AlgebraDifficulty 5.1AIME, harderProve itUnited States
Problem:
Let x<0.1 be a positive real number. Let the foury series be 4+4x+4x2+4x3+…, and let the fourier series be 4+44x+444x2+4444x3+…. Suppose that the sum of the fourier series is four times the sum of the foury series. Compute x.
Solutions — 2
Solution 1
Solution:
The sum of the foury series can be expressed as 1−x4 by geometric series. The fourier series can be expressed as 94((10−1)+(100−1)x+(1000−1)x2+…)=94((10+100x+1000x2+…)−(1+x+x2+…))=94(1−10x10−1−x1) Now we solve for x in the equation 94(1−10x10−1−x1)=4⋅1−x4 by multiplying both sides by (1−10x)(1−x). We get x=403.
Solution 2
Solution:
Let R be the sum of the fourier series. Then the sum of the foury series is (1−10x)R. Thus, 1−10x=1/4⟹x=3/40.
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