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PMO National Stage Oral Phase

Algebra Difficulty 4.8 AIME Prove it Philippines

Problem:
Let f(x)f(x) be a function such that f(1)=1f(1)=1, f(2)=2f(2)=2 and f(x+2)=f(x+1)−f(x)f(x+2)=f(x+1)-f(x). Find f(2016)f(2016).

Solution

Solution:
f(1)=1f(2)=2f(3)=f(2)−f(1)=2−1=1f(4)=f(3)−f(2)=1−2=−1f(5)=f(4)−f(3)=−1−1=−2f(6)=f(5)−f(4)=−2−(−1)=−1f(7)=f(6)−f(5)=−1−(−2)=1f(8)=f(7)−f(6)=1−(−1)=2 \begin{aligned} & f(1)=1 \\ & f(2)=2 \\ & f(3)=f(2)-f(1)=2-1=1 \\ & f(4)=f(3)-f(2)=1-2=-1 \\ & f(5)=f(4)-f(3)=-1-1=-2 \\ & f(6)=f(5)-f(4)=-2-(-1)=-1 \\ & f(7)=f(6)-f(5)=-1-(-2)=1 \\ & f(8)=f(7)-f(6)=1-(-1)=2 \end{aligned}
Observe that this pattern will repeat itself every six, and thus, f(2016)=f(6)=−1f(2016)=f(6)=-1.

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