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jlacosta   0
May 1, 2025
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0 replies
jlacosta
May 1, 2025
0 replies
Cute property of Pascal hexagon config
Miquel-point   1
N 13 minutes ago by FarrukhBurzu
Source: KoMaL B. 5444
In cyclic hexagon $ABCDEF$ let $P$ denote the intersection of diagonals $AD$ and $CF$, and let $Q$ denote the intersection of diagonals $AE$ and $BF$. Prove that if $BC=CP$ and $DP=DE$, then $PQ$ bisects angle $BQE$.

Proposed by Géza Kós, Budapest
1 reply
1 viewing
Miquel-point
an hour ago
FarrukhBurzu
13 minutes ago
Number theory problem
Angelaangie   3
N 24 minutes ago by megarnie
Source: JBMO 2007
Prove that 7p+3^p-4 it is not a perfect square where p is prime.
3 replies
Angelaangie
Jun 19, 2018
megarnie
24 minutes ago
Triangular Numbers in action
integrated_JRC   28
N 26 minutes ago by SomeonecoolLovesMaths
Source: RMO 2018 P5
Find all natural numbers $n$ such that $1+[\sqrt{2n}]~$ divides $2n$.

( For any real number $x$ , $[x]$ denotes the largest integer not exceeding $x$. )
28 replies
integrated_JRC
Oct 7, 2018
SomeonecoolLovesMaths
26 minutes ago
another n x n table problem.
pohoatza   3
N 36 minutes ago by reni_wee
Source: Romanian JBTST III 2007, problem 3
Consider a $n$x$n$ table such that the unit squares are colored arbitrary in black and white, such that exactly three of the squares placed in the corners of the table are white, and the other one is black. Prove that there exists a $2$x$2$ square which contains an odd number of unit squares white colored.
3 replies
pohoatza
May 13, 2007
reni_wee
36 minutes ago
No more topics!
2-adic Valuation Unbounded
tigerzhang   14
N May 4, 2025 by GingerMan
Source: Own
For any nonzero integer, define $\nu_2(n)$ as the largest integer $k$ such that $2^k \mid n$. Find all integers $n$ that are not powers of $3$ such that the sequence $\nu_2\left(3^0-n\right),\nu_2\left(3^1-n\right),\nu_2\left(3^2-n\right),\ldots$ is unbounded.
14 replies
tigerzhang
Nov 5, 2021
GingerMan
May 4, 2025
2-adic Valuation Unbounded
G H J
Source: Own
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tigerzhang
351 posts
#1 • 7 Y
Y by ike.chen, centslordm, jhu08, CyclicISLscelesTrapezoid, Mogmog8, mathmax12, WiseTigerJ1
For any nonzero integer, define $\nu_2(n)$ as the largest integer $k$ such that $2^k \mid n$. Find all integers $n$ that are not powers of $3$ such that the sequence $\nu_2\left(3^0-n\right),\nu_2\left(3^1-n\right),\nu_2\left(3^2-n\right),\ldots$ is unbounded.
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DottedCaculator
7355 posts
#3
Y by
answer?
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AwesomeYRY
579 posts
#4
Y by
Solution
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by AwesomeYRY, Nov 5, 2021, 2:45 AM
Reason: stupid
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pi271828
3371 posts
#5
Y by
bro what i posted here :skull:

Solution
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Leo.Euler
577 posts
#7
Y by
The answer is all $n \equiv 1, 3 \pmod{8}$ that are not powers of $3$.

Notice by modulo $8$ inspection that all $\nu_2$'s are at most $2$ if $n \not\equiv 1, 3 \pmod{8}$. Thus $n$ that work satisfy $n \equiv 1, 3 \pmod{8}$.

Now we show that any $n \equiv 1, 3 \pmod{8}$ that is not a power of $3$ works. It suffices to show that the order of $3$ modulo $2^n$ is $2^{n-2}$. Realize that \[ \nu_2(3^{2^k}-1) = \nu_2(2^k)+\nu_2(3^2-1^2)-1=k+2, \]so the order is $2^{n-2}$ as desired.
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john0512
4190 posts
#8
Y by
The answer is all positive integers that are 1 or 3 mod 8.

Clearly, this is necessary, as $3^k$ is always 1 or 3 mod 8, so otherwise $3^k-n$ will never be divisible by 8.

Claim: $3$ has order $2^{n-2}$ mod $2^n$ for $n\geq 3$. By $p=2$ LTE, we have $$v_2(3^k-1)=v_2(2)+v_2(n)+v_2(4)-1=v_2(n)-2,$$which clearly implies this result.

However, all numbers in the cycle generated by 3 are 1 or 3 mod 8. Since there are precisely $2^{n-2}$ numbers that are 1 or 3 mod 8, all of these are part of this cycle. Therefore, for each $n$ that is 1 mod 8, for arbitrarily large $c$ there exists $k$ with $3^k\equiv n\pmod{c}$, hence done.
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cursed_tangent1434
635 posts
#9 • 1 Y
Y by GeoKing
Solved with Shreyasharma. Not sure if we overcomplicated this lol.

We claim that the answer is all $n \equiv 1 \pmod{8}$ or $n\equiv 3 \pmod{8}$. First note that, when $n$ is even, $3^k-n$ is most clearly odd and thus, the required sequence is most obviously bounded. Further, when $n\equiv 5 \pmod{8}$,
\[3^n-5 \equiv 3^n+3 \in \{4,6\} \pmod{8}\]when $n\equiv 7 \pmod{8}$, we also have
\[3^n-7 \equiv 3^n+1 \in \{2,4\} \pmod{8}\]So, any term in this sequence is not greater than $2$ for these cases implying that they are clearly bounded. Thus, all other possibilities besides the claimed ones are impossible.

Now, consider $n \equiv 1,3 \pmod{8}$. One can check quite easily that there exists $i$ such that $8\mid 3^i-n$ in these cases. Then, assume there exists a positive integer $k \geq 3$ (we verified that this is divisible by $8$) such that $\nu_2(3^i-n)\leq k$ for all $i \in \mathbb{N}$. Let $r$ be the positive integer such that $2^k \mid 3^r-n$. Then,
\begin{align*}
    3^r & \equiv n \pmod{2^k} \text{ but, }\\
    3^r & \equiv n + 2^k \pmod{2^{k+1}}
\end{align*}Now, we note that for all even $m \geq 2$,
\begin{align*}
    3^{m+r} &\equiv n\cdot 3^m + 2^k \pmod{2^{k+1}}\\
    3^{m+r} - n &\equiv n\left(3^m-1\right) + 2^k \pmod{2^{k+1}}
\end{align*}Now, one can consider $m=2^{k-2}$ which is clearly even since we confirmed that $k \geq 3$. By LTE, this gives
\[\nu_2(3^m-1)=\nu_2(3-1)+\nu_2(3+1)+\nu_2(m) - 1 = 1+2-(k-2)-1=k\]Thus,
\[3^{m+r} - n \equiv n\left(3^m-1\right) + 2^k \equiv n\cdot 2^k + 2^k \equiv 0 \pmod{2^{k+1}}\]But this is a most clear contradiction to our assumption that $k$ is the maximum element of this sequence. Thus, there indeed exists no such maximum and the sequence is unbounded as desired.
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Shreyasharma
682 posts
#10 • 2 Y
Y by cursed_tangent1434, GeoKing
Second solution with cursed_tangent1434.

Time to kill this problem with 07BRA2.

Easy to see that $n$ even fail. Then $n \equiv 5$ or $n \equiv 7$ modulo $8$ have bounded $\nu_2$ less than or equal to $2$ by looking at modulo $8$ for $3^k - n$.

Claim: We have $\text{ord}_2(3) = 2^{n-2}$ modulo $2^n$.
Proof. Note that,
\begin{align*}
\nu_2(3^{k} - 1) = \nu_2(2) + \nu_2(4) + \nu_2(k) - 1
\end{align*}for $k$ even and,
\begin{align*}
\nu_2(3^k - 1) = 1
\end{align*}for $k$ odd. Then clearly we require $2 + \nu_2(k) = n$ and hence $2^{n-2}$ is the order of $3$ modulo $2^n$. $\blacksquare$

Thus take $3$ as a quasi generator.

Claim: $3^k$ only covers residues congruent to $1$ or $3$ modulo $8$ over modulo $2^n$.
Proof. From 07BRA2 we can note that all odd quadratic residues modulo some $2^k$ are $1$ modulo $8$, so $3^{2k}$ only covers residues congruent to $1$ modulo $8$.

Now we claim that $3^{2k+1}$ in fact only covers residues congruent to $3$ modulo $8$. To see this induct. Note that the base case of $n = 3$ for $2^3$ is trivial. Now from our inductive step assume for some $k$ the residue of $3^{2k+1}$ modulo $2^n$ say $c$, is congruent to $3$ modulo $8$. Then clearly,
\begin{align*}
3^{2k+1} \equiv c + m \cdot 2^n \pmod{2^{n+1}}
\end{align*}Now taking modulo $8$ we have $c + m \cdot 2^n \equiv c \pmod{8}$, completing the induction. $\blacksquare$

Now note that as a generator $3$ covers $2^{n-2}$ distinct residues mod $2^n$. However as there are exactly $2^{n-2}$ residues that are $1$ or $3$ modulo $8$, we must in fact have $3^k$ cycle over all residues congruent to $1$ or $3$ modulo $8$, modulo $2^n$ for $n \geq 3$. Now we can finish.

Note that for the sequence to be unbounded for numbers $1$ or $3$ modulo $8$ it suffices to show that $\nu_2(3^k - 3m - r)$ can grow arbitrarily large for $r = 1$ or $r = 3$. However note that for any $n$ we have for some $k$,
\begin{align*}
3^k \equiv 3m + r \pmod{2^n}
\end{align*}from our lemma concerning $3$ as a generator. Thus we are done.
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AlanLG
241 posts
#12
Y by
Similiar as Brazil 2007/2
As $3^j$ gives only residues $1,3\pmod 8$ if a number $n$ satisfies the condition it must be of that form. We are going to prove those in fact satisfies, this is, it always exists a $m$ and $j$ such that $3^j\equiv n\pmod {2^m}$ for every $n$ of this form, it suffices to prove that $\operatorname{Ord}_{2^m}(3)=2^{m-3}$ to state that every $n\equiv 1,3\pmod 8$ is a power of $3 \pmod {2^m}$(because those sets would have the same number of elements) , but this is true as
$$m=\nu_2(3^{\operatorname{ord}_{2^m}(3)}-1)=\nu_2(3-1)+\nu_2(3+1)+\nu_2(\operatorname{ord}_{2^m}(3))-1$$
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joshualiu315
2534 posts
#13
Y by
The answer is all $n$ that satisfy $\boxed{n \equiv 1,3 \pmod{8}}$. This is necessary as ${3^k \pmod{8}}$ only has the terms $1$ and $3$, so otherwise, the sequence is strictly bounded under $3$.

Now, to prove that each $n$ that is $1$ or $3$ modulo $8$ works, we will show that it is true up to $2^k$. Since $k$ is unbounded, this will be sufficient to show the condition holds for any positive integer.

Let the order of $3$ modulo $2^k$ be $e$. We have

\[3^e-1 \equiv 0 \pmod{2^k} \iff \nu_2(3^e-1) \ge k.\]
By LTE, we have

\[\nu_2(3^k-1) = \nu_2(3-1)+\nu_2(3+1)+\nu_2(k)-1 = \nu_2(k)+2 \implies e = 2^{k-2}.\]
Since there are exactly $2^{k-2}$ numbers that are $1$ or $3$ modulo $8$, these must fill out each of the numbers in the cycle, which proves the sequence is unbounded. $\square$
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shendrew7
796 posts
#14
Y by
We claim the answer is all $\boxed{n \equiv 1,3 \pmod 8}$. First notice that each $n$ must be a residue of $3^x \pmod{2^m}$ for all sufficiently large $m$; otherwise, its $v_2$ is indeed bounded.

LTE tells us $\operatorname{ord}_{2^m} 3 = 2^{m-2}$ for all $m \ge 3$, so we have $2^{m-2}$ distinct residues modulo $2^m$. Consequently, our claim follows by induction by considering the "transfer" of residues between modulo $2^k$ and $2^{k+1}$. $\blacksquare$
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peppapig_
280 posts
#15
Y by
I claim that the answer is all $n$ that are $1$ or $3$ mod $8$.

1. All other $n$ have bounded sequences.
Note that taking the modulos of $3^k$ mod $8$, we get that the only possible modulos are $1$ mod $8$ and $3$ mod $8$. Therefore, if $n$ is anything but $1$ or $3$ mod $8$, then $\nu_2(3^k-n)$ can be at most $2$ (becuase $3^k-n$ can't be a multiple of $8$) for any non-negative integer $k$, making the sequence bounded. Therefore, in order for the sequence to be unbounded, we need $n$ to be either $1$ or $3$ mod $8$.

2. If $n$ is $1$ or $3$ mod $8$, then the sequence is unbounded.
2a. First, note that for any two positive integers $m$ and $n$ such that $\nu_2(m)=\nu_2(n)=x$ for some positive integer $n$, then $\nu_2(m+n)>x$. This can be proved by letting $m=a2^x$ and $n=b2^x$ for odd positive integers $a$ and $b$ and noting that in the sum
\[m+n=(a+b)2^x,\]$a+b$ must be even, making $\nu_2(m+n)>x$. We will use this fact to prove that $\nu_2(3^k-n)$ is unbounded for all $n$ that are $1$ or $3$ mod $8$.

2b. Let $m$ be an integer such that $\nu_2(3^m-n)=x\geq 3$ and $3^m\neq n$. Since $n$ is $1$ or $3$ mod $8$, such an $m$ must exist. Now note that by the $p=2$ case of LTE, for a positive integer $c$, we have
\[\nu_2(3^{c+m}-3^m)=\nu_2(3^m(3^c-1))=\nu_2(3^c-1),\]\[=\nu_2(2)+\nu_2(4)+\nu_2(c)-1=\nu_2(c)+2.\]Therefore, for any integer $m$ such that $\nu_2(3^m-n)=x\geq 3$, and for any positive integer $c$ such that $\nu_2(c)=x-2$ (this must exist, we know that $x\geq 3$), we have that
\[\nu_2(3^{c+m}-3^m)=\nu_2(3^m-n)=x\iff \nu_2(3^{c+m}-n)>x,\]by (2a). This gives that the sequence is unbounded (by induction on the exponent of $3$) if we can find that there exists an integer $m$ such that $\nu_2(3^m-n)\geq 3$. However, since $n$ is $1$ or $3$ mod $8$, and we know that there exist infinite numbers of powers of $3$ that are $1$ or $3$ mod $8$, such an $m$ must exist. Therefore, if $n$ is $1$ or $3$ mod $8$, the sequence is indeed unbounded, finishing the problem.
This post has been edited 4 times. Last edited by peppapig_, Mar 13, 2024, 3:43 PM
Reason: Reformat
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pie854
243 posts
#16
Y by
Suppose that $n$ works then $3^k-n\equiv 0\pmod 8$ for some $k$. It follows that $n$ can only be $1$ or $3$ modulo $8$.

Now we will show that any $n$ which is $1$ or $3$ modulo $8$ works. Indeed, suppose that $3^k-n\equiv 0\pmod{2^m}$ for some $m\geq 3$. Let $3^k-n=2^m \cdot t$.
  • If $t$ is even then $3^k-n\equiv 0\pmod{2^{m+1}}$.
  • If $t$ is odd then $$3^{k+2^{m-2}}-n\equiv 3^{2^{m-2}}(n+2^m)-n \equiv (3^{2^{m-2}}-1)n+3^{2^{m-2}}2^m \pmod{2^{m+1}} \qquad (1)$$It it well known that $v_2(3^{2^a}-1)=a+2$. Thus, $3^{2^{m-2}}-1$ is divisible by $2^m$ but not by $2^{m+1}$. So $\frac{3^{2^{m-2}}-1}{2^m}n+3^{2^{m-2}}$ is an even integer. It follows from $(1)$ that $3^{k+2^{m-2}}-n\equiv 0\pmod{2^{m+1}}$.
Thus it follows that there is a number $k'$ such that $v_2(3^{k'}-n)=m+1$. So by induction it follows that $v_2(3^a-n)$ is unbounded, as required.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by pie854, Nov 15, 2024, 4:05 PM
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Ilikeminecraft
656 posts
#17
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I claim that the answer is $1, 3 \pmod8.$ Clearly, even values don't work. We consider $1, 3, 5, 7 \pmod8.$ Clearly, $3^x$ can only achieve the values $1, 3\pmod8.$ Thus, if $k\equiv5, 7 \pmod8$, we have that $\nu_2(3^n - k) \leq 2.$

Notice that $$\nu_2(3^{2^n} - 1) = \nu_2(3^2 - 1^2) - 1 + \nu_2(2^n) = n + 2$$Thus, we have that $\operatorname{ord}_{2^{n + 2}}(3) = 2^{n}.$ Observe that each number term that is either $1, 3\pmod8$ in $\pmod{2^{n + 2}}$ can be written as $3^k$ because of the order. Thus, we are done by LTE.
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GingerMan
5 posts
#18
Y by
The answer is all $1,3 \pmod 8$. We start off with a claim, which re-derives LTE in the case $p=2$.

Claim. For integers $r\ge 3$, we have
\[ \nu_2\left( 3^{2^{r-2}}-1 \right) = r. \]Proof. Write
\[ 3^{2^{r-2}}-1 = (3-1) \prod_{i=0}^{r-3} \frac{3^{2^{i+1}}-1}{3^{2^i}-1}
  = 2 \prod_{i=0}^{r-3} \left( 3^{2^i}+1 \right). \]For $i>0$, we have $3^{2^i}+1 \equiv 2 \pmod 4$, and for $i=0$, we have $3^{2^0}+1=4$; thus the claim follows. $\Box$

It follows that the order of $3$ mod $2^r$ is exactly $2^{r-2}$, for $r\ge 3$. Further, $3^k \in \{1,3\} \pmod 8$ for any integer $k$. But there are exactly $2^{r-2}$ integers mod $2^r$ that are $1$ or $3$ mod $8$, so $3^k$ traverses exactly these integers.
It's easy to see now that $n\equiv 1,3 \pmod 8$ all work. And $n\equiv 5,7 \pmod 8$ fail by mod $8$, hence done.
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