Let f:N→[0,∞) be a function satisfying the following conditions:
a) f(4)=2;
b) f(0)+f(1)1+f(1)+f(2)1+…+f(n)+f(n+1)1=f(n+1), for all integers n≥0.
Find f(n) in closed form.
Solution
For k≥0 we get f(k+2)−f(k+1)=f(k+1)+f(k+2)1 hence f2(k+2)=f2(k+1)+1. It follows 4=f2(4)=f2(3)+1 hence f(3)=3. Also, 3=f2(3)=f2(2)+1 implies f(2)=2and2=f2(2)=f2(1)+1 gives f(1)=1. Finally, f(1)=f(0)+f(1)1 implies 1=f(0)+11 hence f(0)=0.
Now we prove by induction that for any n≥0, we have f(n)=n. Assume that f(k+1)=k+1, and get f2(k+2)=f2(k+1)+1=k+1+1=k+2 hence f(k+2)=k+2 and we are done.
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