Is this sequence always periodic?
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The sequence $a_1,a_2,dots$ contains only positive reals. Suppose that for any $i$ positive integer
$$n-(a_i+a_{i+1})+dfrac{a_ia_{i+1}-a_{i+2}+1}{n}=1$$
where $n$ is a fixed positive real.
Is it always true that the sequence $a_i$ is periodic? This problem is from Rookie Team Contest MOP 2001. I need your help!
linear-algebra sequences-and-series
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add a comment |
$begingroup$
The sequence $a_1,a_2,dots$ contains only positive reals. Suppose that for any $i$ positive integer
$$n-(a_i+a_{i+1})+dfrac{a_ia_{i+1}-a_{i+2}+1}{n}=1$$
where $n$ is a fixed positive real.
Is it always true that the sequence $a_i$ is periodic? This problem is from Rookie Team Contest MOP 2001. I need your help!
linear-algebra sequences-and-series
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Try $n=1$, so then $a_{i+2} = 1-(a_i-a_{i+1}) + a_ia_{i+1}$ and it looks like if initialized properly the $a_i$ sequence will always increase.
$endgroup$
– Michael
Oct 22 '18 at 22:16
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As Michael commented, for $n=1$, we have $a_{i+2}=(a_{i+1}-1)(a_i-1)$. So, we see that $a_i$ is increasing for $a_1=a_2=3$, for example.
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– mathlove
Oct 23 '18 at 5:43
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But what if $nneq 1$. I mean in the problem we don’t know $n$, we only know that it is a fixed positive real and satisfy the equation!
$endgroup$
– Yeah
Oct 23 '18 at 7:26
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The sequence $a_1,a_2,dots$ contains only positive reals. Suppose that for any $i$ positive integer
$$n-(a_i+a_{i+1})+dfrac{a_ia_{i+1}-a_{i+2}+1}{n}=1$$
where $n$ is a fixed positive real.
Is it always true that the sequence $a_i$ is periodic? This problem is from Rookie Team Contest MOP 2001. I need your help!
linear-algebra sequences-and-series
$endgroup$
The sequence $a_1,a_2,dots$ contains only positive reals. Suppose that for any $i$ positive integer
$$n-(a_i+a_{i+1})+dfrac{a_ia_{i+1}-a_{i+2}+1}{n}=1$$
where $n$ is a fixed positive real.
Is it always true that the sequence $a_i$ is periodic? This problem is from Rookie Team Contest MOP 2001. I need your help!
linear-algebra sequences-and-series
linear-algebra sequences-and-series
asked Oct 22 '18 at 21:39
YeahYeah
826
826
$begingroup$
Try $n=1$, so then $a_{i+2} = 1-(a_i-a_{i+1}) + a_ia_{i+1}$ and it looks like if initialized properly the $a_i$ sequence will always increase.
$endgroup$
– Michael
Oct 22 '18 at 22:16
$begingroup$
As Michael commented, for $n=1$, we have $a_{i+2}=(a_{i+1}-1)(a_i-1)$. So, we see that $a_i$ is increasing for $a_1=a_2=3$, for example.
$endgroup$
– mathlove
Oct 23 '18 at 5:43
$begingroup$
But what if $nneq 1$. I mean in the problem we don’t know $n$, we only know that it is a fixed positive real and satisfy the equation!
$endgroup$
– Yeah
Oct 23 '18 at 7:26
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Try $n=1$, so then $a_{i+2} = 1-(a_i-a_{i+1}) + a_ia_{i+1}$ and it looks like if initialized properly the $a_i$ sequence will always increase.
$endgroup$
– Michael
Oct 22 '18 at 22:16
$begingroup$
As Michael commented, for $n=1$, we have $a_{i+2}=(a_{i+1}-1)(a_i-1)$. So, we see that $a_i$ is increasing for $a_1=a_2=3$, for example.
$endgroup$
– mathlove
Oct 23 '18 at 5:43
$begingroup$
But what if $nneq 1$. I mean in the problem we don’t know $n$, we only know that it is a fixed positive real and satisfy the equation!
$endgroup$
– Yeah
Oct 23 '18 at 7:26
$begingroup$
Try $n=1$, so then $a_{i+2} = 1-(a_i-a_{i+1}) + a_ia_{i+1}$ and it looks like if initialized properly the $a_i$ sequence will always increase.
$endgroup$
– Michael
Oct 22 '18 at 22:16
$begingroup$
Try $n=1$, so then $a_{i+2} = 1-(a_i-a_{i+1}) + a_ia_{i+1}$ and it looks like if initialized properly the $a_i$ sequence will always increase.
$endgroup$
– Michael
Oct 22 '18 at 22:16
$begingroup$
As Michael commented, for $n=1$, we have $a_{i+2}=(a_{i+1}-1)(a_i-1)$. So, we see that $a_i$ is increasing for $a_1=a_2=3$, for example.
$endgroup$
– mathlove
Oct 23 '18 at 5:43
$begingroup$
As Michael commented, for $n=1$, we have $a_{i+2}=(a_{i+1}-1)(a_i-1)$. So, we see that $a_i$ is increasing for $a_1=a_2=3$, for example.
$endgroup$
– mathlove
Oct 23 '18 at 5:43
$begingroup$
But what if $nneq 1$. I mean in the problem we don’t know $n$, we only know that it is a fixed positive real and satisfy the equation!
$endgroup$
– Yeah
Oct 23 '18 at 7:26
$begingroup$
But what if $nneq 1$. I mean in the problem we don’t know $n$, we only know that it is a fixed positive real and satisfy the equation!
$endgroup$
– Yeah
Oct 23 '18 at 7:26
add a comment |
1 Answer
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$begingroup$
By multiplying both sides in $n$ we have $$n^2-n(a_i+a_{i+1})+a_ia_{i+1}-a_{i+2}+1=n$$therefore $$a_{i+2}=(a_i-n)(a_{i+1}-n)-n+1$$defining $b_i=a_i-n$ we have $$b_{i+2}=b_ib_{i+1}-2n+1$$therefore $b_i$ is periodic if and only if $a_i$ is periodic. Now choose $n={1over 2}$ therefore $$b_{i+2}=b_{i+1}b_i$$ where for $b_1=2$ and $b_2=2$ we have$${b_3=2^2\b_4=2^3\b_5=2^5\b_6=2^8\b_7=2^{11}\vdots}$$therefore $$Large b_i=2^{f_i}$$ where $f_i$ is the famous Fibonacci sequence. Since $f_i$ grows unbounded, so do $b_i$ and $a_i$ which implies on non-periodicity of $a_i$.
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add a comment |
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1 Answer
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$begingroup$
By multiplying both sides in $n$ we have $$n^2-n(a_i+a_{i+1})+a_ia_{i+1}-a_{i+2}+1=n$$therefore $$a_{i+2}=(a_i-n)(a_{i+1}-n)-n+1$$defining $b_i=a_i-n$ we have $$b_{i+2}=b_ib_{i+1}-2n+1$$therefore $b_i$ is periodic if and only if $a_i$ is periodic. Now choose $n={1over 2}$ therefore $$b_{i+2}=b_{i+1}b_i$$ where for $b_1=2$ and $b_2=2$ we have$${b_3=2^2\b_4=2^3\b_5=2^5\b_6=2^8\b_7=2^{11}\vdots}$$therefore $$Large b_i=2^{f_i}$$ where $f_i$ is the famous Fibonacci sequence. Since $f_i$ grows unbounded, so do $b_i$ and $a_i$ which implies on non-periodicity of $a_i$.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
By multiplying both sides in $n$ we have $$n^2-n(a_i+a_{i+1})+a_ia_{i+1}-a_{i+2}+1=n$$therefore $$a_{i+2}=(a_i-n)(a_{i+1}-n)-n+1$$defining $b_i=a_i-n$ we have $$b_{i+2}=b_ib_{i+1}-2n+1$$therefore $b_i$ is periodic if and only if $a_i$ is periodic. Now choose $n={1over 2}$ therefore $$b_{i+2}=b_{i+1}b_i$$ where for $b_1=2$ and $b_2=2$ we have$${b_3=2^2\b_4=2^3\b_5=2^5\b_6=2^8\b_7=2^{11}\vdots}$$therefore $$Large b_i=2^{f_i}$$ where $f_i$ is the famous Fibonacci sequence. Since $f_i$ grows unbounded, so do $b_i$ and $a_i$ which implies on non-periodicity of $a_i$.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
By multiplying both sides in $n$ we have $$n^2-n(a_i+a_{i+1})+a_ia_{i+1}-a_{i+2}+1=n$$therefore $$a_{i+2}=(a_i-n)(a_{i+1}-n)-n+1$$defining $b_i=a_i-n$ we have $$b_{i+2}=b_ib_{i+1}-2n+1$$therefore $b_i$ is periodic if and only if $a_i$ is periodic. Now choose $n={1over 2}$ therefore $$b_{i+2}=b_{i+1}b_i$$ where for $b_1=2$ and $b_2=2$ we have$${b_3=2^2\b_4=2^3\b_5=2^5\b_6=2^8\b_7=2^{11}\vdots}$$therefore $$Large b_i=2^{f_i}$$ where $f_i$ is the famous Fibonacci sequence. Since $f_i$ grows unbounded, so do $b_i$ and $a_i$ which implies on non-periodicity of $a_i$.
$endgroup$
By multiplying both sides in $n$ we have $$n^2-n(a_i+a_{i+1})+a_ia_{i+1}-a_{i+2}+1=n$$therefore $$a_{i+2}=(a_i-n)(a_{i+1}-n)-n+1$$defining $b_i=a_i-n$ we have $$b_{i+2}=b_ib_{i+1}-2n+1$$therefore $b_i$ is periodic if and only if $a_i$ is periodic. Now choose $n={1over 2}$ therefore $$b_{i+2}=b_{i+1}b_i$$ where for $b_1=2$ and $b_2=2$ we have$${b_3=2^2\b_4=2^3\b_5=2^5\b_6=2^8\b_7=2^{11}\vdots}$$therefore $$Large b_i=2^{f_i}$$ where $f_i$ is the famous Fibonacci sequence. Since $f_i$ grows unbounded, so do $b_i$ and $a_i$ which implies on non-periodicity of $a_i$.
answered Nov 30 '18 at 17:27
Mostafa AyazMostafa Ayaz
14.8k3938
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$begingroup$
Try $n=1$, so then $a_{i+2} = 1-(a_i-a_{i+1}) + a_ia_{i+1}$ and it looks like if initialized properly the $a_i$ sequence will always increase.
$endgroup$
– Michael
Oct 22 '18 at 22:16
$begingroup$
As Michael commented, for $n=1$, we have $a_{i+2}=(a_{i+1}-1)(a_i-1)$. So, we see that $a_i$ is increasing for $a_1=a_2=3$, for example.
$endgroup$
– mathlove
Oct 23 '18 at 5:43
$begingroup$
But what if $nneq 1$. I mean in the problem we don’t know $n$, we only know that it is a fixed positive real and satisfy the equation!
$endgroup$
– Yeah
Oct 23 '18 at 7:26