The annual interest rate is 10%, compounded semi-annually.
Hence, each half-yearly rate \( R = 5\% \), and the number of compounding periods is \( n = 3 \).
Let the original sum be \( P \).
According to the formula for compound interest:
\[ P \times \left(1 + \frac{10}{200}\right)^3 = 18522 \]
Solving for \( P \):
\[ P = 18522 \times \left(\frac{20}{21}\right)^3 \]
\[ P = 18522 \times \frac{8000}{9261} = 16000 \]
\[ \boxed{P = 16000} \]
For any natural number $k$, let $a_k = 3^k$. The smallest natural number $m$ for which \[ (a_1)^1 \times (a_2)^2 \times \dots \times (a_{20})^{20} \;<\; a_{21} \times a_{22} \times \dots \times a_{20+m} \] is: