A sequence of real numbers: a0,a1,a2,…,a2012 satisfies the following conditions: ∣a0−a1∣=2031∣a1−a2∣=2132∣a2−a3∣=⋯=2201032011∣a2011−a2012∣=2201132012∣a2012−a0∣. Which values the subtraction: a0−a1006 can take?
Solution
Let ∣a0−a1∣=k. We can write down the equations: a0−a1a1−a2a2−a3…,a2011−a2012a2012−a0=±k,=±3120k,=±3221k,=±3201122010k,=±3201222011k. If k=0, let us add these equations and reduce everything by k, as a result, we will get an equation: 0=±1±3120±3221±⋯±3201122010±3201222011. But irrespectively of sign before the 1 we cannot obtain 0 as a result, because module of sum of the summands left is less than 1. It is easy to prove using the formula for the sum of members of geometric progression: ±3120±3221±⋯±3201122010±3201222011≤3120+3221+⋯+3201122010+3201222011=1−3231(1−(32)2012)=1−(32)2012<1.
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