The denominator isn't consecutive

Algebra Level 5

3 1 × 2 × 4 + 4 2 × 3 × 5 + 5 3 × 4 × 6 + \large \dfrac{3}{1\times 2 \times 4} + \dfrac{4}{2 \times 3 \times 5} + \dfrac{5}{3 \times 4 \times 6} + \ldots

If the above summation can be expressed as a b \dfrac{a}{b} where a , b a,b are co-prime natural numbers, find a + b a+b .


The answer is 65.

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5 solutions

汶良 林
Aug 3, 2015

Just the common method of partial fractions. f ( n ) = 1 n + 2 n ( n + 1 ) ( n + 3 ) \text{Just the common method of partial fractions.}\\ \displaystyle f(n)=\sum_1^{\infty} \dfrac{n+2}{n*(n+1)*(n+3)} \\ n + 2 n ( n + 1 ) ( n + 3 ) = A n + B n + 1 + C n + 3 \therefore ~ \dfrac{n+2}{n*(n+1)*(n+3)}= \dfrac A n + \dfrac B{n+1} + ~ \dfrac C{n+3} \\ S o l v i n g , n + 2 n ( n + 1 ) ( n + 3 ) = 2 3 1 n 1 2 1 n + 1 1 6 1 n + 3 f ( n ) = 1 { 2 3 1 n 1 2 1 n + 1 1 6 1 n + 3 } f ( n ) = 2 3 1 3 1 n + 2 3 1 1 n + 3 1 2 s u m 1 2 1 n + 1 1 2 1 1 n + 1 1 6 1 1 n + 3 2 3 ( 1 1 + 1 2 + 1 3 ) 1 2 ( 1 2 + 1 3 ) + 0 + 0 + . . . 22 18 5 12 = 29 36 . a + b = 29 + 36 = 65. Solving,~~ \dfrac{n+2}{n*(n+1)*(n+3)}= \frac 2 3*\dfrac 1 n - \frac 1 2 *\dfrac 1 {n+1} - \frac 1 6 * \dfrac 1 {n+3}\\ \therefore ~\displaystyle f(n)=\sum_1^{\infty} \left \{ \frac 2 3*\dfrac 1 n - \frac 1 2 *\dfrac 1 {n+1} - \frac 1 6 * \dfrac 1 {n+3} \right \} \\ \therefore ~\displaystyle f(n)= \frac 2 3*\sum_1^3 \dfrac 1 n+ \frac 2 3*\sum_1^{\infty} \dfrac 1 {n+3} - \frac 1 2 *sum_1^2 \dfrac 1 {n+1} - \frac 1 2 *\sum_1^{\infty} \dfrac 1 {n+1} - \frac 1 6 *\sum_1^{\infty} \dfrac 1 {n+3} \\ \frac 2 3*(\frac 1 1+ \frac 1 2+ \frac 1 3) - \frac 1 2 *(\frac 1 2+ \frac 1 3)+0+0+...\\ \dfrac {22}{18} -\dfrac 5{12}=\dfrac {29}{36}. ~~~~~~a+b=29+36= \Huge ~~\color{#D61F06}{65}.

Note: The first term 'n' to become 'n+3' needs to move 3 steps so limit 1 to 3. Similarly the second term, to move from 'n+1' to 'n+3' needs to move 2 steps so limit 1 to 2. Since the limit is infinity, all end at infinity. If the limit was say L, term 'n' would end at L - 3, and 'n+1' would end at L-2.

Prakhar Bindal
Nov 13, 2015

General Term Of The Series Is

T = r+2 / r(r+1)(r+3)

T = 1/2 (r+1+r+3/r(r+1)(r+3)

T = 1/2( 1/r(r+3) + 1/r(r+1) )

We Break Down Series Into Two Telescoping Series

T2 = 1/r(r+1)

Its A Very Very Trivial Telescoping Series

T2 = 1/1 - 1/2 + 1/2 -1/3 + 1/3 -1/4.........

as limit is tending towards infinity so we T2 = 1

Main Thing Is To Evaluate T1 = 1/r(r+3)

Now We Use A Good Trick Here

T1 = 1/3 (1/r - 1/r+1) + 1/3(1/r+1 - 1/r+2) + 1/3(1/r+2-1/r+3)

These Three All Are Telescoping Series Individually

The Sum Evaluates To

T1 = 1/3 (1+1/2+1/3)

Final Sum => 1/2(T1+T2) = 29/36

I Thought Of This Trick While Solving This Problem Only !! Keep Posting

Never thought this way !! I liked your thinking.

Niranjan Khanderia - 5 years, 4 months ago

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Thank you sir! :) .

Prakhar Bindal - 5 years, 4 months ago

did exactly the same wy , thought of adding nd subtracting too ... :) was thinking of uploading it myself :P

A Former Brilliant Member - 4 years, 4 months ago
Gary Hu
Jul 22, 2015

3 1 × 2 × 4 + 4 2 × 3 × 5 + 5 3 × 4 × 6 + . . . \frac{3}{1 \times 2 \times 4}+\frac{4}{2 \times 3 \times 5}+\frac{5}{3 \times 4 \times 6}+... = n = 3 n ( n 2 ) ( n 1 ) ( n + 1 ) = n = 3 4 6 n 12 3 6 n 6 1 6 n + 6 =\sum_{n=3}^\infty\frac{n}{(n-2)(n-1)(n+1)}=\sum_{n=3}^\infty\frac{4}{6n-12}-\frac{3}{6n-6}-\frac{1}{6n+6} = 4 6 3 12 1 24 + 4 12 3 18 1 30 + 4 18 3 24 1 36 + 4 24 . . . =\frac{4}{6}-\frac{3}{12}-\frac{1}{24}+\frac{4}{12}-\frac{3}{18}-\frac{1}{30}+\frac{4}{18}-\frac{3}{24}-\frac{1}{36}+\frac{4}{24}... = 4 6 + 1 12 + 1 18 = 24 + 3 + 2 36 = 29 36 =\frac{4}{6}+\frac{1}{12}+\frac{1}{18}=\frac{24+3+2}{36}=\frac{29}{36} 29 + 36 = 65 29+36=\boxed{65}

Moderator note:

It's better to explain how you got R H S RHS for your second line.

Try to put parenthesis into the your third line to make the distinction between each term clearer so that readers will know that it is a telescoping sum.

Ashutosh Sharma
Jan 26, 2018

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