Problem

Source: Russian TST 2015, Day 8 P1 (Group NG), P2 (Groups A & B)

Tags: algebra, polynomial, lattice points



Let $P(x, y)$ and $Q(x, y)$ be polynomials in two variables with integer coefficients. The sequences of integers $a_0, a_1,\ldots$ and $b_0, b_1,\ldots$ satisfy \[a_{n+1}=P(a_n,b_n),\quad b_{n+1}=Q(a_n,b_n)\]for all $n\geqslant 0$. Let $m_n$ be the number of integer points of the coordinate plane, lying strictly inside the segment with endpoints $(a_n,b_n)$ and $(a_{n+1},b_{n+1})$. Prove that the sequence $m_0,m_1,\ldots$ is non-decreasing.