Determine all sequences (x1,x2,…,x2011) of positive integers such that for every positive integer n there is an integer a with x1n+2x2n+⋯+2011x2011n=an+1+1.
Solution
Throughout this solution, the set of positive integers will be denoted by Z+. Put k=2+3+⋯+2011=2023065. We have 1n+2kn+⋯2011kn=1+k⋅kn=kn+1+1 for all n, so (1,k,…,k) is a valid sequence. We shall prove that it is the only one. Let a valid sequence (x1,…,x2011) be given. For each n∈Z+ we have some yn∈Z+ with x1n+2x2n+⋯+2011x2011n=ynn+1+1. Note that x1n+2x2n+⋯+2011x2011n<(x1+2x2+⋯+2011x2011)n+1, which implies that the sequence (yn) is bounded. In particular, there is some y∈Z+ with yn=y for infinitely many n. Let m be the maximum of all the xi. Grouping terms with equal xi together, the sum x1n+2x2n+⋯+2011x2011n can be written as x1n+2x2n+⋯+x2011n=ammn+am−1(m−1)n+⋯+a1 with ai≥0 for all i and a1+⋯+am=1+2+⋯+2011. So there exist arbitrarily large values of n, for which ammn+⋯+a1−1−y⋅yn=0.(1) The following lemma will help us to determine the ai and y : Lemma. Let integers b1,…,bN be given and assume that there are arbitrarily large positive integers n with b1+b22n+⋯+bNNn=0. Then bi=0 for all i. Proof. Suppose that not all bi are zero. We may assume without loss of generality that bN=0. Dividing through by Nn gives ∣bN∣=bN−1(NN−1)n+⋯+b1(N1)n≤(∣bN−1∣+⋯+∣b1∣)(NN−1)n. The expression (NN−1)n can be made arbitrarily small for n large enough, contradicting the assumption that bN be non-zero. □ We obviously have y>1. Applying the lemma to (1) we see that am=y=m,a1=1, and all the other ai are zero. This implies (x1,…,x2011)=(1,m,…,m). But we also have 1+m=a1+⋯+am=1+⋯+2011=1+k so m=k, which is what we wanted to show.
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