Solution To Mock Contest

Solution to Mock contest.
Prajit Adhikari
October 25, 2022
1. Let a0 , a1 , ..., an be real numbers satisfying a0 = an = 0 and
ai+1 − 2ai + ai−1 = a2i
for i = 1, 2, ..., n − 1. Prove that ai ≤ 0 for i = 1, 2, ..., n − 1.

Solution:
Adding the expression for i = 1, 2, ....n − 1, we get,
a21 + a22 + ........ + a2n−1 = −(a1 + an−1 )
Similarly,ai+1 + ai−1 + 1 = (ai + 1)2 .....(i).

We know, a1 + an−1 ≤ 0. By equation (i) it is clear that for ai = 0 for
i = 1, ....N − 1, then all ai ’s are zero. So, we only deal with cases when
ai ’s are less than zero.
Case I: a1 < 0, then
a2 + 1 = (a1 + 1)2 =⇒ a2 < 0since, (a1 + 1)2 < 1
This implies that all ai ’s are less than 0. Case II: an−1 < 0, then,
an−1 + 1 = (an−2 + 1)2
Since, an−1 + 1 < 1 =⇒ an−2 < 1.

Using similar arguments in both cases and we get that ai ≤ 0 for i =
1, 2, ........., n − 1. QED
1
2. Suppose that for a prime number p and integers a,b,c the following holds:
6|p + 1, p|a + b + c, p|a4 + b4 + c4
. Prove that p|a, b, c.

Solution:
We have that,
a4 + b4 + c4 = ((a + b + c)2 − 2ab − 2bc − 2ca)2 − 2a2 b2 − 2b2 c2 − 2c2 a2
Since, p|a + b + c, p = 6k − 1, we have that,
p|(2ab + 2bc + 2ca)2 − 2a2 b2 − 2b2 c2 − 2c2 a2
Let, ab = x, bc = y and ca = z. Then,
p|2(x + y + z)2 − x2 − y 2 − z 2 =⇒ p|x2 + y 2 + z 2 + 4xy + 4yz + 4zx
Now,
p|a2 b2 + b2 c2 + c2 a2 + 4ab2 c + 4a2 bc + 4abc2
p|a2 b2 + b2 c2 + c2 a2 + 4abc(a + b + c) =⇒ p|x2 + y 2 + z 2
Then,
p|a4 + b4 + c4 + 2(a2 b2 + b2 c2 + c2 a2 ) =⇒ 2|(a2 + b2 + c2 )2
=⇒ p|a2 + b2 + c2 =⇒ p|ab + bc + ac =⇒ p|b(a + c) + ac

Now,
p|b(a + c) + ac − b(a + b + c) =⇒ p|ac − b2 , p|bc − a2
p|a2 + b2 + c2 + ac − b2 + bc − a2 =⇒ p|c2 + ac + bc =⇒ p|c(a + b + c)
Hence,
p|c =⇒ p|bc − a2 =⇒ p|a =⇒ p|b
. Therefore, p|a, b, c. QED
2
3. Let a be any integer. Define the sequence x0 , x1 , ... by x0 = a, x1 = 3, and
for all n > 1,
xn = 2xn−1 − 4xn−2 + 3
. Determine the largest integer ka for which there exists a prime p such
that pka divides x2011 − 1.
Solution:
Let, yn = xn − 1 be a sequence. Then,
yn = 2yn−1 − 4yn−2
Using above identity, we get,
yn = 2(2yn−2 − 4yn−3 ) − 4yn−2 =⇒ yn = −8yn−3
Since n was arbitrarily chosen, we have that for any {n, n − 1, n − 2}

divisible by three, the above statement must apply. So, for m divisible by
3, we get,
ym = (−1)m 2m y0 =⇒ 2m |y m . Hence, for m = 2011, we have that
greatest ka which divides a2011 − 1 is 2011 .
3
4. (a) Show that the equation bxc(x2 +1) = x3 , where bxc denotes the largest
integer not larger than x, has exactly one real solution in each interval be-
tween consecutive positive integers.
(b) Show that none of the positive real solutions of this equation is ratio-
nal.
Solution:
(a). Let, bxc = x + {x}, where {x} is the fractional part of the number.
Suppose, {x} = m and bxc = k.
Then, x = m + k, now, (x − {x})(x2 + 1) = x3 =⇒ x = m(x2 + 1) =⇒
m + k = m(m + k)2 + m =⇒ k = m(m + k)2 .
For an interval (k, k+1), we see that the above function in m is monotonous
for increasing positive interval. Hence, for k → k + 1, we have that
(m + 1)(m + k + 1)2 > k whereas m(m + k) < k, since m < 1 and
m 6= 0. Finally, we see by mean value theorem that there exists a m for
every interval (k, k + 1), so there is exactly one solution as the function is
also increasing monotonously.
p
(b). Let, x = q such that gcd(p, q) = 1. then we have,
kq(p2 + q 2 ) = p3
Since, k, p, q ∈ Z, we have, q|p3 =⇒ gcd(p, q) 6= 1, which is absurd. So,

there is no rational solution. QED.
4
5. Let O be the circumcenter of the triangle ABC. The segment XY is the
diameter of the circumcircle perpendicular to BC and it meets BC at M.
The point X is closer to M than Y and Z is the point on MY such that
MZ = MX. The point W is the midpoint of AZ. a) Show that W lies on
the circle through the midpoints of the sides of ABC; b) Show that MW
is perpendicular to AY.
Solution:
(a). Let, P and Q be midpoints of sides of triangle ABC. Then, since,
BX k CZ and ABCD is cyclic, we have, ∠BXC = ∠BZC = ∠B + ∠C,
then, by angle chasing considering WN as median of triangle ABZ, we get
that,
∠N W P = ∠B + ∠C = ∠BXC. So, M P W N is cyclic and W lies in the
nine point circle(from inspection).
(b). Since M is midpoint of XZ and AZ and AY is perpendicular to XY ,
being diameter, we get that ∠M W A = 90o . QED
5
6. Two players play the following game. At the outset there are two piles,
containing 10,000 and 20,000 tokens,respectively . A move consists of re-
moving any positive number of tokens from a single pile or removing x
¿ 0 tokens from one pile and y ¿ 0 tokens from the other , where x+y
is divisible by 2015. The player who can not make a move loses. Which
player has a winning strategy?
Solution:
The player who chooses first has winning strategy. He just needs to pick
up x = 9105 and y = 19105 from both piles such that x + y is divisible by
2015, leaving the second player with 1790 coins altogether and no choice.
So, the first player wins the game.

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Solution to Mock contest.

1. Let a0 , a1 , ..., an be real numbers satisfying a0 = an = 0 and

ai+1 − 2ai + ai−1 = a2i

for i = 1, 2, ..., n − 1. Prove that ai ≤ 0 for i = 1, 2, ..., n − 1.

a21 + a22 + ........ + a2n−1 = −(a1 + an−1 )

Similarly,ai+1 + ai−1 + 1 = (ai + 1)2 .....(i).

a2 + 1 = (a1 + 1)2 =⇒ a2 < 0since, (a1 + 1)2 < 1

an−1 + 1 = (an−2 + 1)2

Since, an−1 + 1 < 1 =⇒ an−2 < 1.

6|p + 1, p|a + b + c, p|a4 + b4 + c4

. Prove that p|a, b, c.

a4 + b4 + c4 = ((a + b + c)2 − 2ab − 2bc − 2ca)2 − 2a2 b2 − 2b2 c2 − 2c2 a2

Since, p|a + b + c, p = 6k − 1, we have that,

p|(2ab + 2bc + 2ca)2 − 2a2 b2 − 2b2 c2 − 2c2 a2

Let, ab = x, bc = y and ca = z. Then,

p|2(x + y + z)2 − x2 − y 2 − z 2 =⇒ p|x2 + y 2 + z 2 + 4xy + 4yz + 4zx

p|a4 + b4 + c4 + 2(a2 b2 + b2 c2 + c2 a2 ) =⇒ 2|(a2 + b2 + c2 )2

=⇒ p|a2 + b2 + c2 =⇒ p|ab + bc + ac =⇒ p|b(a + c) + ac

Using above identity, we get,

yn = 2(2yn−2 − 4yn−3 ) − 4yn−2 =⇒ yn = −8yn−3

Since n was arbitrarily chosen, we have that for any {n, n − 1, n − 2}

Since, k, p, q ∈ Z, we have, q|p3 =⇒ gcd(p, q) 6= 1, which is absurd. So,

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