2009 AIME I Problem 13

Attempt Problem 13 of the 2009 AIME I below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2009 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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13.

The terms of the sequence (ai)(a_i) defined by an+2=an+20091+an+1a_{n+2} = \frac{a_n + 2009}{1 + a_{n+1}} for n1n \ge 1 are positive integers. Find the minimum possible value of a1+a2.a_1 + a_2.

Answer: 90
Concepts:recursionextremal argumentprime factorization
Difficulty rating: 3060
Solution:

Clearing denominators, an+2(1+an+1)=an+2009a_{n+2}(1 + a_{n+1}) = a_n + 2009 for all n1.n \ge 1. Subtracting each instance from the next gives an+2an=(an+2+1)(an+3an+1). \begin{aligned} &a_{n+2} - a_n \\ &= (a_{n+2} + 1)(a_{n+3} - a_{n+1}). \end{aligned}

If some difference an+2ana_{n+2} - a_n were nonzero, then every later difference would be nonzero as well, and since each an+2+12,a_{n+2} + 1 \ge 2, the identity would force a3a1|a_3 - a_1| >a4a2\gt |a_4 - a_2| >a5a3\gt |a_5 - a_3| >,\gt \cdots, an infinite strictly decreasing sequence of positive integers — impossible. Hence an+2=ana_{n+2} = a_n for all n:n: the odd-indexed terms are all equal and the even-indexed terms are all equal, and any such choice of positive integers works.

The recursion then reads a1(1+a2)=a1+2009,a_1(1 + a_2) = a_1 + 2009, so a1a2=2009=7241.a_1 a_2 = 2009 = 7^2 \cdot 41. Among the factor pairs of 2009,2009, the sum is smallest for 4149,41 \cdot 49, giving 41+49=90.41 + 49 = 90.

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