Problems(1)
For a nonnegative integer n and a strictly increasing sequence of real numbers t0,t1,…,tn, let f(t) be the corresponding real-valued function defined for t≥t0 by the following properties:
(a) f(t) is continuous for t≥t0, and is twice differentiable for all t>t0 other than t1,…,tn;
(b) f(t0)=1/2;
(c) limt→tk+f′(t)=0 for 0≤k≤n;
(d) For 0≤k≤n−1, we have f′′(t)=k+1 when tk<t<tk+1, and f′′(t)=n+1 when t>tn.
Considering all choices of n and t0,t1,…,tn such that tk≥tk−1+1 for 1≤k≤n, what is the least possible value of T for which f(t0+T)=2023? PutnamPutnam 2023