Define a sequence \( a_n \) by \( a_1 = 1 \) and
\[
a_{n+1} = \frac{1}{n} \left( 1 + \sum_{k=1}^n a_k^2 \right)
\]
for any \( n \geq 1 \). Prove or disprove that \( a_n \) is an integer for all \( n \geq 1 \).
Category Archives: problem
2022-21 A determinant of greatest common divisors
Let \(\varphi(x)\) be the Euler’s totient function. Let \(S = \{a_1,\dots, a_n\}\) be a set of positive integers such that for any \(a_i\), all of its positive divisors are also in \(S\). Let \(A\) be the matrix with entries \(A_{i,j} = gcd(a_i,a_j)\) being the greatest common divisors of \(a_i\) and \(a_j\). Prove that \(\det(A) = \prod_{i=1}^{n} \varphi(a_i)\).
2022-20 4 by 4 symmetric integral matrices
Let \(S\) be the set of all 4 by 4 integral positive-definite symmetric unimodular matrices. Define an equivalence relation \( \sim \) on \(S\) such that for any \( A,B \in S\), we have \(A \sim B\) if and only if \(PAP^\top = B\) for some integral unimodular matrix \(P\). Determine \(S ~/\sim \).
2022-19 Inequality for twice differentiable functions
Let \( f : \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R} \) be a twice differentiable function satisfying \( f(0) = 0 \) and \( 0 \leq f'(x) \leq 1 \). Prove that
\[ \left( \int_0^1 f(x) dx \right)^2 \geq \int_0^1 [f(x)]^3 dx. \]
2022-18 A sum of the number of factorizations
Let \(a(n)\) be the number of unordered factorizations of \(n\) into divisors larger than \(1\). Prove that \(\sum_{n=2}^{\infty} \frac{a(n)}{n^2} = 1\).
2022-17 The smallest number of subsets
Let \(n, i\) be integers such that \(1 \leq i \leq n\). Each subset of \( \{ 1, 2, \ldots, n \} \) with \( i\) elements has the smallest number. We define \( \phi(n,i) \) to be the sum of these smallest numbers. Compute \[ \sum_{i=1}^n \phi(n,i).\]
2022-16 Identity for continuous functions
For a positive integer \( n \), find all continuous functions \( f: \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R} \) such that
\[
\sum_{k=0}^n \binom{n}{k} f(x^{2^k}) = 0
\]
for all \( x \in \mathbb{R} \).
2022-15 A determinant of Stirling numbers of second kind
Let \(S(n,k)\) be the Stirling number of the second kind that is the number of ways to partition a set of \(n\) objects into \(k\) non-empty subsets. Prove the following equality \[ \det\left( \begin{matrix} S(m+1,1) & S(m+1,2) & \cdots & S(m+1,n) \\
S(m+2,1) & S(m+2,2) & \cdots & S(m+2,n) \\
\cdots & \cdots & \cdots & \cdots \\
S(m+n,1) & S(m+n,2) & \cdots & S(m+n,n) \end{matrix} \right) = (n!)^m \]
2022-14 The number of eigenvalues of a symmetric matrix
For a positive integer \(n\), let \(B\) and \(C\) be real-valued \(n\) by \(n\) matrices and \(O\) be the \(n\) by \(n\) zero matrix. Assume further that \(B\) is invertible and \(C\) is symmetric. Define \[A := \begin{pmatrix} O & B \\ B^T & C \end{pmatrix}.\] What is the possible number of positive eigenvalues for \(A\)?
2022-13 Inequality involving sums with different powers
Prove for any \( x \geq 1 \) that
\[
\left( \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} (n+x)^{-2} \right)^2 \geq 2 \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} (n+x)^{-3}.
\]
