2 or 3

Algebra Level 3

Which is bigger: A A or B B ?

A = 2 + 2 2 + 2 3 + + 2 3 n 1 1 2 + 1 2 2 + 1 2 3 + + 1 2 3 n 1 B = 3 + 3 2 + 3 3 + + 3 2 n 1 1 3 + 1 3 2 + 1 3 3 + + 1 3 2 n 1 \begin{aligned} A & =\dfrac{2+2^2+2^3+\dots+2^{3n-1}}{\dfrac{1}{2}+\dfrac{1}{2^2}+\dfrac{1}{2^3}+\dots+\dfrac{1}{2^{3n-1}}} \\ \ \\ B & =\dfrac{3+3^2+3^3+\dots+3^{2n-1}}{\dfrac{1}{3}+\dfrac{1}{3^2}+\dfrac{1}{3^3}+\dots+\dfrac{1}{3^{2n-1}}}\end{aligned}

Note: n N n \in \mathbb N .

A = B A=B A > B A > B B > A B > A

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2 solutions

Chew-Seong Cheong
Jul 12, 2017

A = 2 + 2 2 + 2 3 + + 2 3 n 1 1 2 + 1 2 2 + 1 2 3 + + 1 2 3 n 1 = 2 ( 2 3 n 1 1 ) 2 1 1 2 ( 1 1 2 3 n 1 ) 1 1 2 = 2 3 n B = 3 + 3 2 + 3 3 + + 3 2 n 1 1 3 + 1 3 2 + 1 3 3 + + 1 3 2 n 1 = 3 ( 3 2 n 1 1 ) 3 1 1 3 ( 1 1 3 2 n 1 ) 1 1 3 = 3 2 n \begin{aligned} A & = \frac {2+2^2+2^3+\cdots + 2^{3n-1}}{\frac 12 + \frac 1{2^2} + \frac 1{2^3}+ \cdots + \frac 1{2^{3n-1}}} = \frac {\frac {2\left(2^{3n-1}-1\right)}{2-1}}{\frac {\frac 12\left(1- \frac 1{2^{3n-1}}\right)}{1-\frac 12}} = 2^{3n} \\ B & = \frac {3+3^2+3^3+\cdots + 3^{2n-1}}{\frac 13 + \frac 1{3^2} + \frac 1{3^3}+ \cdots + \frac 1{3^{2n-1}}} = \frac {\frac {3\left(3^{2n-1}-1\right)}{3-1}}{\frac {\frac 13\left(1- \frac 1{3^{2n-1}}\right)}{1-\frac 13}} = 3^{2n} \end{aligned}

Consider log A log B = log 2 3 n log 3 2 n = n log 2 3 n log 3 2 = log 8 log 9 < 1 \dfrac {\log A}{\log B} = \dfrac {\log 2^{3n}}{\log 3^{2n}} = \dfrac {n \log 2^3}{n \log 3^2} = \dfrac {\log 8}{\log 9} < 1 . log B > log A \implies \log B > \log A , B > A \implies \boxed{B > A} .

But doesn't this depend on the values of n? For example, if n=0, then both would be equal. This problem should state that n is a positive integer.

Nice solution, though.

Siva Budaraju - 3 years, 11 months ago

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I suppose when the nominators and denominators of A A and B B start with 2 1 , 1 2 1 2^1, \frac 1{2^1} and 3 1 , 1 3 1 3^1, \frac 1{3^1} means n 1 n \ge 1 .

Chew-Seong Cheong - 3 years, 11 months ago

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Yes, but it's still not totally clear, as maybe it would be 0/0 and 0/0, and then we are unable to tell which is greater.

Siva Budaraju - 3 years, 11 months ago

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@Siva Budaraju Just added Note: n > 0 n > 0 .

Chew-Seong Cheong - 3 years, 11 months ago

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@Chew-Seong Cheong That is still not totally clear; what if n = 0.1?

N has to be a positive integer.

Siva Budaraju - 3 years, 11 months ago

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@Siva Budaraju Actually it is shown that 2 + 2 2 + . . . 2+2^2+... obviously it implies it is positive integer

Chew-Seong Cheong - 3 years, 11 months ago
Áron Bán-Szabó
Jul 12, 2017

Expand A A with 2 3 n 1 2^{3n-1} . Then we get: A = 2 3 n 1 ( 2 + 2 2 + 2 3 + + 2 3 n 1 ) 2 3 n 2 + 2 3 n 3 + + 2 + 1 = 2 3 n ( 1 + 2 + 4 + + 2 3 n 2 ) 2 3 n 2 + 2 3 n 3 + + 2 + 1 = 2 3 n \begin{aligned} A & =\dfrac{2^{3n-1}(2+2^2+2^3+\dots+2^{3n-1})}{2^{3n-2}+2^{3n-3}+\dots+2+1} \\ & =\dfrac{2^{3n}(1+2+4+\dots+2^{3n-2})}{2^{3n-2}+2^{3n-3}+\dots+2+1} \\ & = 2^{3n} \end{aligned}

Similarly wif we expand B B with 3 2 n 1 3^{2n-1} and pull out 3 2 n 3^{2n} , we get B = 3 2 n B=3^{2n} Now it is clear that A = 2 3 n = 8 n < 9 n = 3 2 n = B A=2^{3n}=8^n<9^n=3^{2n}=B Therefore B > A \boxed{B>A} .

But doesn't this depend on the values of n? For example, if n=0, then both would be equal. This problem should state that n is a positive integer.

Nice solution, though.

Siva Budaraju - 3 years, 11 months ago

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