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Bunuel
Official Solution:

A sequence of numbers \(a_1\), \(a_2\), \(a_3\), ... is defined as follows: \(a_{2n} = a_2*a_n +1\) and \(a_{2n+1} = a_2*a_n -2\). If \(a_7 =2\) and \(0 < a_1 < 1\), then what is the value of \(a_{25}\)?

A. \(17\)
B. \(21\)
C. \(82\)
D. \(83\)
E. \(84\)


We ned to find the value of \(a_{25}\):

\(a_{25}=a_2*a_{12} -2=a_2*(a_2*a_6 +1) -2\). So, we need the values of \(a_2\) and \(a_6\).

Notice that \(a_{2n} = a_2*a_n +1\) is the formula for even numbered terms in the sequence (\(a_2\), \(a_4\), \(a_6\), ... ) and \(a_{2n+1} = a_2*a_n -2\) is the formula for odd numbered terms in the sequence (\(a_3\), \(a_5\), \(a_7\), ... ).

Next, \(a_{2n} \) and \(a_{2n+1}\) are consecutive terms in the sequence, so even numbered terms are 3 more than the following odd numbered terms: \(a_{2n} -a_{2n+1}=(a_2*a_n +1) -(a_2*a_n -2)=3\). So, \(a_{2n}=a_{2n+1}+3\).

According to the above, since \(a_7 =2\), then \(a_6 =a_7+3=2+3=5\).

\(a_6 =a_2*a_3+1=5\) and since \(a_3\) must be 3 less than \(a_2\), then we'd have \(a_2*(a_2-3)+1=5\).

\((a_2)^2-3a_2-4=0\).

\((a_2-4)(a_2+1)=0\).

\(a_2=4\) or \(a_2=-1\). But from \(a_{2} = a_2*a_1 +1\) we can get that \(a_{2} =\frac{1}{1-a_1}\) and since \(0 < a_1 < 1\), then \(a_2\) must be positive, so \(a_2=4\).

Substitute \(a_2=4\) and \(a_6 =5\) into \(a_{25}=a_2*(a_2*a_6 +1) -2=4(4*5+1)-2=82\).


Answer: C
­Hello Bunuel, how did you get \(a_{12}\) from the following formula: \(a_{25}=a_2*a_{12} -2\) ? Maybe, I am not understanding the question but I am not understanding what it is meant by n in the following formulas: \(a_{2n} = a_2*a_n +1\) and \(a_{2n+1} = a_2*a_n -2\)­
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johnhohng

Bunuel
Official Solution:

A sequence of numbers \(a_1\), \(a_2\), \(a_3\), ... is defined as follows: \(a_{2n} = a_2*a_n +1\) and \(a_{2n+1} = a_2*a_n -2\). If \(a_7 =2\) and \(0 < a_1 < 1\), then what is the value of \(a_{25}\)?

A. \(17\)
B. \(21\)
C. \(82\)
D. \(83\)
E. \(84\)


We ned to find the value of \(a_{25}\):

\(a_{25}=a_2*a_{12} -2=a_2*(a_2*a_6 +1) -2\). So, we need the values of \(a_2\) and \(a_6\).

Notice that \(a_{2n} = a_2*a_n +1\) is the formula for even numbered terms in the sequence (\(a_2\), \(a_4\), \(a_6\), ... ) and \(a_{2n+1} = a_2*a_n -2\) is the formula for odd numbered terms in the sequence (\(a_3\), \(a_5\), \(a_7\), ... ).

Next, \(a_{2n} \) and \(a_{2n+1}\) are consecutive terms in the sequence, so even numbered terms are 3 more than the following odd numbered terms: \(a_{2n} -a_{2n+1}=(a_2*a_n +1) -(a_2*a_n -2)=3\). So, \(a_{2n}=a_{2n+1}+3\).

According to the above, since \(a_7 =2\), then \(a_6 =a_7+3=2+3=5\).

\(a_6 =a_2*a_3+1=5\) and since \(a_3\) must be 3 less than \(a_2\), then we'd have \(a_2*(a_2-3)+1=5\).

\((a_2)^2-3a_2-4=0\).

\((a_2-4)(a_2+1)=0\).

\(a_2=4\) or \(a_2=-1\). But from \(a_{2} = a_2*a_1 +1\) we can get that \(a_{2} =\frac{1}{1-a_1}\) and since \(0 < a_1 < 1\), then \(a_2\) must be positive, so \(a_2=4\).

Substitute \(a_2=4\) and \(a_6 =5\) into \(a_{25}=a_2*(a_2*a_6 +1) -2=4(4*5+1)-2=82\).


Answer: C
­Hello Bunuel, how did you get \(a_{12}\) from the following formula: \(a_{25}=a_2*a_{12} -2\) ? Maybe, I am not understanding the question but I am not understanding what it is meant by n in the following formulas: \(a_{2n} = a_2*a_n +1\) and \(a_{2n+1} = a_2*a_n -2\)­
Odd terms equal to \(a_{2n+1} = a_2*a_n -2\) and even terms equal to \(a_{2n} = a_2*a_n +1\). For example:

\(a_{3} = a_2*a_1 -2\)
\(a_{4} = a_2*a_2 +1\)
\(a_{5} = a_2*a_2 -2\)
\(a_{6} = a_2*a_3 +1\)
\(a_{7} = a_2*a_3 -2\)
...
\(a_{25}=a_2*a_{12} -2=a_2*(a_2*a_6 +1) -2\)­
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Amazing question. probably one of the hardest I found but kind of funny.

How could you solve it under 2min30s?
It seems unreasonable to me, probably would skip it with a random choice.

Nonetheless, great question.
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