Difference between revisions of "2009 IMO Problems/Problem 3"

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''Author: Gabriel Carroll, USA''
 
''Author: Gabriel Carroll, USA''
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== Solution ==
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then
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S(s2) - S(s1) = S(s3) - S(s2)
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2S(s2) = S(s1) + S(s3)
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i.s.w.
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2S(s2+1) = S(s1+1) + S(s3+1)
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2S(s2) = S(s1) + S(s3)
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put S(3) = b, S(2) = a, S(1) = k
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--> 2S(k+1) = S(a+1) + S(b+1)
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    2S(k) = S(a) + S(b)
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**if there is S(x) = a,b,k (which is an arithmetic sequence) --> we have 2S(k) = S(a) + S(b) ... (1), 2S(k+1) = S(a+1) + S(b+1) ...(2)
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  but also, by (2), we have 2S(k+2) = S(a+2) + S(b+2)
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                                      ....
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                      we get 2S(b+a) = S(z) + S(y)
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therefore,
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every S(n) is an arithmetic sequence.
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Q.E.D.
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==See Also==
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 +
{{IMO box|year=2009|num-b=2|num-a=4}}

Latest revision as of 00:16, 19 November 2023

Problem

Suppose that $s_1,s_2,s_3,\ldots$ is a strictly increasing sequence of positive integers such that the subsequences

$s_{s_1},s_{s_2},s_{s_3},\ldots$ and $s_{s_1+1},s_{s_2+1},s_{s_3+1},\ldots$

are both arithmetic progressions. Prove that the sequence $s_1,s_2,s_3,\ldots$ is itself an arithmetic progression.

Author: Gabriel Carroll, USA

Solution

then

S(s2) - S(s1) = S(s3) - S(s2)
2S(s2) = S(s1) + S(s3)

i.s.w.

2S(s2+1) = S(s1+1) + S(s3+1)
2S(s2) = S(s1) + S(s3)

put S(3) = b, S(2) = a, S(1) = k

--> 2S(k+1) = S(a+1) + S(b+1)
    2S(k) = S(a) + S(b)
    
**if there is S(x) = a,b,k (which is an arithmetic sequence) --> we have 2S(k) = S(a) + S(b) ... (1), 2S(k+1) = S(a+1) + S(b+1) ...(2)
  but also, by (2), we have 2S(k+2) = S(a+2) + S(b+2) 
                                     ....
                     we get 2S(b+a) = S(z) + S(y)

therefore, every S(n) is an arithmetic sequence. Q.E.D.

See Also

2009 IMO (Problems) • Resources
Preceded by
Problem 2
1 2 3 4 5 6 Followed by
Problem 4
All IMO Problems and Solutions