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2021 WSMO Speed Round Problems/Problem 1

Problem

Let $f^1(x)=(x-1)^2$, and let $f^n(x)=f^1(f^{n-1}(x))$. Find the value of $|f^7(2)|$.

$\textbf{(A) }6 \qquad \textbf{(B) }8 \qquad \textbf{(C) }12 \qquad \textbf{(D) }18 \qquad \textbf{(E) }24$

Solution 1

Note that \[|f^7(2)|=f(f(f(f(f(f(f(2)))))))=f(f(f(f(f(f((2-1)^2))))))=f(f(f(f(f(f(1))))))\] \[=f(f(f(f(f((1-1)^2)))))=f(f(f(f(f(0)))))=f(f(f(f((0-1)^2))))=f(f(f(f(1))))=f(f(f((1-1)^2)))\] \[=f(f(f(0)))=f(f((0-1)^2))=f(f(1))=f((1-1)^2)=f(0)=(0-1)^2=\boxed{1}.\]

~pinkpig

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