DE-MO 2013

Let $\alpha$ be a real number with $\alpha>1$ . Let the sequence $(a_n)$ be defined as $$a_n=1+\sqrt[\alpha]{2+\sqrt[\alpha]{3+\ldots+\sqrt[\alpha]{n+\sqrt[\alpha]{n+1}}}}$$ for all positive integers $n$ . Show that there exists a positive real constant $C$ such that $a_n<C$ for all positive integers $n$ .

Given two circles $k_1$ and $k_2$ which intersect at $Q$ and $Q'.$ Let $P$ be a point on $k_2$ and inside of $k_1$ such that the line $PQ$ intersects $k_1$ in a point $X\ne Q$ and such that the tangent to $k_1$ at $X$ intersects $k_2$ in points $A$ and $B.$ Let $k$ be the circle through $A,B$ which is tangent to the line through $P$ parallel to $AB.$ Prove that the circles $k_1$ and $k$ are tangent.

Let $ABCDEFGH$ be a cube of sidelength $a$ and such that $AG$ is one of the space diagonals. Consider paths on the surface of this cube. Then determine the set of points $P$ on the surface for which the shortest path from $P$ to $A$ and from $P$ to $G$ have the same length $l.$ Also determine all possible values of $l$ depending on $a.$

Five people form several commissions to prepare a competition. Here any commission must be nonempty and any two commissions cannot contain the same members. Moreover, any two commissions have at least one common member. There are already $14$ commissions. Prove that at least one additional commission can be formed.

Define a sequence $(a_n)$ by $a_1 =1, a_2 =2,$ and $a_{k+2}=2a_{k+1}+a_k$ for all positive integers $k$ . Determine all real numbers $\beta >0$ which satisfy the following conditions:

(A) There are infinitely pairs of positive integers $(p,q)$ such that $\left| \frac{p}{q}- \sqrt{2} \right| < \frac{\beta}{q^2 }.$ (B) There are only finitely many pairs of positive integers $(p,q)$ with $\left| \frac{p}{q}- \sqrt{2} \,\right| < \frac{\beta}{q^2 }$ for which there is no index $k$ with $q=a_k.$