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Mathematical Circle

Homework (April 24-30) – Solutions

Problem 1. The sequence of positive real numbers ( ) are such that

∑( )

Show that the sequence ( ) is a geometric progression.

Solution. It is given that all terms are positive. Now, . Since is positive, this implies
. Let , . Then:

∑( )

∑( )

( )
( )
Applying the quadratic formula directly gives , which is a geometric progression.

( )
Problem 6. Find all injective functions satisfying, for each , ( ( )) .

Solution. If is injective, then, for any , there exists a such that


( )
⏟( ( ( ) )) ( )

Now, the given condition can be rearranged as

( )
( ( )) ( )

By a simple inductive argument,

( ) ( )
( )
( ) ( )

This implies ( ) ( ) ( )
( ), for all . This implies ( ) for all . Therefore,
since is an injection, is the only solution.

Problem 10. Let , , be three integers, b odd, and consider the sequence , ,
, ,

for

Prove that if is a prime and is a positive integer, then is divisible by .


Solution. Define the trace of a matrix as the sum of the elements on the main diagonal. Now
consider a matrix defined by

[ ]

Now,
( )

( )

Applying Fermat’s Little Theorem times,

( ) ( )( )

As desired.

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