Let a1=3, and for n≥1, let an+1=(n+1)an−n. Find the smallest m≥2005 such that am+1−1∣am2−1.
A number or a short expression. Fractions can be typed as 3/2, and spacing doesn't matter.
Solution
We will show that an=2⋅n!+1 by induction. Indeed, the claim is obvious for n=1, and (n+1)(2⋅n!+1)−n=2⋅(n+1)!+1. Then we wish to find m≥2005 such that 2(m+1)!∣4(m!)2+4m !, or dividing by 2⋅m !, we want m+1∣2(m!+1). Suppose m+1 is composite. Then it has a proper divisor d>2, and since d∣m !, we must have d∣2, which is impossible. Therefore, m+1 must be prime, and if this is the case, then m+1∣m!+1 by Wilson's Theorem. Therefore, since the smallest prime greater than 2005 is 2011, the smallest possible value of m is 2010.
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