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Algebra Difficulty 6.3 National olympiad Prove it China

For positive integer nn, let fn=[2n2008]+[2n2009]f_n = [2^n \sqrt{2008}] + [2^n \sqrt{2009}]. Prove that there are infinitely many odd numbers and even numbers in the sequence f1,f2,f_1, f_2, \dots ([x][x] represents the biggest integer that does not exceed xx.) (Posed by Zuming Feng)

Solution

We use the dyadic representations of 2008\sqrt{2008} and 2009\sqrt{2009}:
2008=011100.a1a2(2),2009=011100.b1b2(2). \sqrt{2008} = \overline{01}1100.\overline{a_1}a_2\cdots\overline{(2)}, \quad \sqrt{2009} = \overline{01}1100.b_1b_2\cdots\overline{(2)}.
First, we prove that there are infinitely many even numbers by contradiction. Suppose that there are only finitely many even numbers in the sequence. Then there exists a positive integer NN, and for every positive integer n>Nn > N, fnf_n must be odd. We consider n1=N+1n_1 = N+1, n2=N+2n_2 = N+2, .... We observe that in dyadic representation
fni=101100b1b2bni(2)+101100a1a2ani(2) f_{n_i} = \overline{101100b_1b_2\cdots b_{n_i}}_{(2)} + \overline{101100a_1a_2\cdots a_{n_i}}_{(2)}
This number is equal to bni+anib_{n_i} + a_{n_i} modulo 2. As fnif_{n_i} is odd, we have {bni,ani}={0,1}\{b_{n_i}, a_{n_i}\} = \{0, 1\}. Hence,
2008+2009=1011001.c1c2cN1111(2) \sqrt{2008} + \sqrt{2009} = \overline{1011001.c_1c_2\cdots c_{N-1}111\cdots}_{(2)}
Therefore, 2008+2009\sqrt{2008} + \sqrt{2009} must be rational, which is impossible, as we know that it is irrational. Hence, our hypothesis must be wrong, which proves the existence of infinitely many even numbers in the sequence.

In a similar way we can prove the existence of infinitely many odd numbers in the sequence. Let
gn=[2n2009][2n2008], g_n = [2^n \sqrt{2009}] - [2^n \sqrt{2008}],
apparently gng_n and fnf_n have the same parity. Hence, for n>Nn > N, gng_n is even. We observe also that in dyadic representation
gni=101100b1b2bni(2)101100a1a2ani(2) g_{n_i} = \overline{101100b_1b_2\cdots b_{n_i}}_{(2)} - \overline{101100a_1a_2\cdots a_{n_i}}_{(2)}
This number is equal to bnianib_{n_i} - a_{n_i} modulo 2. As gnig_{n_i} is odd, we have bni=anib_{n_i} = a_{n_i}. Thus,
20092008=0.d1d2dN1000(2) \sqrt{2009} - \sqrt{2008} = \overline{0.d_1d_2\cdots d_{N-1}000\cdots}_{(2)}
and this would imply the rationality of 20092008\sqrt{2009} - \sqrt{2008}, which is impossible. Hence, there are infinitely many odd numbers in the sequence.

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