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Vietnamese Mathematical Olympiad

Algebra Difficulty 6.0 National Olympiad Prove it Vietnam

Let (xn)(x_n), (yn)(y_n) be two positive sequences defined by x1=1x_1 = 1, y1=3y_1 = \sqrt{3} and
{xn+1yn+1−xn=0xn+12+yn=2 \begin{cases} x_{n+1}y_{n+1} - x_n = 0 \\ x_{n+1}^2 + y_n = 2 \end{cases}
for all positive integers nn. Prove that these sequences are convergent and find their limits.

Solution

We can see that x1=1=2sin⁡π6x_1 = 1 = 2 \sin \frac{\pi}{6}, y1=3=2cos⁡π6y_1 = \sqrt{3} = 2 \cos \frac{\pi}{6}.
So we will prove, by induction, that for all positive integers nn, we have
xn=2sin⁡π3⋅2n,yn=2cos⁡π3⋅2n.(1) x_n = 2 \sin \frac{\pi}{3 \cdot 2^n}, \quad y_n = 2 \cos \frac{\pi}{3 \cdot 2^n}. \qquad (1)
Indeed, for n=1n=1 the statement is true. Assume that (1) is true for nn. Applying the recurrent relation, we get
xn+1=2−yn=2−2cos⁡π3⋅2n=4sin⁡2π3⋅2n+1=2sin⁡π3⋅2n+1 \begin{aligned} x_{n+1} &= \sqrt{2 - y_n} = \sqrt{2 - 2 \cos \frac{\pi}{3 \cdot 2^n}} \\ &= \sqrt{4 \sin^2 \frac{\pi}{3 \cdot 2^{n+1}}} = 2 \sin \frac{\pi}{3 \cdot 2^{n+1}} \end{aligned}
and
yn+1=xnxn+1=2sin⁡π3⋅2n2sin⁡π3⋅2n+1=2cos⁡π3⋅2n+1. y_{n+1} = \frac{x_n}{x_{n+1}} = \frac{2 \sin \frac{\pi}{3 \cdot 2^n}}{2 \sin \frac{\pi}{3 \cdot 2^{n+1}}} = 2 \cos \frac{\pi}{3 \cdot 2^{n+1}}.
So (1) is also true for n+1n+1. Hence, (1) is true for all positive integers nn. From this we have
lim⁡xn=lim⁡(2sin⁡π3⋅2n)=(2sin⁡0)=0 \lim x_n = \lim \left( 2 \sin \frac{\pi}{3 \cdot 2^n} \right) = (2 \sin 0) = 0
and
lim⁡yn=lim⁡(2cos⁡π3⋅2n)=(2cos⁡0)=2. \lim y_n = \lim \left( 2 \cos \frac{\pi}{3 \cdot 2^n} \right) = (2 \cos 0) = 2.
Hence, (xn)(x_n), (yn)(y_n) are convergence and lim⁡xn=0\lim x_n = 0, lim⁡yn=2\lim y_n = 2. □\square

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