Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 4 / 38 of 340 #298 of 1964

Problem 298

AMC 12 late, AIME early
Algebra Difficulty 4.5 Prove it

Given a sequence {an}\{a_{n}\} where an+1>an>0a_{n+1} \gt a_{n} \gt 0 and an−1an<n<an+1an{a}_{n}-\frac{1}{{a}_{n}}<n<{a}_{n}+\frac{1}{{a}_{n}}.
(1)(1) If {an}\{a_{n}\} is an arithmetic sequence, find the sum of its first nn terms.
(2)(2) If there exists m⩾2(m∈N∗)m\geqslant 2(m\in N^{*}), such that for any n∈N∗n\in N^{*}, amn=mana_{mn}=ma_{n} always holds, prove that {an}\{a_{n}\} is an arithmetic sequence.

This one wants a proof. Work it on paper, then read the official solution and mark yourself. Be honest about it: the record is only any use to you if it is.

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Official solution

### Solution:

#### Part (1):

Given that {an}\{a_{n}\} is an arithmetic sequence, we can express ana_{n} as an=an+ba_{n}=an+b. Knowing that an+1>an>0a_{n+1} > a_{n} > 0, it implies a>0a > 0.

From the condition an−1an<n{a}_{n}-\frac{1}{{a}_{n}}<n, we derive:
an2−1<nan⇒(an+b)2−1<n(an+b)⇒(a2−1)n2+(2ab−b)n+b2−1<0(1) \begin{align*} {a}_{n}^{2}-1 &< n{a}_{n} \\ \Rightarrow \left(an+b\right)^{2}-1 &< n\left(an+b\right) \\ \Rightarrow (a^{2}-1)n^{2}+\left(2ab-b\right)n+b^{2}-1 &< 0 \quad \text{(1)} \end{align*}

From the condition n<an+1ann<{a}_{n}+\frac{1}{{a}_{n}}, we derive:
an2+1>nan⇒(an+b)2+1>n(an+b)⇒(a2−1)n2+(2ab−b)n+b2+1>0(2) \begin{align*} {a}_{n}^{2}+1 &> n{a}_{n} \\ \Rightarrow \left(an+b\right)^{2}+1 &> n\left(an+b\right) \\ \Rightarrow (a^{2}-1)n^{2}+\left(2ab-b\right)n+b^{2}+1 &> 0 \quad \text{(2)} \end{align*}

For inequalities (1) and (2) to hold for all n∈N∗n \in N^{*}, we must have:
{a2−1=02ab−b=0 \left\{ \begin{array}{l} {a}^{2}-1=0 \\ 2ab-b=0 \end{array} \right.
Solving this system of equations gives us:
{a=1b=0 \left\{ \begin{array}{l} a=1 \\ b=0 \end{array} \right.
Substituting these values back verifies that the inequalities hold true.

Therefore, we have an=na_{n}=n, and the sum of its first nn terms is:
Sn=(1+n)n2=12n2+12n {S}_{n}=\frac{(1+n)n}{2}=\frac{1}{2}{n}^{2}+\frac{1}{2}n
Encapsulating the final answer, we get:
Sn=12n2+12n \boxed{{S}_{n}=\frac{1}{2}{n}^{2}+\frac{1}{2}n}

#### Part (2):

Given the conditions of the sequence {an}\{a_{n}\} and the existence of m⩾2m \geqslant 2 such that amn=mana_{mn}=ma_{n} for any n∈N∗n \in N^{*}, we analyze the implications.

From the given inequalities, we have:
−1<an(an−n)<1 -1 < a_{n}(a_{n}-n) < 1
for all n∈N∗n \in N^{*}.

Let n=mkqn=m^{k}q where mm, kk, q∈N∗q \in N^{*}. Then, we have:
−1m2k<aq(aq−q)<1m2k -\frac{1}{{m}^{2k}} < a_{q}(a_{q}-q) < \frac{1}{{m}^{2k}}
for all q∈N∗q \in N^{*}.

As k→+∞k \rightarrow +\infty, it implies aq−q=0a_{q}-q=0, hence aq=qa_{q}=q for all q∈N∗q \in N^{*}.

This leads to aq−aq−1=1a_{q}-a_{q-1}=1, indicating that the sequence {an}\{a_{n}\} is an arithmetic sequence.

Encapsulating the final conclusion, we get:
The sequence {an} is an arithmetic sequence. \boxed{\text{The sequence } \{a_{n}\} \text{ is an arithmetic sequence.}}

Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty, ordering) added by this project.