MathDB
Odd positive integer functions

Source: USAMO 1993

October 27, 2005
functioninductionnumber theoryrelatively primealgebra unsolvedalgebra

Problem Statement

Let a,b\, a,b \, be odd positive integers. Define the sequence (fn)\, (f_n ) \, by putting f1=a,\, f_1 = a, f2=b,f_2 = b, \, and by letting fn\, f_n \, for n3\, n \geq 3 \, be the greatest odd divisor of fn1+fn2\, f_{n-1} + f_{n-2}. Show that fn\, f_n \, is constant for n\, n \, sufficiently large and determine the eventual value as a function of a\, a \, and b\, b.