MathDB
9's in a Number

Source: PRMO Leg 2 P24

August 25, 2019
number theoryPRMO

Problem Statement

For n1n \geq 1, let ana_n be the number beginning with nn 99's followed by 744744; eg., a4=9999744a_4=9999744. Define f(n)=max{mN2m divides an}f(n)=\text{max}\{m\in \mathbb{N} \mid2^m ~ \text{divides} ~ a_n \}, for n1n\geq 1. Find f(1)+f(2)+f(3)++f(10)f(1)+f(2)+f(3)+ \cdots + f(10).