An algebra problem by Razing Thunder

Algebra Level 4

S = 1 1 + 1 2 + 1 4 + 2 1 + 2 2 + 2 4 + 3 1 + 3 2 + 3 4 + S = \frac 1{1+1^2 + 1^4} + \frac 2{1+2^2 + 2^4} + \frac 3{1+3^2 + 3^4} + \cdots

For S S as defined above, find 14 S 14S .


The answer is 7.

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2 solutions

Chew-Seong Cheong
Jul 22, 2020

The sum S S can be rewritten as:

S = n = 1 n 1 + n 2 + n 4 = n = 1 n ( n 2 n + 1 ) ( n 2 + n + 1 ) = n = 1 1 2 ( 1 n 2 n + 1 1 n 2 + n + 1 ) = 1 2 n = 1 ( 1 ( n 1 ) 2 + ( n 1 ) + 1 1 n 2 + n + 1 ) = 1 2 ( n = 0 1 n 2 + n + 1 n = 1 1 n 2 + n + 1 ) = 1 2 × 1 0 2 + 0 + 1 = 1 2 \begin{aligned} S & = \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac n{1 + n^2 + n^4} \\ & = \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac n{(n^2-n+1)(n^2 + n + 1)} \\ & = \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac 12 \left(\frac 1{n^2-n+1} - \frac 1{n^2+n+1}\right) \\ & = \frac 12 \sum_{n=1}^\infty \left(\frac 1{(n-1)^2 + (n-1)+1} - \frac 1{n^2+n+1} \right) \\ & = \frac 12 \left( \sum_\red{n=0}^\infty \frac 1{n^2 + n+1} - \sum_\blue{n=1}^\infty \frac 1{n^2+n+1} \right) \\ & = \frac 12 \times \frac 1{0^2+0+1} = \frac 12 \end{aligned}

Therefore 14 S = 14 × 1 2 = 7 14S = 14 \times \dfrac 12 = \boxed 7 .

Sir, this time I could break it till the third step, but I don't understand the fifth step: 1 2 × 1 0 + 0 + 1 \dfrac{1}{2} \times \dfrac{1}{0+0+1} How can this be reached? Thanks!

Vinayak Srivastava - 10 months, 3 weeks ago

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I have added a step to explain. It is just n = 0 n=0 .

Chew-Seong Cheong - 10 months, 3 weeks ago

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Oh, I understood. Brilliant solution! Thank you!

Vinayak Srivastava - 10 months, 3 weeks ago
Razing Thunder
Jul 22, 2020

why do u repost it?

A Former Brilliant Member - 10 months, 3 weeks ago

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because i like ∞

Razing Thunder - 10 months, 3 weeks ago

@Razing Thunder , please use only three dots ... \dots or \cdots for infinite terms. Please do not add \infty at the end (however much you like it). It can mean the term tense to \infty . The three dots are international professional standards used in all proper math materials.

Chew-Seong Cheong - 10 months, 3 weeks ago

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ok , i have a picture

Razing Thunder - 10 months, 3 weeks ago

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