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Algebra Difficulty 7.3 National Olympiad, round 2 Prove it Hong Kong

Determine all sequences p1,p2,p3,p_1, p_2, p_3, \dots of prime numbers for which there exists an integer kk such that the recurrence relation
pn+2=pn+1+pn+k p_{n+2} = p_{n+1} + p_n + k
holds for all positive integers nn.

Solution

The sequence can be any constant sequence p,p,p,p, p, p, \dots where pp is a prime.

The recurrence relation can be rewritten as
pn+2+k=(pn+1+k)+(pn+k). p_{n+2} + k = (p_{n+1} + k) + (p_n + k).
Since the characteristic equation λ2λ1=0\lambda^2 - \lambda - 1 = 0 has roots 1±52\frac{1 \pm \sqrt{5}}{2}, we have
pn=A(1+52)n+B(152)nk, p_n = A \left( \frac{1 + \sqrt{5}}{2} \right)^n + B \left( \frac{1 - \sqrt{5}}{2} \right)^n - k,
for some constants A,BA, B.

Furthermore, as there are at most p12p_1^2 possibilities for the remainders of the pair (pn+1,pn)(p_{n+1}, p_n) modulo p1p_1, and the remainders of the subsequent terms are uniquely determined by these, the sequence must be periodic modulo p1p_1. Thus, there are infinitely many terms which are congruent to p1p_1 modulo p1p_1. Since they are primes, they must be p1p_1.
If A0A \neq 0, the term (1+52)n\left(\frac{1+\sqrt{5}}{2}\right)^n dominates the expression for pnp_n, and so the sequence is eventually strictly increasing (if A>0A > 0) or decreasing (if A<0A < 0). This contradicts our observation. Thus, we must have A=0A = 0. Similarly, if B0B \neq 0, the term (152)n\left(\frac{1-\sqrt{5}}{2}\right)^n now dominates the expression for pnp_n, which again implies pnp1p_n \neq p_1 for all sufficiently large nn. Thus, we must have B=0B = 0. It follows that pn=kp_n = -k is a constant.
Conversely, if the sequence is p,p,p,p, p, p, \dots, where pp is a prime, we can take k=pk = -p so that the recurrence relation holds.

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