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Algebra Level 4

When f ( x ) = 4 x 4 x + 2 , f(x)=\frac{4^x}{4^x+2}, what is the value of

k = 1 998 f ( k 999 ) ? \sum_{k=1} ^{998} f(\frac{k}{999})?


The answer is 499.

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1 solution

Sanjeet Raria
Sep 25, 2014

We have, f ( x ) = 4 x 4 x + 2 f(x)=\frac{4^x}{4^x+2}

Now, f ( 1 x ) = 4 1 x 4 1 x + 2 = 4 4 + 2 4 x f(1-x)=\frac{4^{1-x}}{4^{1-x}+2}=\frac{4}{4+2\cdot4^x} f ( 1 x ) = 2 2 + 4 x \Rightarrow f(1-x)=\frac{2}{2+4^x} Now we observe a very nice property of the function from above which is, f ( x ) + f ( 1 x ) = 1 ( w h y ) f(x)+f(1-x)= 1\text(why) Now a sudden consequence of this implies, f ( 1 999 ) + f ( 998 999 ) = 1 , f ( 2 999 ) + f ( 997 999 ) = 1 \Rightarrow f(\frac{1}{999})+f(\frac{998}{999})=1, f(\frac{2}{999})+f(\frac{997}{999})=1 f ( 499 999 ) + f ( 500 999 ) = 1 --- f(\frac{499}{999})+f(\frac{500}{999})=1 k = 1 998 f ( k 999 ) = 1 + 1 + + + ( 499 t e r m s ) = 499 \Rightarrow \sum_{k=1}^{998} f(\frac{k}{999})=1+1+++(499 terms)=\boxed{499} Note that there are a class of functions that satisfy this property. The general form of such functions for integer a is: f ( x ) = a x a x + a \huge\boxed{f(x)=\frac{a^x}{a^x+\sqrt{a}}}

Nice process...

Prokash Shakkhar - 4 years, 9 months ago

very good way to solve ..i didn;t knew it

Ritam Baidya - 6 years, 6 months ago

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Nice process...

Prokash Shakkhar - 4 years, 9 months ago

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