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There are 8 glasses of water on the table. You are allowed to take any two of the glasses and make them have equal volumes of water (by pouring some water from one glass into the other). Prove that, by using such operations, you can eventually get all the glasses to contain equal volumes of water.

Definition. The sequence of numbers \(a_0, a_1, \dots , a_n, \dots\), which, with the given \(p\) and \(q\), satisfies the relation \(a_{n + 2} = pa_{n + 1} + qa_n\) (\(n = 0,1,2, \dots\)) is called a linear recurrent sequence of the second order.

The equation \[x^2-px-q = 0\] is called a characteristic equation of the sequence \(\{a_n\}\).

Prove that, if the numbers \(a_0\), \(a_1\) are fixed, then all of the other terms of the sequence \(\{a_n\}\) are uniquely determined.

A function \(f\) is given, defined on the set of real numbers and taking real values. It is known that for any \(x\) and \(y\) such that \(x > y\), the inequality \((f (x)) ^2 \leq f (y)\) is true. Prove that the set of values generated by the function is contained in the interval \([0,1]\).

Author: I.I. Bogdanov

Peter wants to write down all of the possible sequences of 100 natural numbers, in each of which there is at least one 3, and any two neighbouring terms differ by no more than 1. How many sequences will he have to write out?

Author: I.I. Bogdanov

Peter wants to write down all of the possible sequences of 100 natural numbers, in each of which there is at least one 4 or 5, and any two neighbouring terms differ by no more than 2. How many sequences will he have to write out?

The bus has \(n\) seats, and all of the tickets are sold to \(n\) passengers. The first to enter the bus is the Scattered Scientist and, without looking at his ticket, takes a random available seat. Following this, the passengers enter one by one. If the new passenger sees that his place is free, he takes his place. If the place is occupied, then the person who gets on the bus takes the first available seat. Find the probability that the passenger who got on the bus last will take his seat according to his ticket?

Author: G. Zhukov

The square trinomial \(f (x) = ax^2 + bx + c\) that does not have roots is such that the coefficient \(b\) is rational, and among the numbers \(c\) and \(f (c)\) there is exactly one irrational.

Can the discriminant of the trinomial \(f (x)\) be rational?

On a circle of radius 1, the point \(O\) is marked and from this point, to the right, a notch is marked using a compass of radius \(l\). From the obtained notch \(O_1\), a new notch is marked, in the same direction with the same radius and this is process is repeated 1968 times. After this, the circle is cut at all 1968 notches, and we get 1968 arcs. How many different lengths of arcs can this result in?