AlgebraDifficulty 5.3AIME, harderProve itUnited States
Problem: Let a0,a1,a2,… be a sequence of real numbers defined by a0=21, a1=35, and an+2=4an+1−4an+n2 for n≥2. Compute the remainder obtained when a2006 is divided by 100.
Solution
Solution: No pattern is evident in the first few terms, so we look for a formula for an. If we write an=An2+Bn+C+bn and put bn+2=4bn+1−4bn. Rewriting the original recurrence, we find An2+(4A+B)n+(4A+2B+C)+bn+2=4(An2+(2A+B)n+(A+B+C)+bn+1)−4(An2+Bn+C+bn)+n2=n2+8An+(4A+4B)+4bn+1−4bn Solving, A=1, B=4, C=8. With this information, we can solve for b0=1 and b1=6. Since the characteristic equation of the recurrence of the bi is x2−4x+4=(x−2)2=0, we have bn=(Dn+E)⋅2n for some constants D and E. Using the known values b0 and b1, we compute D=2 and E=1, and finally an=n2+4n+8+(2n+1)⋅2n Now, taking modulo 100, we have a2006≡62+4⋅6+8+13⋅22006(mod100). Evidently 22006≡0(mod4), but by Euler's theorem 2ϕ(25)≡220≡1(mod25), and so 22006≡26≡14(mod25). Now the Chinese remainder theorem yields 22006≡64(mod100), and we compute a2006≡36+24+8+13⋅64≡0(mod100).
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