P0=(1,0),P1=(1,1),P2=(0,1),P3=(0,0). Pn+4 is the midpoint of PnPn+1. Qn is the quadrilateral PnPn+1Pn+2Pn+3. An is the interior of Qn. Find ⋂n≥0An.
Solution
Interpreting the points Pk as vectors, we have Pn+4=2Pn+Pn+1, which is a linear homogeneous recursion. Its characteristic polynomial is 2x4−x−1=(x−1)(2x3+2x2+2x+1). So let α,β,γ be the roots of f(x)=2x3+2x2+2x+1, so that Pn=Q0+Q1αn+Q2βn+Q3γn, Q0,Q1,Q2,Q3 being constant vectors.
We have α2+β2+γ2=(α+β+γ)2−2(αβ+βγ+γα)=(−22)2−2⋅22=−1<0, so f has one real root and two conjugate complex roots. Suppose α is real. Since f(−1)=−1<0 and f(−21)=41>0, −1<α<−21 and ∣β∣=∣γ∣=∣−21∣<1, so all roots of f have modulus smaller than 1 and so Pn tends to Q0 as n goes to infinity. This means that Qn tends to Q0 and thus the intersection of all Qn is Q0. To find Q0, notice that