olymmath

Putnam 2023 B4

  • Session B

For a nonnegative integer nn and a strictly increasing sequence of real numbers t0,t1,…,tnt_0,t_1,\dots,t_n, let f(t)f(t) be the corresponding real-valued function defined for t≥t0t \geq t_0 by the following properties:

(a) f(t)f(t) is continuous for t≥t0t \geq t_0, and is twice differentiable for all t>t0t>t_0 other than t1,…,tnt_1,\dots,t_n;

(b) f(t0)=1/2f(t_0) = 1/2;

(c) lim⁡t→tk+f′(t)=0\lim_{t \to t_k^+} f'(t) = 0 for 0≤k≤n0 \leq k \leq n;

(d) For 0≤k≤n−10 \leq k \leq n-1, we have f′′(t)=k+1f''(t) = k+1 when tk<t<tk+1t_k < t< t_{k+1}, and f′′(t)=n+1f''(t) = n+1 when t>tnt>t_n.

Considering all choices of nn and t0,t1,…,tnt_0,t_1,\dots,t_n such that tk≥tk−1+1t_k \geq t_{k-1}+1 for 1≤k≤n1 \leq k \leq n, what is the least possible value of TT for which f(t0+T)=2023f(t_0+T) = 2023?

Curated text Kedlaya Putnam archive. Quoted with source.

Solutions

Human solution Solution 1 by Manjul Bhargava, Kiran Kedlaya and Lenny Ng

The terms of the source let olymmath link to this solution but not copy it. Read the solution (Kedlaya Putnam archive).

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