To determine all possible values of k for which there exist non-negative integers l,m (with l=m) and positive integers p,q such that al+kap=am+kaq, we start by analyzing the given sequence and the equation.
1. Sequence Definition and Initial Conditions:
a0=0,a1=1,an+1=kan+an−1forn≥1
2. Rewriting the Given Equation:
al+kap=am+kaq⟹al−am=k(aq−ap)
Without loss of generality, assume l>m and q>p. This implies al>am and aq>ap.
3. Analyzing the Sequence:
The sequence {an} is strictly increasing. We also note that:
an+1−an=(k−1)an+an−1≥an−an−1
This implies that the sequence {an+1−an} is increasing.
4. Case Analysis:
We consider three cases based on the relationship between q and l.
**Case (i): q≥l+1**
al≥al−am=k(aq−ap)≥k(aq−aq−1)≥k(al+1−al)
(k+1)al≥kal+1
For l=0, this inequality is obviously false. For l≥1:
(k+1)al≥k2al+kal−1>(k+1)al
This is a contradiction.
**Case (ii): q≤l−1**
al−am=k(aq−ap)<kaq≤kal−1
For l=1, m=0, the inequality becomes 1<0, which is false. For l>1:
al−am<al−al−2
am>al−2
m>l−2
Since m<l, we have m=l−1. Thus:
al−al−1=k(aq−ap)
The sequence {an} modulo k is {0,1,0,1,…}, so k∤al−al−1, which is a contradiction.
**Case (iii): q=l**
al−am=kal−kap
(k−1)al=kap−am≤kap≤kal−1
For l=1, this inequality is false. For l>1:
(k−1)al≤al−al−2
(k−2)al≤−al−2
The left-hand side is nonnegative, and the right-hand side is nonpositive, so both must be zero. Thus, k=2.
5. **Verification for k=2:**
For k=2, we take l=2,m=0,p=1,q=2:
a2+2a1=a0+2a2
2+2⋅1=0+2⋅2
4=4
This satisfies the equation.
The final answer is k=2.