Tantalizing properties of subsequences of the Fibonacci sequence modulo 10
Abstract: The Fibonacci sequence modulo $m$, which we denote $\left(\mathcal{F}{m,n}\right){n=0}\infty$ where $\mathcal{F}{m,n}$ is the Fibonacci number $F_n$ modulo $m$, has been a well-studied object in mathematics since the seminal paper by D.~D.~Wall in 1960 exploring a myriad of properties related to the periods of these sequences. Since the time of Lagrange it has been known that $\left(\mathcal{F}{m,n}\right){n=0}\infty$ is periodic for each $m$. We examine this sequence when $m=10$, yielding a sequence of period length 60. In particular, we explore its subsequences composed of every $r{\mathrm{th}}$ term of $\left(\mathcal{F}{10,n}\right){n=0}\infty$ starting from the term $\mathcal{F}{10,k}$ for some $0 \leq k \leq 59$. More precisely we consider the subsequences $\left(\mathcal{F}{10,k+rj}\right){j=0}\infty$, which we show are themselves periodic and whose lengths divide 60. Many intriguing properties reveal themselves as we alter the $k$ and $r$ values. For example, for certain $r$ values the corresponding subsequences surprisingly obey the Fibonacci recurrence relation; that is, any two consecutive subsequence terms sum to the next term modulo 10. Moreover, for all $r$ values relatively prime to 60, the subsequence $\left(\mathcal{F}{10,k+rj}\right){j=0}\infty$ coincides exactly with the original parent sequence $\left(\mathcal{F}{10,n}\right){n=0}\infty$ (or a cyclic shift of it) running either forward or reverse. We demystify this phenomena and explore many other tantalizing properties of these subsequences.
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