Olympiad problems

1949 Putnam, A3

Assume that the complex numbers $a_1 , a_2, \ldots$ are all different from $0$, and that $|a_r - a_s| >1$ for $r\ne s.$ Show that the series $$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{a_{n}^{3}}$$ converges.

2019 Bulgaria EGMO TST, 2

Tags: algebra , sequence , sums and products , series

The sequence of real numbers $(a_n)_{n\geq 0}$ is such that $a_0 = 1$, $a_1 = a > 2$ and $\displaystyle a_{n+1} = \left(\left(\frac{a_n}{a_{n-1}}\right)^2 -2\right)a_n$ for every positive integer $n$. Prove that $\displaystyle \sum_{i=0}^k \frac{1}{a_i} < \frac{2+a-\sqrt{a^2-4}}{2}$ for every positive integer $k$.

2003 Miklós Schweitzer, 8

Tags: function , series

Let $f_1, f_2, \ldots$ be continuous real functions on the real line. Is it true that if the series $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} f_n(x)$ is divergent for every $x$, then this holds also true for any typical choice of the signs in the sum (i.e. the set of those $\{ \epsilon _n\}_{n=1}^{\infty} \in \{ +1, -1\}^{\mathbb{N}}$ sequences, for which there series $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \epsilon_nf_n(x)$ is convergent at least at one point $x$, forms a subset of first category within the set $\{+1,-1\}^{\mathbb{N}} $)? (translated by L. Erdős)

2003 Gheorghe Vranceanu, 3

Tags: function , convergence , real analysis , series , floor function

Let be a sequence of functions $ a_n:\mathbb{R}\longrightarrow\mathbb{Z} $ defined as $ a_n(x)=\sum_{i=1}^n (-1)^i\lfloor xi\rfloor . $ [b]a)[/b] Find the real numbers $ y $ such that $ \left( a_n(y) \right)_{n\ge 1} $ converges to $ 1. $ [b]b)[/b] Find the real numbers $ z $ such that $ \left( a_n(z) \right)_{n\ge 1} $ converges.

2001 SNSB Admission, 2

Tags: function , real analysis , series , riemann sum , convergence , sequence

Let be a number $ a\in \left[ 1,\infty \right) $ and a function $ f\in\mathcal{C}^2(-a,a) . $ Show that the sequence $$ \left( \sum_{k=1}^n f\left( \frac{k}{n^2} \right) \right)_{n\ge 1} $$ is convergent, and determine its limit.

1952 Putnam, B5

Tags: convergence , series

If the terms of a sequence $a_{1}, a_{2}, \ldots$ are monotonic, and if $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} a_n$ converges, show that $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} n(a_{n} -a_{n+1 })$ converges.

1956 Putnam, B6

Tags: series , limit , greatest common divisor

Given $T_1 =2, T_{n+1}= T_{n}^{2} -T_n +1$ for $n>0.$ Prove: (i) If $m \ne n,$ $T_m$ and $T_n$ have no common factor greater than $1.$ (ii) $\sum_{i=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{T_i }=1.$

2025 SEEMOUS, P4

Tags: real analysis , series , sequence

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.

1959 Putnam, B2

Tags: sequence , series

Let $c$ be a positive real number. Prove that $c$ can be expressed in infinitely many ways as a sum of infinitely many distinct terms selected from the sequence $\left( \frac{1}{10n} \right)_{n\in \mathbb{N}}$

1954 Miklós Schweitzer, 2

Tags: series , sequence

[b]2.[/b] Show that the series $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{n}sin(asin(\frac{2n\pi}{N}))e^{bcos(\frac{2n\pi}{N})}$ is convergent for every positive integer N and any real numbers a and b. [b](S. 25)[/b]

2022 HMNT, 4

Tags: algebra , series

Let $x<0.1$ be a positive real number. Let the [i]foury series[/i] be $4+4x+4x^2+4x^3+\dots$, and let the [i]fourier series[/i] be $4+44x+444x^2+4444x^3+\dots$. Suppose that the sum of the fourier series is four times the sum of the foury series. Compute $x$.

2019 LIMIT Category C, Problem 3

Tags: series , summation , algebra

Which of the following series are convergent? $\textbf{(A)}~\sum_{n=1}^\infty\sqrt{\frac{2n^2+3}{5n^3+1}}$ $\textbf{(B)}~\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{(n+1)^n}{n^{n+3/2}}$ $\textbf{(C)}~\sum_{n=1}^\infty n^2x\left(1-x^2\right)^n$ $\textbf{(D)}~\text{None of the above}$

1973 Putnam, A2

Tags: convergence , series

Consider an infinite series whose $n$-th term is $\pm (1\slash n)$, the $\pm$ signs being determined according to a pattern that repeats periodically in blocks of eight (there are $2^{8}$ possible patterns). (a) Show that a sufficient condition for the series to be conditionally convergent is that there are four "$+$" signs and four "$-$" signs in the block of eight signs. (b) Is this sufficient condition also necessary?

2017 Korea USCM, 7

Tags: series , real analysis , trigonometric series , inequalities , trigonometry

Prove the following inequality holds if $\{a_n\}$ is a deceasing sequence of positive reals, and $0<\theta<\frac{\pi}{2}$. $$\left|\sum_{n=1}^{2017} a_n \cos n\theta \right| \leq \frac{\pi a_1}{\theta}$$

2004 Nicolae Coculescu, 1

Tags: limit , series , harmonic series , calculus , sequence

Calculate $ \lim_{n\to\infty } \left( e^{1+1/2+1/3+\cdots +1/n+1/(n+1)} -e^{1+1/2+1/3+\cdots +1/n} \right) . $

1963 Putnam, B5

Tags: inequalities , limit , series

Let $(a_n )$ be a sequence of real numbers satisfying the inequalities $$ 0 \leq a_k \leq 100a_n \;\; \text{for} \;\, n \leq k \leq 2n \;\; \text{and} \;\; n=1,2,\ldots,$$ and such that the series $$\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} a_n $$ converges. Prove that $$\lim_{n\to \infty} n a_n = 0.$$

2020 Turkey MO (2nd round), 5

Tags: polynomial , series , algebra , floor function

Find all polynomials with real coefficients such that one can find an integer valued series $a_0, a_1, \dots$ satisfying $\lfloor P(x) \rfloor = a_{ \lfloor x^2 \rfloor}$ for all $x$ real numbers.

2002 Croatia National Olympiad, Problem 1

Tags: series , algebra

For each $x$ with $|x|<1$, compute the sum of the series $$1+4x+9x^2+\ldots+n^2x^{n-1}+\ldots.$$

1941 Putnam, B2

Tags: convergence , series

Find (i) $\lim_{n\to \infty} \sum_{i=1}^{n} \frac{1}{\sqrt{n^2 +i^{2}}}$. (ii) $\lim_{n\to \infty} \sum_{i=1}^{n} \frac{1}{\sqrt{n^2 +i}}$. (iii) $\lim_{n\to \infty} \sum_{i=1}^{n^{2}} \frac{1}{\sqrt{n^2 +i}}$.

2009 Jozsef Wildt International Math Competition, W. 9

Tags: limit , series

Let the series $$s(n,x)=\sum \limits_{k= 0}^n \frac{(1-x)(1-2x)(1-3x)\cdots(1-nx)}{n!}$$ Find a real set on which this series is convergent, and then compute its sum. Find also $$\lim \limits_{(n,x)\to (\infty ,0)} s(n,x)$$

KoMaL A Problems 2021/2022, A. 810

Tags: algebra , combinatorics , series

For all positive integers $n,$ let $r_n$ be defined as \[r_n=\sum_{i=0}^n(-1)^i\binom{n}{i}\frac{1}{(i+1)!}.\]Prove that $\sum_{r=1}^\infty r_i=0.$

2022 VTRMC, 4

Tags: series , summation , infinite sum , logarithm

Calculate the exact value of the series $\sum _{n=2} ^\infty \log (n^3 +1) - \log (n^3 - 1)$ and provide justification.

1953 Putnam, B1

Tags: series , convergence

Is the infinite series $$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n^{1+\frac{1}{n}}}$$ convergent?

2022 Brazil Undergrad MO, 4

Tags: series , real analysis

Let $\alpha, c > 0$, define $x_1 = c$ and let $x_{n + 1} = x_n e^{-x_n^\alpha}$ for $n \geq 1$. For which values of $\beta$ does $\sum_{i = 1}^{\infty} x_n^\beta$ converge?

KoMaL A Problems 2023/2024, A. 883

Tags: algebra , polynomial , analysis , series

Let $J\subsetneq I\subseteq \mathbb R$ be non-empty open intervals, and let $f_1, f_2,\ldots$ be real polynomials satisfying the following conditions: [list] [*] $f_i(x)\ge 0$ for all $i\ge 1$ and $x\in I$, [*] $\sum\limits_{i=1}^\infty f_i(x)$ is finite for all $x\in I$, [*] $\sum\limits_{i=1}^\infty f_i(x)=1$ for all $x\in J$. [/list] Do these conditions imply that $\sum\limits_{i=1}^\infty f_i(x)=1$ also for all $x\in I$? [i]Proposed by András Imolay, Budapest[/i]