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Algebra Difficulty 7.9 National Olympiad, round 2 Prove it Romania

The sequence (an)n1(a_n)_{n \ge 1} of real numbers is such that the sequence (xn)n1(x_n)_{n \ge 1} defined by xn=max{an,an+1,an+2}x_n = \max\{a_n, a_{n+1}, a_{n+2}\} is convergent and the sequence (yn)n1(y_n)_{n \ge 1} defined by yn=an+1any_n = a_{n+1} - a_n has limit 00. Prove that the sequence (an)n(a_n)_n is convergent.

Solution

Let L=limnxnL = \lim_{n \to \infty} x_n. Since xn=max{an,an+1,an+2}x_n = \max\{a_n, a_{n+1}, a_{n+2}\}, for every nn, anxna_n \le x_n, an+1xna_{n+1} \le x_n, an+2xna_{n+2} \le x_n.

Let ε>0\varepsilon > 0. Since xnLx_n \to L, there exists N1N_1 such that for all nN1n \ge N_1, xnL<ε/2|x_n - L| < \varepsilon/2, i.e., Lε/2<xn<L+ε/2L - \varepsilon/2 < x_n < L + \varepsilon/2.

Also, since yn=an+1an0y_n = a_{n+1} - a_n \to 0, there exists N2N_2 such that for all nN2n \ge N_2, an+1an<ε/4|a_{n+1} - a_n| < \varepsilon/4.

Let N=max{N1,N2}N = \max\{N_1, N_2\}. For nNn \ge N, an,an+1,an+2xn<L+ε/2a_n, a_{n+1}, a_{n+2} \le x_n < L + \varepsilon/2.

We claim that anLa_n \to L.

First, we show that lim supanL\limsup a_n \le L.

Suppose not. Then there exists a subsequence ankL>La_{n_k} \to L' > L. But then for large kk, ank>L+εa_{n_k} > L + \varepsilon for some ε>0\varepsilon > 0. But xnkank>L+εx_{n_k} \ge a_{n_k} > L + \varepsilon, contradicting xnkLx_{n_k} \to L.

So lim supanL\limsup a_n \le L.

Now, we show that lim infanL\liminf a_n \ge L.

Suppose not. Then there exists a subsequence amkL<La_{m_k} \to L'' < L. For kk large, amk<Lεa_{m_k} < L - \varepsilon for some ε>0\varepsilon > 0.

But amk+1=amk+ymka_{m_k+1} = a_{m_k} + y_{m_k}, amk+2=amk+1+ymk+1=amk+ymk+ymk+1a_{m_k+2} = a_{m_k+1} + y_{m_k+1} = a_{m_k} + y_{m_k} + y_{m_k+1}.

Since yn0y_n \to 0, for large kk, ymk<ε/4|y_{m_k}| < \varepsilon/4, ymk+1<ε/4|y_{m_k+1}| < \varepsilon/4.

So amk+1<Lε+ε/4=L3ε/4a_{m_k+1} < L - \varepsilon + \varepsilon/4 = L - 3\varepsilon/4,
amk+2<Lε+ε/4+ε/4=Lε/2a_{m_k+2} < L - \varepsilon + \varepsilon/4 + \varepsilon/4 = L - \varepsilon/2.

Therefore, xmk=max{amk,amk+1,amk+2}<Lε/2x_{m_k} = \max\{a_{m_k}, a_{m_k+1}, a_{m_k+2}\} < L - \varepsilon/2, contradicting xmkLx_{m_k} \to L.

Therefore, lim infanL\liminf a_n \ge L.

Thus, anLa_n \to L.

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