Number theoryDifficulty 7.0National olympiad, round 2Prove it
The sequence c0,c1,…,cn,… is defined by c0=1,c1=0 and cn+2=cn+1+cn for n≥0. Consider the set S of ordered pairs (x,y) for which there is a finite set J of positive integers such that x=∑j∈Jcj,y=∑j∈Jcj−1. Prove that there exist real numbers α,β and m,M with the following property: An ordered pair of nonnegative integers (x,y) satisfies the inequality m<αx+βy<M if and only if (x,y)∈S. N. B. A sum over the elements of the empty set is assumed to be 0. (Russia)
Solution
Let φ=(1+5)/2 and ψ=(1−5)/2 be the roots of the quadratic equation t2−t−1=0. So φψ=−1,φ+ψ=1 and 1+ψ=ψ2. An easy induction shows that the general term cn of the given sequence satisfies cn=φ−ψφn−1−ψn−1 for n≥0. Suppose that the numbers α and β have the stated property, for appropriately chosen m and M. Since (cn,cn−1)∈S for each n, the expression αcn+βcn−1=5α(φn−1−ψn−1)+5β(φn−2−ψn−2)=51[(αφ+β)φn−2−(αψ+β)ψn−2] is bounded as n grows to infinity. Because φ>1 and −1<ψ<0, the only way this can happen is if αφ+β=0. Therefore, αψ+β=α(ψ−φ)=−α5. The expression simplifies to αcn+βcn−1=5−α5ψn−2=−αψn−2. Since ψn−2 is bounded, αcn+βcn−1 is bounded if and only if α=0. But this contradicts the condition of the lemma.
Let jr=jr+1=1; then ∑r=1kψjr contains at least two summands equal to ψ1=ψ. Like in the case jr=jr+1=0, we also infer that js=0 and js=2 for all s. Therefore \psi x+y=\sum_{r=1}^{k} \psi^{j_{r}}0$. The current set $J$ should be
\text { either } 1 \leq j_{1}\psi>-1;thereforex^{\prime}, y^{\prime} \geq 0.Moreover,wehave3 x^{\prime}+2 y^{\prime}=2 x+y \leq \frac{2}{3} n;therefore,if(3)holdsthentheinductionapplies:thenumbersx^{\prime}, y^{\prime}arerepresentedintheformasneeded,hencex, y$ also.
Now consider ψψx+y−1. Since ψψx+y−1=x+(ψ−1)(y−1)=ψ(y−1)+(x−y+1) we set x′=y−1 and y′=x−y+1. Again we require that ψψx+y−1∈(−1,φ), i.e. ψx+y∈(φ⋅ψ+1,(−1)⋅ψ+1)=(0,φ). If (4) holds then y−1≥ψx+y−1>−1 and x−y+1≥−ψx−y+1>−φ+1>−1, therefore x′,y′≥0. Moreover, 3x′+2y′=2x+y−1<32n and the induction works.
Finally, (−1,−ψ)∪(0,φ)=(−1,φ) so at least one of (3) and (4) holds and the induction step is justified.
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