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Number theory Difficulty 6.2 National Olympiad Prove it Soviet Union

Problem:

Let xn=(1+2+3)nx_n = (1 + \sqrt{2} + \sqrt{3})^{n}. We may write xn=an+bn2+cn3+dn6x_n = a_n + b_n \sqrt{2} + c_n \sqrt{3} + d_n \sqrt{6}, where an,bn,cn,dna_n, b_n, c_n, d_n are integers. Find the limit as nn tends to infinity of bn/anb_n / a_n, cn/anc_n / a_n, dn/and_n / a_n.

Solution

Solution:

Let xn=(1+2+3)nx_n = (1 + \sqrt{2} + \sqrt{3})^n. Consider the conjugates of 1+2+31 + \sqrt{2} + \sqrt{3} under the field automorphisms fixing Q\mathbb{Q}:

Let α1=1+2+3\alpha_1 = 1 + \sqrt{2} + \sqrt{3}
Let α2=1+23\alpha_2 = 1 + \sqrt{2} - \sqrt{3}
Let α3=12+3\alpha_3 = 1 - \sqrt{2} + \sqrt{3}
Let α4=123\alpha_4 = 1 - \sqrt{2} - \sqrt{3}

Then, xn=α1nx_n = \alpha_1^n, and similarly define yn=α2ny_n = \alpha_2^n, zn=α3nz_n = \alpha_3^n, wn=α4nw_n = \alpha_4^n.

We can write:
xn=an+bn2+cn3+dn6 x_n = a_n + b_n \sqrt{2} + c_n \sqrt{3} + d_n \sqrt{6}
Similarly, yn=an+bn2cn3dn6y_n = a_n + b_n \sqrt{2} - c_n \sqrt{3} - d_n \sqrt{6}
zn=anbn2+cn3dn6z_n = a_n - b_n \sqrt{2} + c_n \sqrt{3} - d_n \sqrt{6}
wn=anbn2cn3+dn6w_n = a_n - b_n \sqrt{2} - c_n \sqrt{3} + d_n \sqrt{6}

Now, solve for an,bn,cn,dna_n, b_n, c_n, d_n:

Add all four equations:
xn+yn+zn+wn=4an x_n + y_n + z_n + w_n = 4a_n
So,
an=14(xn+yn+zn+wn) a_n = \frac{1}{4}(x_n + y_n + z_n + w_n)

Similarly,
xn+ynznwn=4bn2    bn=142(xn+ynznwn) x_n + y_n - z_n - w_n = 4b_n \sqrt{2} \implies b_n = \frac{1}{4\sqrt{2}}(x_n + y_n - z_n - w_n)
xnyn+znwn=4cn3    cn=143(xnyn+znwn) x_n - y_n + z_n - w_n = 4c_n \sqrt{3} \implies c_n = \frac{1}{4\sqrt{3}}(x_n - y_n + z_n - w_n)
xnynzn+wn=4dn6    dn=146(xnynzn+wn) x_n - y_n - z_n + w_n = 4d_n \sqrt{6} \implies d_n = \frac{1}{4\sqrt{6}}(x_n - y_n - z_n + w_n)

Now, as nn \to \infty, α1>1\alpha_1 > 1, but α2<1|\alpha_2| < 1, α3<1|\alpha_3| < 1, α4<1|\alpha_4| < 1 (since 1+231+1.4141.7320.6821 + \sqrt{2} - \sqrt{3} \approx 1 + 1.414 - 1.732 \approx 0.682, 12+311.414+1.7321.3181 - \sqrt{2} + \sqrt{3} \approx 1 - 1.414 + 1.732 \approx 1.318, 12311.4141.7322.1461 - \sqrt{2} - \sqrt{3} \approx 1 - 1.414 - 1.732 \approx -2.146).

Thus, as nn \to \infty, xnx_n dominates, and the other terms tend to zero compared to xnx_n.

Therefore,
an14xn a_n \sim \frac{1}{4} x_n
bn142xn b_n \sim \frac{1}{4\sqrt{2}} x_n
cn143xn c_n \sim \frac{1}{4\sqrt{3}} x_n
dn146xn d_n \sim \frac{1}{4\sqrt{6}} x_n

So,
limnbnan=12 \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{b_n}{a_n} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}
limncnan=13 \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{c_n}{a_n} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}
limndnan=16 \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{d_n}{a_n} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{6}}

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Source: MathNet, licensed CC-BY-4.0. Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty) added by this project.