Olympiad problems

2009 Kyiv Mathematical Festival, 5

a) Suppose that a sequence of numbers $x_1,x_2,x_3,...$ satisfies the inequality $x_n-2x_{n+1}+x_{n+2} \le 0$ for any $n$ . Moreover $x_o=1,x_{20}=9,x_{200}=6$. What is the maximal value of $x_{2009}$ can be? b) Suppose that a sequence of numbers $x_1,x_2,x_3,...$ satisfies the inequality $2x_n-3x_{n+1}+x_{n+2} \le 0$ for any $n$. Moreover $x_o=1,x_1=2,x_3=1$. Can $x_{2009}$ be greater then $0,678$ ?

2019 Belarus Team Selection Test, 1.4

Tags: inequalities , algebra , 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]

2018 China Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: polynomial , algebra , rational root theorem , sequence

Define the polymonial sequence $\left \{ f_n\left ( x \right ) \right \}_{n\ge 1}$ with $f_1\left ( x \right )=1$, $$f_{2n}\left ( x \right )=xf_n\left ( x \right ), \; f_{2n+1}\left ( x \right ) = f_n\left ( x \right )+ f_{n+1} \left ( x \right ), \; n\ge 1.$$ Look for all the rational number $a$ which is a root of certain $f_n\left ( x \right ).$

2007 Korea Junior Math Olympiad, 1

Tags: number theory , number theory with sequences , integer sequence , multiple , sequence

A sequence $a_1,a_2,...,a_{2007}$ where $a_i \in\{2,3\}$ for $i = 1,2,...,2007$ and an integer sequence $x_1,x_2,...,x_{2007}$ satisfies the following: $a_ix_i + x_{i+2 }\equiv 0$ ($mod 5$) , where the indices are taken modulo $2007$. Prove that $x_1,x_2,...,x_{2007}$ are all multiples of $5$.

2024 Korea Winter Program Practice Test, Q3

Tags: sequence

Consider any sequence of real numbers $a_0$, $a_1$, $\cdots$. If, for all pairs of nonnegative integers $(m, s)$, there exists some integer $n \in [m+1, m+2024(s+1)]$ satisfying $a_m+a_{m+1}+\cdots+a_{m+s}=a_n+a_{n+1}+\cdots+a_{n+s}$, say that this sequence has [i]repeating sums[/i]. Is a sequence with repeating sums always eventually periodic?

2001 Regional Competition For Advanced Students, 4

Tags: sequence , set , algebra

Let $A_o =\{1, 2\}$ and for $n> 0, A_n$ results from $A_{n-1}$ by adding the natural numbers to $A_{n-1}$ which can be represented as the sum of two different numbers from $A_{n-1}$. Let $a_n = |A_n |$ be the number of numbers in $A_n$. Determine $a_n$ as a function of $n$.

2012 IFYM, Sozopol, 2

Tags: algebra , sequence

The sequence $\{x_n\}_{n=0}^\infty$ is defined by the following equations: $x_n=\sqrt{x_{n-1} x_{n-2}+\frac{n}{2}}$ ,$\forall$ $n\geq 2$, $x_0=x_1=1$. Prove that there exist a real number $a$, such that $an<x_n<an+1$ for each natural number $n$.

2020 LIMIT Category 2, 20

Tags: countable , convergence , calculus , sequence

Let $\{a_n \}_n$ be a sequence of real numbers such there there are countably infinite distinct subsequences converging to the same point. We call two subsequences distinct if they do not have a common term. Which of the following statements always holds: (A) $\{a_n \}_n$ is bounded (B) $\{a_n \}_n$ is unbounded (C) The set of convergent subsequence $\{a_n \}_n$ is countable (D) None of these

2014 IMO Shortlist, A1

Tags: algebra , inequalities , sequence , unique

Let $a_0 < a_1 < a_2 < \dots$ be an infinite sequence of positive integers. Prove that there exists a unique integer $n\geq 1$ such that \[a_n < \frac{a_0+a_1+a_2+\cdots+a_n}{n} \leq a_{n+1}.\] [i]Proposed by Gerhard Wöginger, Austria.[/i]

2023 AMC 12/AHSME, 25

Tags: trigonometry , sequence

There is a unique sequence of integers $a_1, a_2, \cdots a_{2023}$ such that $$ \tan2023x = \frac{a_1 \tan x + a_3 \tan^3 x + a_5 \tan^5 x + \cdots + a_{2023} \tan^{2023} x}{1 + a_2 \tan^2 x + a_4 \tan^4 x \cdots + a_{2022} \tan^{2022} x} $$ whenever $\tan 2023x$ is defined. What is $a_{2023}?$ $\textbf{(A) } -2023 \qquad\textbf{(B) } -2022 \qquad\textbf{(C) } -1 \qquad\textbf{(D) } 1 \qquad\textbf{(E) } 2023$

2019 IMC, 4

Tags: recurrence relation , sequence , generating functions

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

2012 India IMO Training Camp, 1

Tags: algebra , equation , sequence

Determine all sequences $(x_1,x_2,\ldots,x_{2011})$ of positive integers, such that for every positive integer $n$ there exists an integer $a$ with \[\sum^{2011}_{j=1} j x^n_j = a^{n+1} + 1\] [i]Proposed by Warut Suksompong, Thailand[/i]

1980 IMO Shortlist, 14

Tags: algebra , sequence , equation

Let $\{x_n\}$ be a sequence of natural numbers such that \[(a) 1 = x_1 < x_2 < x_3 < \ldots; \quad (b) x_{2n+1} \leq 2n \quad \forall n.\] Prove that, for every natural number $k$, there exist terms $x_r$ and $x_s$ such that $x_r - x_s = k.$

2015 IFYM, Sozopol, 2

Tags: sequence , number theory

Let $a_0,a_1,a_2...$ be a sequence of natural numbers with the following property: $a_n^2$ divides $a_{n-1} a_{n+1}$ for $\forall$ $n\in \mathbb{N}$. Prove that, if for some natural $k\geq 2$ the numbers $a_1$ and $a_k$ are coprime, then $a_1$ divides $a_0$.

2014 India IMO Training Camp, 3

Tags: function , combinatorics , additive combinatorics , sequence

Let $r$ be a positive integer, and let $a_0 , a_1 , \cdots $ be an infinite sequence of real numbers. Assume that for all nonnegative integers $m$ and $s$ there exists a positive integer $n \in [m+1, m+r]$ such that \[ a_m + a_{m+1} +\cdots +a_{m+s} = a_n + a_{n+1} +\cdots +a_{n+s} \] Prove that the sequence is periodic, i.e. there exists some $p \ge 1 $ such that $a_{n+p} =a_n $ for all $n \ge 0$.

2014 IMO Shortlist, N7

Tags: number theory , sequence , prime divisor

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]

2005 Polish MO Finals, 2

Tags: quadratic , number theory , sequence , relatively prime

Let $k$ be a fixed integer greater than 1, and let ${m=4k^2-5}$. Show that there exist positive integers $a$ and $b$ such that the sequence $(x_n)$ defined by \[x_0=a,\quad x_1=b,\quad x_{n+2}=x_{n+1}+x_n\quad\text{for}\quad n=0,1,2,\dots,\] has all of its terms relatively prime to $m$. [i]Proposed by Jaroslaw Wroblewski, Poland[/i]

2013 Singapore Senior Math Olympiad, 3

Tags: sequence , inequalities , algebra

Let $b_1,b_2,... $ be a sequence of positive real numbers such that for each $ n\ge 1$, $$b_{n+1}^2 \ge \frac{b_1^2}{1^3}+\frac{b_2^2}{2^3}+...+\frac{b_n^2}{n^3}$$ Show that there is a positive integer $M$ such that $$\sum_{n=1}^M \frac{b_{n+1}}{b_1+b_2+...+b_n} > \frac{2013}{1013}$$

2021 South East Mathematical Olympiad, 1

Tags: sequence , algebra

A sequence $\{a_n\}$ is defined recursively by $a_1=\frac{1}{2}, $ and for $n\ge 2,$ $0<a_n\leq a_{n-1}$ and \[a_n^2(a_{n-1}+1)+a_{n-1}^2(a_n+1)-2a_na_{n-1}(a_na_{n-1}+a_n+1)=0.\] $(1)$ Determine the general formula of the sequence $\{a_n\};$ $(2)$ Let $S_n=a_1+\cdots+a_n.$ Prove that for $n\ge 1,$ $\ln\left(\frac{n}{2}+1\right)<S_n<\ln(n+1).$

2013 Irish Math Olympiad, 9

Tags: algebra , sequence

We say that a doubly infinite sequence $. . . , s_{−2}, s_{−1}, s_{0}, s_1, s_2, . . .$ is subaveraging if $s_n = (s_{n−1} + s_{n+1})/4$ for all integers n. (a) Find a subaveraging sequence in which all entries are different from each other. Prove that all entries are indeed distinct. (b) Show that if $(s_n)$ is a subaveraging sequence such that there exist distinct integers m, n such that $s_m = s_n$, then there are infinitely many pairs of distinct integers i, j with $s_i = s_j$ .

2019 Jozsef Wildt International Math Competition, W. 8

Tags: limit , summation , harmonic numbers , greatest integer function , sequence

Let $(a_n)_{n\geq 1}$ be a positive real sequence given by $a_n=\sum \limits_{k=1}^n \frac{1}{k}$. Compute $$\lim \limits_{n \to \infty}e^{-2a_n} \sum \limits_{k=1}^n \left \lfloor \left(\sqrt[2k]{k!}+\sqrt[2(k+1)]{(k+1)!}\right)^2 \right \rfloor$$where we denote by $\lfloor x\rfloor$ the integer part of $x$.

2020 AMC 10, 21

Tags: sequence

There exists a unique strictly increasing sequence of nonnegative integers $a_1 < a_2 < \dots < a_k$ such that \[\frac{2^{289}+1}{2^{17}+1} = 2^{a_1} + 2^{a_2} + \dots + 2^{a_k}.\] What is $k?$ $\textbf{(A) } 117 \qquad \textbf{(B) } 136 \qquad \textbf{(C) } 137 \qquad \textbf{(D) } 273 \qquad \textbf{(E) } 306$

2009 Brazil Team Selection Test, 4

Tags: greatest common divisor , number theory , sequence

Let $ a_0$, $ a_1$, $ a_2$, $ \ldots$ be a sequence of positive integers such that the greatest common divisor of any two consecutive terms is greater than the preceding term; in symbols, $ \gcd (a_i, a_{i \plus{} 1}) > a_{i \minus{} 1}$. Prove that $ a_n\ge 2^n$ for all $ n\ge 0$. [i]Proposed by Morteza Saghafian, Iran[/i]

Russian TST 2021, P3

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

1980 Austrian-Polish Competition, 1

Tags: algebra , arithmetic sequence , arithmetic progression , sequence

Given three infinite arithmetic progressions of natural numbers such that each of the numbers 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8 belongs to at least one of them, prove that the number 1980 also belongs to at least one of them.