Let a1,a2,a3,… be a sequence of positive integers such that a1=2021 and an+1−an=⌊an⌋. Show that there are infinitely many odd numbers and infinitely many even numbers in this sequence.
This one wants a proof. Work it on paper, then read the official solution and mark yourself. Be honest about it: the record is only any use to you if it is.
Suppose there are not infinitely many odd numbers or not infinitely many even numbers, then there exists an N such that the sequence aN,aN+1,aN+2,… all have the same parity. So when n≥N, bn:=⌊an⌋=an+1−an is even. Let kn=an−bn2, then 0≤kn≤2bn. We have an+1=an+bn2=2bn2+kn⟹bn+1≤2bn2+kn<bn+1+1, therefore from an+2=2bn+12+kn+1=2bn2+kn+bn+12, an+2≤4bn2+2kn≤4bn2+4bn<(2bn+1)2 an+2>2bn2+kn+(2bn2+kn−1)2=4bn2+2kn+1−22bn2+kn. Note that 4bn2+2kn+1−22bn2+kn≥(2bn−1)2⟺2bn+kn≥2bn2+kn, and the latter is clearly true, so we have bn+2=⌊an+2⌋=2bn−1 or 2bn. Since bn+2 is even when n+2≥N, we have bn+2=2bn. Thus we have bN+2s=2sbN,bN+2s+1=2sbN+1. bN+2s2=aN+2s+1−aN+2s=bN+2s+12−bN+2s2+kN+2s+1−kN+2s, we have kN+2s+1−kN+2s=2bN+2s2−bN+2s+12=22s(2bN2−bN+12), from 0≤kn≤2bn, we have 22s∣2bN2−bN+12∣≤2bN+2s+1+2bN+2s=2s+1(bN+1+bN). Note that 2 is not a perfect square, so 2bN2−bN+12=0, hence taking s sufficiently large yields a contradiction.
Source: MathNet,
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