Find sequence using sum of sequence

Algebra Level 4

Let S n S_n be the sum of the sequence { a n } \{a_n\} from a 1 a_1 to a n . a_n. If the following holds: a 1 = 1 , a n + 1 = S n + n + 1 for n = 1 , 2 , 3 , , a_1 =1 \ , \ a_{n+1}=S_n + n+ 1 \text{ for } n=1,2,3,\cdots, what is a 10 ? a_{10}?


The answer is 1023.

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2 solutions

Ronak Agarwal
Aug 12, 2014

Firstly note that S n S n 1 = a n { S }_{ n }-{ S }_{ n-1 }={ a }_{ n }

First we write a n + 1 = S n + n + 1 { a }_{ n+1 }={ S }_{ n }+n+1

Then we write a n = S n 1 + n { a }_{ n }={ S }_{ n-1 }+n

Subtract the equations to get :

a n + 1 = 2 a n + 1 { a }_{ n+1 }=2{ a }_{ n }+1

Put in some values to get a 1 = 1 , a 2 = 3 , a 3 = 7 , a 4 = 15 { a }_{ 1 }=1,{ a }_{ 2 }=3,{ a }_{ 3 }=7,{ a }_{ 4 }=15

The pattern is obvious a n = 2 n 1 { a }_{ n }={ 2 }^{ n }-1

Put n = 10 n=10 to get a 10 = 1023 \boxed { { a }_{ 10 }=1023 }

Aabidh Zubair
Jul 23, 2015

just compile the below c program u'll get the answer right away

include<stdio.h>

void main() { int an=1,sn=1,i,n=9; scanf("%d",&n); for(i=1;i<=n;i++) { an=sn+i+1; sn=an+sn; } printf("%d\n",an); }

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