MathDB
Periodic sequence

Source: Baltic Way 2014, Problem 20

November 11, 2014
modular arithmeticnumber theory proposednumber theory

Problem Statement

Consider a sequence of positive integers a1,a2,a3,...a_1, a_2, a_3, . . . such that for k2k \geq 2 we have ak+1=ak+ak12015i,a_{k+1} =\frac{a_k + a_{k-1}}{2015^i}, where 2015i2015^i is the maximal power of 20152015 that divides ak+ak1.a_k + a_{k-1}. Prove that if this sequence is periodic then its period is divisible by 3.3.