Maths Olympiad Prep

Library / /100 of 128

Algebra Difficulty 6.2 National Olympiad Prove it Philippines

Problem:

Suppose a1,a2,a_{1}, a_{2}, \ldots is a sequence of integers, and dd is some integer. For all natural numbers nn,
(i) an\left|a_{n}\right| is prime;
(ii) an+2=an+1+an+da_{n+2}=a_{n+1}+a_{n}+d.

Show that the sequence is constant.

Solution

Solution:

Consider the sequence {bn}\{b_{n}\} defined by bn=an+db_{n}=a_{n}+d for all nn, so that bn+2=bn+1+bnb_{n+2}=b_{n+1}+b_{n} for all nn. This sequence is determined by its first two terms b1b_{1} and b2b_{2}, and the same holds true if we reduce the sequence moda1\bmod a_{1}. Taking remainders moda1\bmod a_{1}, pairs of consecutive terms will repeat themselves, and so the sequence {bn}\{b_{n}\} is periodic mod a1a_{1}, i.e., there exists a positive integer \ell for which bk+b(moda1)b_{k+\ell} \equiv b_{\ell}\pmod{a_{1}} for all kk, and so a+1a1(moda1)a_{\ell+1} \equiv a_{1} \pmod{a_{1}}. Thus, a1a+1a_{1} \mid a_{\ell+1}. From (i), we must have a1=a+1\left|a_{1}\right|=\left|a_{\ell+1}\right|, and in fact, a1=ak+1\left|a_{1}\right|=\left|a_{k \ell+1}\right| for all kk. In particular, ak+1a_{k \ell+1}, and thus bk+1b_{k \ell+1}, assumes at most two distinct values.

It suffices to show that {bn}\{b_{n}\} is constant. Consider the characteristic polynomial of the recurrence defining {bn}\{b_{n}\}, P(x)=x2x1P(x)=x^{2}-x-1. Let φ\varphi and ψ\psi be the distinct roots of PP, with φ>ψ\varphi>\psi. Note that in fact φ>1\varphi>1 while 0>ψ>10>\psi>-1. There exists a unique pair of constants c1,c2c_{1}, c_{2}, dependent on the values of b1b_{1} and b2b_{2}, satisfying the system
b1=c1+c2b2=c1φ+c2ψ \begin{aligned} & b_{1}=c_{1}+c_{2} \\ & b_{2}=c_{1} \varphi+c_{2} \psi \end{aligned}
It can be proved easily by induction that bn=c1φn1+c2ψn1b_{n}=c_{1} \varphi^{n-1}+c_{2} \psi^{n-1} for all n1n \geq 1. From this, we get that bnc1φn1c2\left|b_{n}\right| \geq\left|c_{1}\right| \varphi^{n-1}-\left|c_{2}\right|. If c10c_{1} \neq 0, then bn\left|b_{n}\right| eventually grows without bound, which contradicts our previous assertion that bk+1\left|b_{k \ell+1}\right| assumes at most two values. Thus, c1=0c_{1}=0, and consequently, bn+1=ψbnb_{n+1}=\psi b_{n}. However, bn+1b_{n+1} and bnb_{n} are integers while ψ\psi is irrational. This forces us to conclude that bn+1=bn=0b_{n+1}=b_{n}=0, and so c2=0c_{2}=0 as well. Thus, bn=0b_{n}=0 for all nn, and an=a1a_{n}=a_{1} (with d=a1d=-a_{1} ).

Want a route through all this instead of an archive? The track puts 2,000 problems in a working order, from AMC 10 level to the IMO shortlist.

Source: MathNet, licensed CC-BY-4.0. Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty) added by this project.