MathDB
f (x + 1) = f (x) + 1, x_{n+1} = f (x_n), x_0 = a

Source: Austrian Polish 1987 APMC

April 30, 2020
Sequencefunctionalfunctional equationlimit

Problem Statement

A function f:RRf: R \to R satisfies f(x+1)=f(x)+1f (x + 1) = f (x) + 1 for all xx. Given aRa \in R, define the sequence (xn)(x_n) recursively by x0=ax_0 = a and xn+1=f(xn)x_{n+1} = f (x_n) for n0n \ge 0. Suppose that, for some positive integer m, the difference xmx0=kx_m - x_0 = k is an integer. Prove that the limit limnxnn\lim_{n\to \infty}\frac{x_n}{n} exists and determine its value.