(1) Note that for the roots xi (i=1,2) of the known equation, we have xi2=xi+1. Therefore,
an+1+an=x1−x2x1n+1−x2n+1+x1−x2x1n−x2n=x1−x2x1n(x1+1)−x2n(x2+1)=x1−x2x1n+2−x2n+2=an+2.
(2) Let ai≡bi(modm)(0⩽bi⩽m−1).
Then, from ai=ai−1+ai−2, we get
bi≡bi−1+bi−2(modm).
Therefore, the pair (bi,bi+1) determines the preceding and succeeding terms, and it is not (0,0) (because if (bi,bi+1)=(0,0), then by the recurrence formula, the entire sequence modulo m would be 0, which contradicts a1=a2=1).
Hence, the possible values of (bi,bi+1) are m2−1.
For m2 pairs (bi,bi+1), by the pigeonhole principle, there must exist i,j(1⩽i<j⩽m2), such that
(bi,bi+1)=(bj,bj+1).
Thus, bi=bj,bi+1=bj+1.
Let p=j−i. Then bk+p=bk.
Therefore, ak+p≡ak(modm).
Hence, the sequence {an} is a periodic sequence modulo m with period p.
Since a1≡a2≡1(modm), we have
ap+1≡ap+2≡1(modm).
By the recurrence formula, we get
ap≡0(modm),ap−1≡1(modm),ap−2≡−1(modm).
By periodicity, we have
aip−2≡−1(modm)(t∈Z+,tp−2⩾1).
Let k=tp−2, then
ak4−2ak≡3(modm).
Therefore, for any positive integer m, there must exist a positive integer k such that
ak4−2ak≡3(modm).
(Zhang Jialiang, Northwest Normal University High School, 730070)