Define a sequence ⟨an⟩n≥0 by a0=0, a1=1 and an=2an−1+an−2 for n≥2.
a. For every m>0 and 0≤j≤m, prove that 2am divides am+j+(−1)jam−j.
b. Suppose 2k divides n for some natural numbers n and k. Prove that 2k divides an.
Solution
Solution:
a. Consider f(j)=am+j+(−1)jam−j, 0≤j≤m, where m is a natural number. We observe that f(0)=2am is divisible by 2am. Similarly, f(1)=am+1−am−1=2am is also divisible by 2am. Assume that 2am divides f(j) for all 0≤j<l, where l≤m. We prove that 2am divides f(l). Observe f(l−1)=am+l−1+(−1)l−1am−l+1f(l−2)=am+l−2+(−1)l−2am−l+2 Thus we have am+l=2am+l−1+am+l−2=2f(l−1)−2(−1)l−1am−l+1+f(l−2)−(−1)l−2am−l+2=2f(l−1)+f(l−2)+(−1)l−1(am−l+2−2am−l+1)=2f(l−1)+f(l−2)+(−1)l−1am−l This gives f(l)=2f(l−1)+f(l−2) By induction hypothesis 2am divides f(l−1) and f(l−2). Hence 2am divides f(l). We conclude that 2am divides f(j) for 0≤j≤m.
b. We see that f(m)=a2m. Hence 2am divides a2m for all natural numbers m. Let n=2kl for some l≥1. Taking m=2k−1l, we see that 2am divides an. Using an easy induction, we conclude that 2kal divides an. In particular 2k divides an.
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