MathDB
2022 Putnam A3

Source:

December 4, 2022
PutnamPutnam 2022

Problem Statement

Let pp be a prime number greater than 5. Let f(p)f(p) denote the number of infinite sequences a1,a2,a3,a_1, a_2, a_3,\ldots such that an{1,2,,p1}a_n \in \{1, 2,\ldots, p-1\} and anan+21+an+1a_na_{n+2}\equiv1+a_{n+1} (mod pp) for all n1.n\geq 1. Prove that f(p)f(p) is congruent to 0 or 2 (mod 5).