Problem:
Suppose is a sequence of integers, and is some integer. For all natural numbers ,
(i) is prime;
(ii) .
Show that the sequence is constant.
Problem:
Suppose is a sequence of integers, and is some integer. For all natural numbers ,
(i) is prime;
(ii) .
Show that the sequence is constant.
Solution:
Consider the sequence defined by for all , so that for all . This sequence is determined by its first two terms and , and the same holds true if we reduce the sequence . Taking remainders , pairs of consecutive terms will repeat themselves, and so the sequence is periodic mod , i.e., there exists a positive integer for which for all , and so . Thus, . From (i), we must have , and in fact, for all . In particular, , and thus , assumes at most two distinct values.
It suffices to show that is constant. Consider the characteristic polynomial of the recurrence defining , . Let and be the distinct roots of , with . Note that in fact while . There exists a unique pair of constants , dependent on the values of and , satisfying the system
It can be proved easily by induction that for all . From this, we get that . If , then eventually grows without bound, which contradicts our previous assertion that assumes at most two values. Thus, , and consequently, . However, and are integers while is irrational. This forces us to conclude that , and so as well. Thus, for all , and (with ).