Consider the sequence $a_n$ = $a_{n-1} \cdot a_{n-2} + n$ for $n \geq 2$ with $a_0 = 1$ and $a_1 = 1$. Is $a_{2011}$ even or odd? Please justify.
How to justify if the nth term of the sequence is even or odd?
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sequences-and-series
elementary-number-theory
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3Consider the same sequence, but mod 2. Try a few terms. Prove the pattern by induction. – 2011-04-21
2 Answers
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HINT $\rm\ \ mod\ 2\::\ \ a_{n-2}\ \equiv\ n-2,\ \ a_{n-1}\ \equiv\ n-1\ \ \Rightarrow\ \ a_n\ \equiv\ n\:.\:$ Hence once the parity of $\rm\:a_n\:$ is the same as its index $\rm\:n\:$ for two successive indices, it remains so for all larger indices (by induction).
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Hint: Suppose $n$ is even. The parities of $a_{n-1},a_{n-2}$ completely determine the parities of $a_{n+1},a_n$.