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Exercise 1295Algebra › Equations and radicalsOlympiadAdded 5 Nov 2026

Every integer divides some Fibonacci number

#Fibonacci numbers#periodicity#pigeonhole#modular arithmetic

Statement

Let F0=0F_0=0, F1=1F_1=1, Fn+1=Fn+Fn−1F_{n+1}=F_n+F_{n-1}. Prove that for every integer m≥2m\ge2 there is a positive integer pp such that m∣Fpm\mid F_p.

Hint

Look at the pairs (Fn,Fn+1) mod m(F_n,F_{n+1})\bmod m. There are only m2m^2 possible pairs. Show that the map producing the next pair can be undone.

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Solution

Idea. The sequence of pairs is eventually periodic, and because the rule is reversible it is *purely* periodic: it returns to its starting pair (0,1)(0,1).

The pair map. Let T(a,b)=(b,a+b)T(a,b)=(b,a+b) on (Z/m)2(\mathbb{Z}/m)^2. Then (Fn,Fn+1) mod m=Tn(0,1)(F_n,F_{n+1})\bmod m=T^n(0,1). The map TT is injective: if T(a,b)=T(a′,b′)T(a,b)=T(a',b') then b=b′b=b' and a+b=a′+b′a+b=a'+b', so a=a′a=a'.

Pigeonhole. The m2+1m^2+1 pairs T0(0,1),…,Tm2(0,1)T^0(0,1),\dots,T^{m^2}(0,1) cannot all be different, so Ti(0,1)=Tj(0,1)T^i(0,1)=T^j(0,1) for some 0≤i<j0\le i<j. Since TT is injective, we can cancel one TT at a time: (0,1)=Tj−i(0,1)(0,1)=T^{j-i}(0,1).

Conclusion. With p=j−i>0p=j-i>0 we have (Fp,Fp+1)≡(0,1)(modm)(F_p,F_{p+1})\equiv(0,1)\pmod m. In particular m∣Fpm\mid F_p. ■\blacksquare

Remark. The least such pp is the "rank of apparition" of mm: e.g. 5∣F5=55\mid F_5=5 and 9∣F12=1449\mid F_{12}=144.

Lesson. A recurrence determined by a bijective step, taken modulo mm, is purely periodic.