Let a recurrence relation be defined as follows: a 1 = 1 ; a 2 = 3 ; a n + 2 = ( n + 3 ) a n + 1 − ( n + 2 ) a n ∀ n ∈ N
Calculate the sum of all values of x such that a x = x 2 .
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Nicely explained! :)
Straight to the series evaluate-able without solving it:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 |
|
The series grows very fast comparatively. Therefore only 1 + 3 = 4.
Answer: 4
Wow! Unbelievable.
On placing the values of of n in the equation we get a1 = 1, a2 = 3, a3= 9, a4= 33 which implies the series is always increasing hence we are left with only a3 and a1. Therefore 3 + 1 = 4
Ans. 4
So? How can you say that Since it is increasing, there are no more solutions?
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Define t n = a n − a n − 1 , n ≥ 2 with , t 2 = 2 . Then,
a n + 2 = ( n + 3 ) a n + 1 − ( n + 2 ) a n
⟹ a n + 2 − a n + 1 = ( n + 2 ) ( a n + 1 − a n )
⟹ t n + 2 = ( n + 2 ) t n + 1
Replacing n + 2 with n
⟹ t n = ( n ) t n − 1
Which is the definition of the Factorial Function.Since t 2 = 2 ! , we have t n = n !
Now, ∑ i = 2 n t 1 = ∑ i = 2 n a 1 − a 1 − 1 = a n − a 1 = a n − 1
∑ i = 2 n i ! = a n − 1 ⟹ ∑ i = 1 n i ! = a n
Therefore we have to find sum of n such that ∑ i = 1 n i ! = n 2
For n ≥ 5 ,
∑ i = 1 n i ! ≡ 1 ! + 2 ! + 3 ! + 4 ! + 5 ! + . . . ≡ 1 + 2 + 6 + 2 4 + 0 + . . . ≡ 3 ( m o d 1 0 )
But x 2 ≡ 1 , 4 , 9 , 6 , 5 , 0 ( m o d 1 0 ) only. Therefore, ∑ i = 1 n i ! can not be a square.
Thus we only have to check from 1 to 5 .We get two possible solutions, 1 and 3 . Sum of these are 4