# Difference between revisions of "2020 AIME II Problems/Problem 6"

## Problem

Define a sequence recursively by $t_1 = 20$, $t_2 = 21$, and$$t_n = \frac{5t_{n-1}+1}{25t_{n-2}}$$for all $n \ge 3$. Then $t_{2020}$ can be expressed as $\frac{p}{q}$, where $p$ and $q$ are relatively prime positive integers. Find $p+q$.

## Solution

Let $t_n=\frac{s_n}{5}$. Then, we have $s_n=\frac{s_{n-1}+1}{s_{n-2}}$ where $s_1 = 100$ and $s_2 = 105$. By substitution, we find $s_3 = \frac{53}{50}$, $s_4=\frac{103}{105\cdot50}$, $s_5=\frac{101}{105}$, $s_6=100$, and $s_7=105$. So $s_n$ has a period of $5$. Thus $s_{2020}=s_5=\frac{101}{105}$. So, $\frac{101}{105\cdot 5}\implies 101+525=\boxed{626}$. ~mn28407

## Solution 2 (Official MAA)

More generally, let the first two terms be $a$ and $b$ and replace $5$ and $25$ in the recursive formula by $k$ and $k^2$, respectively. Then some algebraic calculation shows that $$t_3 = \frac{b\,k+1}{a\, k^2},~~t_4 = \frac{a\, k + b\,k+1}{a\,b\, k^3},~~ t_5 = \frac{a\,k+1}{b\, k^2},~~ t_6 = a, \text{~ and ~}t_7 =b,$$so the sequence is periodic with period $5$. Therefore $$t_{2020} = t_{5} = \frac{20\cdot 5 +1}{21\cdot 25} = \frac{101}{525}.$$The requested sum is $101+525=626$.

## Solution 3

Let us examine the first few terms of this sequence and see if we can find a pattern. We are obviously given $t_1 = 20$ and $t_2 = 21$, so now we are able to determine the numerical value of $t_3$ using this information: $$t_3 = \frac{5t_{3-1}+1}{25t_{3-2}}$$ $$\implies t_3 = \frac{5t_{2}+1}{25t_{1}}$$ $$\implies t_3 = \frac{5(21) + 1}{25(20)}$$ $$\implies t_3 = \frac{105 + 1}{500}$$ $$\implies t_3 = \frac{106}{500} \implies t_3 = \frac{53}{250}$$ Now using this information, as well as the previous information, we are able to determine the value of $t_4$: $$t_4 = \frac{5t_{4-1}+1}{25t_{4-2}}$$ $$\implies t_4 = \frac{5t_{3}+1}{25t_{2}}$$ $$\implies t_4 = \frac{5(\frac{53}{250}) + 1}{25(21)}$$ $$\implies t_4 = \frac{\frac{53}{50} + 1}{525}$$ $$\implies t_4 = \frac{\frac{103}{50}}{525} \implies t_4 = \frac{103}{26250}$$ Now using this information, as well as the previous information, we are able to determine the value of $t_5$: $$t_5 = \frac{5t_{5-1}+1}{25t_{5-2}}$$ $$\implies t_5 = \frac{5t_{4}+1}{25t_{3}}$$ $$\implies t_5 = \frac{5(\frac{103}{26250}) + 1}{25(\frac{53}{250})}$$ $$\implies t_5 = \frac{\frac{53}{5250} + 1}{\frac{53}{10}}$$ $$\implies t_5 = \frac{\frac{5353}{5250}}{\frac{53}{10}} \implies t_5 = \frac{101}{525}$$ Now using this information, as well as the previous information, we are able to determine the value of $t_6$: $$t_6 = \frac{5t_{6-1}+1}{25t_{6-2}}$$ $$\implies t_6 = \frac{5t_{5}+1}{25t_{4}}$$ $$\implies t_5 = \frac{5(\frac{101}{525}) + 1}{25(\frac{103}{26250})}$$ $$\implies t_5 = \frac{\frac{101}{105} + 1}{\frac{103}{1050}}$$ $$\implies t_5 = \frac{\frac{206}{105}}{\frac{103}{1050}} \implies t_6 = 21$$

Alas, we have figured this sequence is period 5! Thus, let us take $2020 \pmod 5$, which is $5$, and therefore $t_{2020} = t_5 = \frac{101}{525}$. According to the original problem statement, our answer is essentially $\boxed{626}$. ~ nikenissan

~IceMatrix