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Problem 1704

IMO Shortlist mid-range; USAMO P2/P5
Algebra Difficulty 8.0 Prove it Baltic Way 2021 Shortlist · Baltic Way · 2021

Determine all integers CC for which there exists a sequence (a1,a2,...)(a_1, a_2, ...) of positive integers satisfying
an+12=C+(n+2021)an a_{n+1}^2 = C + (n + 2021)a_n
for all n1n \ge 1.

This one wants a proof. Work it on paper, read the official solution, then mark yourself honestly — the ladder only means something if the record is true.

Official solution

Clearly for C=1C = 1 we have the solution (an)n=1=(n+2019)n=1(a_n)_{n=1}^\infty = (n + 2019)_{n=1}^\infty. Let's prove that this is the only value for CC that works.
Assume (an)n=1(a_n)_{n=1}^\infty is a solution and let (bn)n=1=(ann)n=1(b_n)_{n=1}^\infty = (a_n - n)_{n=1}^\infty. We claim that for n>C+20212n > |C| + 2021^2:
(i) If bn<2019b_n < 2019, then bn<bn+1<2019b_n < b_{n+1} < 2019.
(ii) If bn>2019b_n > 2019, then bn>bn+1>2019b_n > b_{n+1} > 2019.
It is clear that these two claims implies that bn=2019b_n = 2019 for all large nn and hence that C=1C = 1.
Let us prove the claims:
(i) First of all, bn2018b_n \le 2018 implies that
an+12C+(n+2021)(n+2018)=(n+2020)2n+C+2018202120202<(n+2020)2 \begin{align*} a_{n+1}^2 &\le C + (n + 2021)(n + 2018) \\ &= (n + 2020)^2 - n + C + 2018 \cdot 2021 - 2020^2 \\ &< (n + 2020)^2 \end{align*}
and hence an+1<n+2020a_{n+1} < n + 2020 so that indeed bn+1<2019b_{n+1} < 2019.

an+12=C+(n+2021)(n+bn)=(n+1+bn)2+(2019bn)n+2021bn+C(bn+1)2(n+1+bn)2+n+C20192>(n+1+bn)2 \begin{align*} a_{n+1}^2 &= C + (n + 2021)(n + b_n) \\ &= (n + 1 + b_n)^2 + (2019 - b_n)n + 2021b_n + C - (b_n + 1)^2 \\ &\ge (n + 1 + b_n)^2 + n + C - 2019^2 \\ &> (n + 1 + b_n)^2 \end{align*}
and hence an+1>n+1+bna_{n+1} > n + 1 + b_n so that indeed bn+1>bnb_{n+1} > b_n.
(ii) First of all, bn2020b_n \ge 2020 implies that
an+12C+(n+2021)(n+2020)=(n+2020)2+n+C+2021>(n+2020)2 a_{n+1}^2 \geq C + (n + 2021)(n + 2020) = (n + 2020)^2 + n + C + 2021 > (n + 2020)^2
and hence an+1>n+2020a_{n+1} > n + 2020 so that indeed bn+1>2019b_{n+1} > 2019.
Moreover, we have
an+12=C+(n+2021)(n+bn)=(n+1+bn)2+(2019bn)n+2021bn+C(bn+1)2(n+1+bn)2n+C<(n+1+bn)2 \begin{align*} a_{n+1}^2 &= C + (n + 2021)(n + b_n) \\ &= (n + 1 + b_n)^2 + (2019 - b_n)n + 2021b_n + C - (b_n + 1)^2 \\ &\le (n + 1 + b_n)^2 - n + C \\ &< (n + 1 + b_n)^2 \end{align*}
and hence an+1<n+1+bna_{n+1} < n + 1 + b_n so that indeed bn+1<bnb_{n+1} < b_n.

Source: MathNet, licensed CC-BY-4.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic, difficulty and ordering added by this site.