Exercise 1295Algebra › Equations and radicalsOlympiadAdded 5 Nov 2026
Every integer divides some Fibonacci number
#Fibonacci numbers#periodicity#pigeonhole#modular arithmetic
Statement
Let , , . Prove that for every integer there is a positive integer such that .
Hint
Look at the pairs . There are only 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 .
The pair map. Let on . Then . The map is injective: if then and , so .
Pigeonhole. The pairs cannot all be different, so for some . Since is injective, we can cancel one at a time: .
Conclusion. With we have . In particular .
Remark. The least such is the "rank of apparition" of : e.g. and .
Lesson. A recurrence determined by a bijective step, taken modulo , is purely periodic.