Let be a sequence given by and
for . Prove that the sequence contains no perfect squares.
Solution
By induction we can show that for all positive integer . Suppose that there exists a positive integer such that is a perfect square.
so for all positive integers . Thus, it follows that
Let be the smallest positive integer such that is a perfect square and with a positive integer. We have
is a perfect square. On the other hand, implies and are perfect squares, so and . It is impossible since for all .
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