Just a long problem

Calculus Level pending

Define x x and y y as

x = n = 1 ( 1 k = 1 n ( k ) ) \huge x = \sum _{n=1}^{\infty }\left(\frac{1}{\sum _{k=1}^n\left(k\right)}\right)

y = n = 1 ( 1 k = 1 n ( 2 k 1 ) ) \huge y = \sum _{n=1}^{\infty }\left(\frac{1}{\sum _{k=1}^n\left(2k-1\right)}\right)

If there exists a number z z , such that

z = x y π 2 \huge z = \frac {xy}{\pi^{2}}

Then find the exact positive value of

z + 2 z z + 2 z z + 2 z z + 2 z z + . . . \sqrt{z+2z\sqrt{z+2z\sqrt{z+2z\sqrt{z+2z\sqrt{z+...}}}}}


The answer is 1.

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1 solution

Efren Medallo
Jun 4, 2015

The value of x x simplifies to

x = n = 1 ( 1 n ( n + 1 ) 2 ) \huge x = \sum _{n=1}^{\infty }\left(\frac{1}{\frac{n\left(n+1\right)}{2}}\right)

x = n = 1 2 n ( n + 1 ) \large x =\sum _{n=1}^{\infty }\frac{2}{n\left(n+1\right)}

x = n = 1 2 ( 1 n 1 n + 1 ) \large x =\sum _{n=1}^{\infty }\:2\left(\frac{1}{n}-\frac{1}{n+1}\right)\:\:

Giving us x = 2 \boxed {\large x = 2} .

The value of y y , on the other hand, simplifies to

y = n = 1 ( 1 n 2 ) y = \huge \sum _{n=1}^{\infty }\left(\frac{1}{n^2}\right)

which simplifies to y = π 2 6 \boxed{ \large y = \frac {\pi^{2}}{6} } .

Thus, z = 2 × π 2 6 π 2 z = \huge \frac {2 \times \frac{\pi^{2}}{6}}{ \pi^{2}}

z = 1 3 \boxed {z = \frac {1}{3}}

Let w w be the exact value of the nested square root.

w = z + 2 z z + 2 z z + 2 z z + . . . \large w=\sqrt{z+2z\sqrt{z+2z\sqrt{z+2z\sqrt{z+...}}}}

w = z + 2 z w \large w = \sqrt{z+2zw}

w 2 = 1 3 + 2 3 w \large w^{2} = \frac {1}{3} + \frac{2}{3}w

w 2 2 3 w 1 3 = 0 \large w^{2} - \frac{2}{3}w - \frac {1}{3} = 0

3 w 2 2 w 1 = 0 \large 3w^{2} - 2w - 1 = 0

( 3 w + 1 ) ( w 1 ) = 0 \large (3w + 1)(w-1) = 0

since w w is positive, we take w = 1 . \large{ \boxed { w = 1 } }.

First of all, this problem is way overrated. It should be a level 3-4 at most. Secondly, your solution lacks details.

For example, you need to mention that the value of y y is obtained as a consequence of the solution to the Basel problem, which is ζ ( 2 ) = π 2 6 \zeta(2)=\frac{\pi^2}{6} , where ζ ( s ) \zeta(s) is the Riemann zeta function.

You also need to mention / show that the value of x x is found out using the fact that the sum n = 1 ( 1 n 1 n + 1 ) \sum_{n=1}^\infty\left(\frac 1n-\frac 1{n+1}\right) is a telescoping sum in which the subsequent terms other than the first term "cancel out".

Prasun Biswas - 6 years ago

Is the nested radical mentioned in the problem same as shown in the solution .. please check it ..... seems like you've added an extra z behind the two's

Abhinav Raichur - 6 years ago

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oh. I'm extremely sorry about that. I've edited it. Thank you!

Efren Medallo - 6 years ago

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no worries ..... :)

Abhinav Raichur - 6 years ago

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@Abhinav Raichur Try answering my other problems! :)

Efren Medallo - 6 years ago

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@Efren Medallo Sure! .... BTW im already on one! ...... try this

Abhinav Raichur - 6 years ago

really amazing way to post a good problem using easy problems! +1

Aditya Kumar - 6 years ago

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