lim_{n\to\infty} \frac{k(n)}{n} ,$ where $ k(n) $ is the smallest natural number that satisfies the inequality $ (1+n)^k\ge n^k\beta . $ [i]Neculai Hârţan[/i]

2021 Durer Math Competition Finals, 4

Tags: algebra , floor function , sequence

Indians find those sequences of non-negative real numbers $x_0, x_1,...$ [i]mystical [/i]t hat satisfy $x_0 < 2021$, $x_{i+1} = \lfloor x_i \rfloor \{x_i\}$ for every $i \ge 0$, furthermore the sequence contains an integer different from $0$. How many sequences are mystical according to the Indians?

1987 Austrian-Polish Competition, 3

Tags: functional , limit , functional equation , sequence

A function $f: R \to R$ satisfies $f (x + 1) = f (x) + 1$ for all $x$. Given $a \in R$, define the sequence $(x_n)$ recursively by $x_0 = a$ and $x_{n+1} = f (x_n)$ for $n \ge 0$. Suppose that, for some positive integer m, the difference $x_m - x_0 = k$ is an integer. Prove that the limit $\lim_{n\to \infty}\frac{x_n}{n}$ exists and determine its value.

1980 IMO Longlists, 18

Tags: induction , inequality system , sequence , algebra

Given a sequence $\{a_n\}$ of real numbers such that $|a_{k+m} - a_k - a_m| \leq 1$ for all positive integers $k$ and $m$, prove that, for all positive integers $p$ and $q$, \[|\frac{a_p}{p} - \frac{a_q}{q}| < \frac{1}{p} + \frac{1}{q}.\]

2019 Jozsef Wildt International Math Competition, W. 9

Tags: limit , sequence

Let $\alpha > 0$ be a real number. Compute the limit of the sequence $\{x_n\}_{n\geq 1}$ defined by $$x_n=\begin{cases} \sum \limits_{k=1}^n \sinh \left(\frac{k}{n^2}\right),& \text{when}\ n>\frac{1}{\alpha}\\ 0,& \text{when}\ n\leq \frac{1}{\alpha}\end{cases}$$

1979 IMO Shortlist, 19

Tags: sequence , recurrence relation , inequality , number theory

Consider the sequences $(a_n), (b_n)$ defined by \[a_1=3, \quad b_1=100 , \quad a_{n+1}=3^{a_n} , \quad b_{n+1}=100^{b_n} \] Find the smallest integer $m$ for which $b_m > a_{100}.$

1980 Putnam, B3

Tags: sequence

For which real numbers $a$ does the sequence $(u_n )$ defined by the initial condition $u_0 =a$ and the recursion $u_{n+1} =2u_n - n^2$ have $u_n >0$ for all $n \geq 0?$

2008 Estonia Team Selection Test, 4

Tags: number theory , sequence , divisible , consecutive

Sequence $(G_n)$ is defined by $G_0 = 0, G_1 = 1$ and $G_n = G_{n-1} + G_{n-2} + 1$ for every $n \ge2$. Prove that for every positive integer $m$ there exist two consecutive terms in the sequence that are both divisible by $m$.

2019 Belarus Team Selection Test, 1.4

Tags: algebra , inequalities , sequence

Let the sequence $(a_n)$ be constructed in the following way: $$ a_1=1,\mbox{ }a_2=1,\mbox{ }a_{n+2}=a_{n+1}+\frac{1}{a_n},\mbox{ }n=1,2,\ldots. $$ Prove that $a_{180}>19$. [i](Folklore)[/i]

2024 Bundeswettbewerb Mathematik, 2

Tags: inequalities , sequence , algebra

Determine the set of all real numbers $r$ for which there exists an infinite sequence $a_1,a_2,\dots$ of positive integers satisfying the following three properties: (1) No number occurs more than once in the sequence. (2) The sum of two different elements of the sequence is never a power of two. (3) For all positive integers $n$, we have $a_n<r \cdot n$.

2008 Germany Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: induction , sequence , inequality system , combinatorics

Let $ n > 1$ be an integer. Find all sequences $ a_1, a_2, \ldots a_{n^2 \plus{} n}$ satisfying the following conditions: \[ \text{ (a) } a_i \in \left\{0,1\right\} \text{ for all } 1 \leq i \leq n^2 \plus{} n; \] \[ \text{ (b) } a_{i \plus{} 1} \plus{} a_{i \plus{} 2} \plus{} \ldots \plus{} a_{i \plus{} n} < a_{i \plus{} n \plus{} 1} \plus{} a_{i \plus{} n \plus{} 2} \plus{} \ldots \plus{} a_{i \plus{} 2n} \text{ for all } 0 \leq i \leq n^2 \minus{} n. \] [i]Author: Dusan Dukic, Serbia[/i]

2012 USA TSTST, 1

Tags: arithmetic sequence , sequence , symmetry , pigeonhole principle , additive combinatorics , algebra

Find all infinite sequences $a_1, a_2, \ldots$ of positive integers satisfying the following properties: (a) $a_1 < a_2 < a_3 < \cdots$, (b) there are no positive integers $i$, $j$, $k$, not necessarily distinct, such that $a_i+a_j=a_k$, (c) there are infinitely many $k$ such that $a_k = 2k-1$.

2022 Bosnia and Herzegovina IMO TST, 3

Tags: algebra , sequence

An infinite sequence is given by $x_1=2, x_2=7, x_{n+1} = 4x_n - x_{n-1}$ for all $n \geq 2$. Does there exist a perfect square in this sequence? [hide="Remark"]During the test the initial value of $x_1$ was given as $1$, thus the problem was not graded[/hide]

2019 District Olympiad, 1

Tags: calculus , limit , convergence , sequence

Let $(a_n)_{n \ge 1}$ be a sequence of positive real numbers such that the sequence $(a_{n+1}-a_n)_{n \ge 1}$ is convergent to a non-zero real number. Evaluate the limit $$ \lim_{n \to \infty} \left( \frac{a_{n+1}}{a_n} \right)^n.$$