MathDB
2017 PUMaC Team 5

Source:

September 20, 2019
algebra

Problem Statement

Define the sequences ana_n and bnb_n as follows: a1=2017a_1 = 2017 and b1=1b_1 = 1. For n>1n > 1, if there is a greatest integer k>1k > 1 such that ana_n is a perfect kkth power, then an+1=anka_{n+1} =\sqrt[k]{a_n}, otherwise an+1=an+bna_{n+1} = a_n + b_n. If an+1ana_{n+1} \ge a_n then bn+1=bnb_{n+1} = b_n, otherwise bn+1=bn+1b_{n+1} = b_n + 1. Find a2017a_{2017}.