A list of real numbers \(x_1\), \(x_2\), \(x_3\), … is defined by \(x_1 = 1\), \(x_2 = 3\) and then for \(n\geq3\) by \[x_n = 2x_{n−1} −x_{n−2} + 1.\]
So, for example, \(x_3 = 2x_2 −x_1 +1=2\times3−1+1=6\).
- Find the values of \(x_4\) and \(x_5\).
- Find values of real constants \(A\), \(B\), \(C\) such that for \(n = 1\), \(2\), \(3\), \[\begin{equation*} x_n = A+Bn+Cn^2. \label{eq:starrepeat}\tag{$*$} \end{equation*}\]
Putting \(n = 1\), \(2\), \(3\), we have that \(A\), \(B\) and \(C\) must satisfy \[A+B+C=1,\] \[A+2B+4C=3,\] and \[A+3B+9C=6.\]
Subtracting the second equation from the third gives us \(B+5C=3\), and taking the first equation from the second gives \(B+3C=2\).
These give us that \(C=\tfrac{1}{2}\), \(B=\tfrac{1}{2}\) and \(A=0\).
So equation \(\eqref{eq:starrepeat}\) becomes \[x_n=\frac{1}{2}n(n+1).\]
This is the formula for the sum of the first \(n\) natural numbers.
- Assuming that equation \(\eqref{eq:starrepeat}\) holds true for all \(n\geq1\), find the smallest \(n\) such that \(x_n\geq800\).
From above we know that \(x_n\geq800\) requires \(n(n+1)\geq1600\).
We know that \(40^2=1600\), which means that \(n=40\) will give us \(n(n+1)=40\times41>1600\). To be sure it is the smallest \(n\) we should check \(n=39\). This leads to \(n(n+1)=39\times40\) which is less than \(1600\). So \(n=40\) is the smallest value that gives \(x_n\geq800\).
Alternatively we can solve \(n(n+1) = 1600\), or \(n^2+n-1600=0\).
Using the quadratic formula gives \(n \approx 39.5\), and so \(n(n+1)\geq1600\) for the first time when \(n = 40\).
- A second list of real numbers \(y_1\), \(y_2\), \(y_3\), … is defined by \(y_1 = 1\) and \[y_n = y_{n−1} + 2n.\] Find, explaining your reasoning, a formula for \(y_n\) which holds for \(n\geq2\).
Taking a closer look at the \(n\)th term, what we have is \[y_n=1+2(2+3+4+\cdots+(n-1)+n) = 2(1+2+3+\cdots +n)-1.\]
Looking at the right hand side of this, we see the sum of all the consecutive numbers from \(1\) to \(n\).
We know that this sum is equal to \(\tfrac{1}{2}n(n+1)\), so our equation reads \[y_n=n(n+1)-1.\]
What is the approximate value of \(\dfrac{x_n}{y_n}\) for large values of \(n\)?
We have \[x_n=\frac{1}{2}n(n+1)\] and \[y_n=n(n+1)-1.\] Notice that \(y_n=2x_n-1\).
So the ratio becomes \[\frac{x_n}{y_n} = \frac{2x_n}{2y_n} = \frac{y_n+1}{2y_n} = \frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{2y_n}.\]
For large values of \(n\), \(y_n\) is large, and so \(\dfrac{1}{2y_n}\) is close to \(0\).
This means that the ratio \(\dfrac{x_n}{y_n}\) is approximately \(\dfrac{1}{2}\).
