Another Lucas Number?

Algebra Level 4

2207 1 2207 1 2207 16 \sqrt[16]{2207 - \dfrac{1}{2207 - \dfrac{1}{2207 - \cdots}}}

The expression above can be expressed as a + b c d \dfrac{a + b\sqrt{c}}{d} , where a , b , c , d Z a,b,c,d \in \mathbb{Z} with gcd ( a , b , d ) = 1 \gcd(a,b,d) = 1 and c c is square free. Find the value of a + b + c + d a + b + c + d .

Inspiration.


The answer is 9.

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1 solution

Sathvik Acharya
Jan 27, 2021

2207 1 2207 1 2207 16 = k 2207 1 2207 1 2207 = k 16 k 16 + 1 k 16 = 2207 \begin{aligned} \sqrt[16]{2207-\dfrac{1}{2207-\dfrac{1}{2207-\cdots}}}&=k \\ \\ 2207-\dfrac{1}{2207-\dfrac{1}{2207-\cdots}}&=k^{16} \\ \\ \implies k^{16}+\frac{1}{k^{16}}&=2207 \end{aligned} Using the identity, ( a n + 1 a n ) 2 = a 2 n + 1 a 2 n + 2 \left(a^n+\dfrac{1}{a^n}\right)^2=a^{2n}+\dfrac{1}{a^{2n}}+2 , we can scale down to k 8 + 1 k 8 = 2207 + 2 = 47 k 4 + 1 k 4 = 47 + 2 = 7 k 2 + 1 k 2 = 7 + 2 = 3 k + 1 k = 3 + 2 = 5 \begin{aligned} k^{8}+\frac{1}{k^{8}}&=\sqrt{2207+2}=47 \\ \\ k^{4}+\frac{1}{k^{4}}&=\sqrt{47+2}=7 \\ \\ k^{2}+\frac{1}{k^{2}}&=\sqrt{7+2}=3 \\ \\ k+\frac{1}{k}&=\sqrt{3+2}=\sqrt{5} \end{aligned} Solving the quadratic k 2 5 k + 1 = 0 k^2-\sqrt{5}k+1=0 , we get k = 5 + 1 2 > 1 k=\dfrac{\sqrt{5}+1}{2}>1 and k = 5 1 2 < 1 k=\dfrac{\sqrt{5}-1}{2}<1 . So, we have, 2207 1 2207 1 2207 16 = 1 + 5 2 \sqrt[16]{2207-\dfrac{1}{2207-\dfrac{1}{2207-\cdots}}}=\frac{1+\sqrt{5}}{2} Therefore, a = 1 , b = 1 , c = 5 , d = 2 a + b + c + d = 9 a=1,\;b=1,\;c=5,\;d=2\implies a+b+c+d=9 .

You still got to prove that the infinitely nested function converges to a finite value.

If you replace all the 2207s in the question with 1's, you will get a nonsensical answer.

Pi Han Goh - 4 months, 2 weeks ago

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Hey @Pi Han Goh ! I have never seen "proving convergence", can you please tell me some wiki/video to understand it? Thanks! :)

Vinayak Srivastava - 4 months, 2 weeks ago

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Here's a separate question that shows the convergence of an infinitely nested function.

Pi Han Goh - 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Or see this discussion

Pi Han Goh - 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Or see this

Pi Han Goh - 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Last one

Pi Han Goh - 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Actually @Mark Hennings addressed it quite nicely here

Pi Han Goh - 4 months, 2 weeks ago

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@Pi Han Goh Wow! So many references! I will try to read and understand them. Thanks a lot!

Vinayak Srivastava - 4 months, 2 weeks ago

The golden ratio to the power of sixteen is a little less than 2207 ( by a 0.0005 ish ) and we do expect that due to that -1/2207 approximately so it does converge!

Jason Gomez - 4 months, 2 weeks ago

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I mean, it all started with (first line = k), so the author of the solution already assumes that the nested function converges.

Just because we know that k = (1+sqrt5)/2, the convergence has not been proven.

Pi Han Goh - 4 months, 2 weeks ago

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