This website contains problems from math contests. Problems and corresponding tags were obtained from the Art of Problem Solving website.

Tags were heavily modified to better represent problems.

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Found problems: 51

2015 VTRMC, Problem 4

Tags: series
Consider the harmonic series $\sum_{n\ge1}\frac1n=1+\frac12+\frac13+\ldots$. Prove that every positive rational number can be obtained as an unordered partial sum of this series. (An unordered partial sum may skip some of the terms $\frac1k$.)

1961 Putnam, A3

Tags: limit , series
Evaluate $$\lim_{n\to \infty} \sum_{j=1}^{n^{2}} \frac{n}{n^2 +j^2 }.$$

1965 Spain Mathematical Olympiad, 8

Tags: geometry , series
Let be $\gamma_1$ a circumference of radius $r$ and $P$ an exterior point that is at distance $a$ from the centre of $\gamma_1$. We build two tangent lines $r,s$ to $\gamma_1$ from $P$ and $\gamma_2$ is constructed as a smaller circumference, tangent to both lines and, also, tangent to $\gamma_1$. We construct inductively $\gamma_{n+1}$ as a tangent circumference to $\gamma_{n}$ and, also, tangent to $r$ and $s$. Determine: a) The radius of $\gamma_2$. b) The radius of $\gamma_n$. c) The sum of the lengths of $\gamma_1, \gamma_2, \gamma_3, ...$.

2019 Korea USCM, 7

Tags: analysis , series
For a real number $a$ and an integer $n(\geq 2)$, define $$S_n (a) = n^a \sum_{k=1}^{n-1} \frac{1}{k^{2019} (n-k)^{2019}}$$ Find every value of $a$ s.t. sequence $\{S_n(a)\}_{n\geq 2}$ converges to a positive real.

1954 Putnam, B2

Let $s$ denote the sum of the alternating harmonic series. Rearrange this series as follows $$1 + \frac{1}{3} - \frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{5} +\frac{1}{7} - \frac{1}{4} + \frac{1}{9} + \frac{1}{11} - \ldots$$ Assume as known that this series converges as well and denote its sum by $S$. Denote by $s_k, S_k$ respectively the $k$-th partial sums of both series. Prove that $$ \!\!\!\! \text{i})\; S_{3n} = s_{4n} +\frac{1}{2} s_{2n}.$$ $$ \text{ii}) \; S\ne s.$$

2015 IMC, 6

Prove that $$\sum\limits_{n = 1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{\sqrt{n}\left(n+1\right)} < 2.$$ Proposed by Ivan Krijan, University of Zagreb

2012 Centers of Excellency of Suceava, 3

Consider the sequence $ \left( I_n \right)_{n\ge 1} , $ where $ I_n=\int_0^{\pi/4} e^{\sin x\cos x} (\cos x-\sin x)^{2n} (\cos x+\sin x )dx, $ for any natural number $ n. $ [b]a)[/b] Find a relation between any two consecutive terms of $ I_n. $ [b]b)[/b] Calculate $ \lim_{n\to\infty } nI_n. $ [i]c)[/i] Show that $ \sum_{i=1}^{\infty }\frac{1}{(2i-1)!!} =\int_0^{\pi/4} e^{\sin x\cos x} (\cos x+\sin x )dx. $ [i]Cătălin Țigăeru[/i]

2024 Mexican University Math Olympiad, 4

Given \( b > 0 \), consider the following matrix: \[ B = \begin{pmatrix} b & b^2 \\ b^2 & b^3 \end{pmatrix} \] Denote by \( e_i \) the top left entry of \( B^i \). Prove that the following limit exists and calculate its value: \[ \lim_{i \to \infty} \sqrt[i]{e_i}. \]

2015 IMC, 3

Tags: series , sequence
Let $F(0)=0$, $F(1)=\frac32$, and $F(n)=\frac{5}{2}F(n-1)-F(n-2)$ for $n\ge2$. Determine whether or not $\displaystyle{\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\, \frac{1}{F(2^n)}}$ is a rational number. (Proposed by Gerhard Woeginger, Eindhoven University of Technology)

2016 Korea USCM, 2

Suppose $\{a_n\}$ is a decreasing sequence of reals and $\lim\limits_{n\to\infty} a_n = 0$. If $S_{2^k} - 2^k a_{2^k} \leq 1$ for any positive integer $k$, show that $$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} a_n \leq 1$$ (At here, $S_m = \sum_{n=1}^m a_n$ is a partial sum of $\{a_n\}$.)

2014 Cezar Ivănescu, 1

For a sequence $ \left( x_n \right)_{n\ge 1} $ of real numbers that are at least $ 1, $ prove that the series $ \sum_{i=1}^{\infty } \frac{1}{x_i} $ converges if and only if the series $ \sum_{i=1}^{\infty } \frac{1}{1+x_i} $ converges if and only if the series $ \sum_{i=1}^{\infty } \frac{1}{\lfloor x_i\rfloor } $ converges.

2018 Korea USCM, 8

Suppose a sequence of reals $\{a_n\}_{n\geq 0}$ satisfies $a_0 = 0$, $\frac{100}{101} <a_{100}<1$, and $$2a_n - a_{n-1} -a_{n+1} \leq 2 (1-a_n )^3$$ for every $n\geq 1$. (1) Define a sequence $b_n = a_n - \frac{n}{n+1}$. Prove that $b_n\leq b_{n+1}$ for any $n\geq 100$. (2) Determine whether infinite series $\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{a_n}{n^2}$ converges or diverges.

1960 Putnam, B6

Tags: p-adic , series
Any positive integer $n$ can be written in the form $n=2^{k}(2l+1)$ with $k,l$ positive integers. Let $a_n =e^{-k}$ and $b_n = a_1 a_2 a_3 \cdots a_n.$ Prove that $$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} b_n$$ converges.

2018 Korea USCM, 1

Tags: vector , series
Given vector $\mathbf{u}=\left(\frac{1}{3}, \frac{1}{3}, \frac{1}{3} \right)\in\mathbb{R}^3$ and recursively defined sequence of vectors $\{\mathbf{v}_n\}_{n\geq 0}$ $$\mathbf{v}_0 = (1,2,3),\quad \mathbf{v}_n = \mathbf{u}\times\mathbf{v}_{n-1}$$ Evaluate the value of infinite series $\sum_{n=1}^\infty (3,2,1)\cdot \mathbf{v}_{2n}$.

2019 Simon Marais Mathematical Competition, A4

Suppose $x_1,x_2,x_3,\dotsc$ is a strictly decreasing sequence of positive real numbers such that the series $x_1+x_2+x_3+\cdots$ diverges. Is it necessary true that the series $\sum_{n=2}^{\infty}{\min \left\{ x_n,\frac{1}{n\log (n)}\right\} }$ diverges?

2020 AMC 12/AHSME, 22

Tags: series
Let $(a_n)$ and $(b_n)$ be the sequences of real numbers such that \[ (2 + i)^n = a_n + b_ni \] for all integers $n\geq 0$, where $i = \sqrt{-1}$. What is \[\sum_{n=0}^\infty\frac{a_nb_n}{7^n}\,?\] $\textbf{(A) }\frac 38\qquad\textbf{(B) }\frac7{16}\qquad\textbf{(C) }\frac12\qquad\textbf{(D) }\frac9{16}\qquad\textbf{(E) }\frac47$

1960 Putnam, B2

Evaluate the double series $$\sum_{j=0}^{\infty} \sum_{k=0}^{\infty} 2^{-3k -j -(k+j)^{2}}.$$

2024 CIIM, 6

Given a real number $x$, define the series \[ S(x) = \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \{n! \cdot x\}, \] where $\{s\} = s - \lfloor s \rfloor$ is the fractional part of the number $s$. Determine if there exists an irrational number $x$ for which the series $S(x)$ converges.

1985 Traian Lălescu, 1.2

Calculate $ \sum_{i=2}^{\infty}\frac{i^2-2}{i!} . $

2019 Korea USCM, 5

A sequence $\{a_n\}_{n\geq 1}$ is defined by a recurrence relation $$a_1 = 1,\quad a_{n+1} = \log \frac{e^{a_n}-1}{a_n}$$ And a sequence $\{b_n\}_{n\geq 1}$ is defined as $b_n = \prod\limits_{i=1}^n a_i$. Evaluate an infinite series $\sum\limits_{n=1}^\infty b_n$.

2011 Laurențiu Duican, 4

[b]a)[/b] Provide an example of a sequence $ \left( a_n \right)_{n\ge 1} $ of positive real numbers whose series converges, and has the property that each member (sequence) of the family of sequences $ \left(\left( n^{\alpha } a_n \right)_{n\ge 1}\right)_{\alpha >0} $ is unbounded. [b]b)[/b] Let $ \left( b_n \right)_{n\ge 1} $ be a sequence of positive real numbers, having the property that $$ nb_{n+1}\leqslant b_1+b_2+\cdots +b_n, $$ for any natural number $ n. $ Prove that the following relations are equivalent: $\text{(i)} $ there exists a convergent member (series) of the family of series $ \left( \sum_{i=1}^{\infty } b_i^{\beta } \right)_{\beta >0} $ $ \text{(ii)} $ there exists a member (sequence) of the family of sequences $ \left(\left( n^{\beta } b_n \right)_{n\ge 1}\right)_{\beta >0} $ that is convergent to $ 0. $ [i]Eugen Păltănea[/i]

2024-IMOC, A1

Given a positive integer $N$. Prove that \[\sum_{m=1}^N \sum_{n=1}^N \frac{1}{mn^2+m^2n+2mn}<\frac{7}{4}.\] [i]Proposed by tan-1[/i]

1948 Putnam, A3

Tags: series , sequence
Let $(a_n)$ be a decreasing sequence of positive numbers with limit $0$ such that $$b_n = a_n -2 a_{n+1}+a_{n+2} \geq 0$$ for all $n.$ Prove that $$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} n b_n =a_1.$$

1989 Bulgaria National Olympiad, Problem 2

Prove that the sequence $(a_n)$, where $$a_n=\sum_{k=1}^n\left\{\frac{\left\lfloor2^{k-\frac12}\right\rfloor}2\right\}2^{1-k},$$converges, and determine its limit as $n\to\infty$.

1942 Putnam, A3

Is the series $$\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{n!}{(n+1)^{n}}\cdot \left(\frac{19}{7}\right)^{n}$$ convergent or divergent?