Assume that consists of and and is the longest sequence of number, which satisfies the following condition: Every two sections of successive terms in the sequence of numbers are different, i.e., for arbitrary , and are different. Prove that the first four terms and the last four terms in the sequence are the same.
Solution
1. Assume for contradiction: Suppose that the first four terms and the last four terms in the sequence are not the same. That is, assume .
2. **Maximality of **: Since is maximal, the sequence is the longest possible sequence where every two sections of successive 5 terms are different. This implies that any extension of by adding either a 0 or a 1 at the end would result in a repeated 5-term sequence.
3. Consider the extensions: Consider the sequences formed by appending 0 and 1 to the end of :
Since is maximal, both of these sequences must have already occurred somewhere in .
4. Position of the sequences: Since , there must be some element before these two 5-sequences. By definition, it cannot be .
5. Contradiction: Thus, the element right before both 5-sequences must be . This means that the sequence:
occurs twice in , which contradicts the condition that every two sections of successive 5 terms in are different.
6. Conclusion: Therefore, our assumption that must be false. Hence, the first four terms and the last four terms in the sequence must be the same.