Difference between revisions of "2006 Cyprus MO/Lyceum/Problem 20"

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==Problem==
 
==Problem==
The [[sequence]] <math>f:N \to R</math> satisfies <math>f(n)=f(n-1)-f(n-2),\forall n\geq 3</math>.
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The sequence <math>f:N \to R</math> satisfies <math>f(n)=f(n-1)-f(n-2),\forall n\geq 3</math>.
 
Given that <math>f(1)=f(2)=1</math>, then <math>f(3n)</math> equals
 
Given that <math>f(1)=f(2)=1</math>, then <math>f(3n)</math> equals
  
A. <math>3</math>
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<math>\mathrm{(A)}\ 3\qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ -3\qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ 2\qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ 1\qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ 0</math>
 
 
B. <math>-3</math>
 
 
 
C. <math>2</math>
 
 
 
D. <math>1</math>
 
 
 
E. <math>0</math>
 
  
 
==Solution==
 
==Solution==
 
Lets write out a couple of terms:  
 
Lets write out a couple of terms:  
 
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<cmath>
<cmath>f(3) = f(2) - f(1) = 0</cmath>
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\begin{align*}f(3)&=f(2)-f(1)=0&
<cmath>f(4) = f(3) - f(2) = -1, f(5) = f(4) - f(3) = -1, f(6) = f(5)-f(4) = 0</cmath>
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f(4)&=f(3)-f(2)=-1\\
 
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f(5)&=f(4)-f(3)=-1&
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f(6)&=f(5)-f(4)=0\end{align*}
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</cmath>
 
We quickly see that every third term is zero, so the answer is <math>\mathrm{E}</math>.
 
We quickly see that every third term is zero, so the answer is <math>\mathrm{E}</math>.
  

Latest revision as of 13:33, 26 April 2008

Problem

The sequence $f:N \to R$ satisfies $f(n)=f(n-1)-f(n-2),\forall n\geq 3$. Given that $f(1)=f(2)=1$, then $f(3n)$ equals

$\mathrm{(A)}\ 3\qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ -3\qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ 2\qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ 1\qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ 0$

Solution

Lets write out a couple of terms: \begin{align*}f(3)&=f(2)-f(1)=0& f(4)&=f(3)-f(2)=-1\\ f(5)&=f(4)-f(3)=-1& f(6)&=f(5)-f(4)=0\end{align*} We quickly see that every third term is zero, so the answer is $\mathrm{E}$.

See also

2006 Cyprus MO, Lyceum (Problems)
Preceded by
Problem 19
Followed by
Problem 21
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30