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Number theory Difficulty 7.6 National Olympiad, round 2 Find the answer

For an integer x≥1x \geq 1, let p(x)p(x) be the least prime that does not divide xx, and define q(x)q(x) to be the product of all primes less than p(x)p(x). In particular, p(1)=2.p(1) = 2. For xx having p(x)=2p(x) = 2, define q(x)=1q(x) = 1. Consider the sequence x0,x1,x2,…x_0, x_1, x_2, \ldots defined by x0=1x_0 = 1 and xn+1=xnp(xn)q(xn) x_{n+1} = \frac{x_n p(x_n)}{q(x_n)} for n≥0n \geq 0. Find all nn such that xn=1995x_n = 1995.

A number or a short expression. Fractions can be typed as 3/2, and spacing doesn't matter.

Solution

We are given a sequence x0,x1,x2,… x_0, x_1, x_2, \ldots defined by x0=1 x_0 = 1 and the recursive formula

xn+1=xnp(xn)q(xn) x_{n+1} = \frac{x_n p(x_n)}{q(x_n)}

where p(x) p(x) is the least prime that does not divide x x and q(x) q(x) is the product of all primes less than p(x) p(x) . If p(x)=2 p(x) = 2 , then q(x)=1 q(x) = 1 .

Our goal is to find all n n such that xn=1995 x_n = 1995 .

### Step-by-Step Calculation

Initial value:
x0=1 x_0 = 1

**For x0=1 x_0 = 1 :**
- p(1)=2 p(1) = 2 (the smallest prime not dividing 1)
- q(1)=1 q(1) = 1 (by definition for p(x)=2 p(x) = 2 )

x1=x0⋅p(x0)q(x0)=1⋅21=2 x_1 = \frac{x_0 \cdot p(x_0)}{q(x_0)} = \frac{1 \cdot 2}{1} = 2

**For x1=2 x_1 = 2 :**
- p(2)=3 p(2) = 3 (the smallest prime not dividing 2)
- q(2)=2 q(2) = 2

x2=x1⋅p(x1)q(x1)=2⋅32=3 x_2 = \frac{x_1 \cdot p(x_1)}{q(x_1)} = \frac{2 \cdot 3}{2} = 3

**For x2=3 x_2 = 3 :**
- p(3)=2 p(3) = 2 (the smallest prime not dividing 3)
- q(3)=1 q(3) = 1 (by definition for p(x)=2 p(x) = 2 )

x3=x2⋅p(x2)q(x2)=3⋅21=6 x_3 = \frac{x_2 \cdot p(x_2)}{q(x_2)} = \frac{3 \cdot 2}{1} = 6

From here, we proceed computing each value of xn x_n in a similar fashion, leveraging the division and properties of the primes defined by p(x) p(x) and q(x) q(x) .

### Finding n n such that xn=1995 x_n = 1995

Continuing the sequence recursively as defined:

- Compute subsequent terms using the defined recursive relationship.
- Track when xn=1995 x_n = 1995 .

Ultimately, through this method, one finds:

n=142 n = 142

Therefore, the value of n n such that xn=1995 x_n = 1995 is 142\boxed{142}.

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