Maths Olympiad Prep

Library / /85 of 136

, 1997

Number theory Difficulty 8.1 Shortlist Prove it Hong Kong

Let {an}\{a_n\} be a sequence of positive integers. It is given that a1=1a_1 = 1, and for n1n \ge 1, an+1a_{n+1} is the smallest positive integer greater than ana_n which satisfies the following condition: for any integers i,j,ki, j, k, with 1i,j,kn+11 \le i, j, k \le n+1, ai+aj3aka_i + a_j \ne 3a_k. Find a2015a_{2015}.

Solution

We have a2015=4531a_{2015} = 4531.
We claim that
a4k+1=9k+1,a4k+2=9k+3,a4k+3=9k+4,a4k+4=9k+7 a_{4k+1} = 9k + 1,\quad a_{4k+2} = 9k + 3,\quad a_{4k+3} = 9k + 4,\quad a_{4k+4} = 9k + 7
for any integer k0k \ge 0. The base cases k=0,1k = 0, 1 can be verified directly. Indeed, the first 8 terms are
1, 3, 4, 7, 10, 12, 13, 16.
Now, assume the claim holds for k=0,1,,n1k = 0, 1, \dots, n-1. Observe that none of the previous terms is congruent to 2 modulo 3, and all numbers congruent to 1 modulo 3 less than 9n9n has appeared. Consider the case k=nk = n.
* Since (9n1)+4=3(3n+1)(9n-1)+4 = 3(3n+1) and 9n+3=3(3n+1)9n+3 = 3(3n+1), we have a4n+19n1,9na_{4n+1} \ne 9n-1, 9n. If (9n+1)+ai=3aj(9n+1)+a_i = 3a_j, then ai2(mod3)a_i \equiv 2 \pmod 3, contradiction. Thus, a4n+1=9n+1a_{4n+1} = 9n+1.
* Since (9n+2)+1=3(3n+1)(9n+2)+1 = 3(3n+1), we have a4n+29n+2a_{4n+2} \ne 9n+2. If (9n+3)+ai=3aj(9n+3)+a_i = 3a_j, then 3ai3 \mid a_i. By the inductive hypothesis, we must have ai=9t+3a_i = 9t+3 for some integer tt. Then we have aj=3n+3t+22(mod3)a_j = 3n+3t+2 \equiv 2 \pmod 3, contradiction. Thus, a4n+2=9n+3a_{4n+2} = 9n+3.
* If (9n+4)+ai=3aj(9n+4)+a_i = 3a_j, then ai2(mod3)a_i \equiv 2 \pmod 3, contradiction. Thus, a4n+3=9n+4a_{4n+3} = 9n+4.
* Since (9n+5)+7=3(3n+4)(9n+5)+7 = 3(3n+4) and (9n+6)+(9n+6)=3(6n+4)(9n+6)+(9n+6) = 3(6n+4), we have a4n+19n+5,9n+6a_{4n+1} \ne 9n+5, 9n+6. If (9n+7)+ai=3aj(9n+7)+a_i = 3a_j, then ai2(mod3)a_i \equiv 2 \pmod 3, contradiction. Thus, a4n+4=9n+7a_{4n+4} = 9n+7.
This proves our claim by induction. Therefore,
a2015=a4×503+3=9×503+4=4531. a_{2015} = a_{4 \times 503 + 3} = 9 \times 503 + 4 = 4531.

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