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Algebra Difficulty 4.7 AIME Prove it

(The full score of this question is 12 points) It is known that the sum of the first n terms of the sequence {an}\{a_n\} is SnS_n, a1=1a_1=1, an0a_n \neq 0, anan+1=λSn1a_na_{n+1}=\lambda S_n-1, where λ\lambda is a constant.
(I) Prove that: an+2an=λa_{n+2}-a_n=\lambda;
(II) For what value of λ\lambda is the sequence {an}\{a_n\} an arithmetic sequence? Please explain your reasoning.

Solution

【Knowledge Points】Sequence recursion formula; Determination of arithmetic relationship. D1 D2
【Answer Analysis】(I) See analysis (II) λ=4\lambda=4.
Analysis: (I) Given, anan+1=λSn1a_na_{n+1}=\lambda S_n-1, an+1an+2=λSn+11a_{n+1}a_{n+2}=\lambda S_{n+1}-1.
Subtracting the two equations, we get an+1(an+2an)=λan+1a_{n+1}(a_{n+2}-a_n)=\lambda a_{n+1}.
Since an+10a_{n+1} \neq 0, it follows that an+2an=λa_{n+2}-a_n=\lambda.
(II) Given, a1=1a_1=1, a1a2=λS11a_1a_2=\lambda S_1-1, we can obtain a2=λ1a_2=\lambda-1.
From (I), we know a3=λ+1a_3=\lambda+1.
Letting 2a2=a1+a32a_2=a_1+a_3, we solve to get λ=4\lambda=4.
Therefore, an+2an=4a_{n+2}-a_n=4, from which we can deduce
{a2n1}\{a_{2n-1}\} is an arithmetic sequence with the first term as 1 and common difference as 4, a2n1=4n3a_{2n-1}=4n-3;
{a2n}\{a_{2n}\} is an arithmetic sequence with the first term as 3 and common difference as 4, a2n=4n1a_{2n}=4n-1.
Thus, an=2n1a_n=2n-1, an+1an=2a_{n+1}-a_n=2.
Therefore, when λ=4\lambda=4, the sequence {an}\{a_n\} is an arithmetic sequence.
【Thought Process】(I) Use anan+1=λSn1a_na_{n+1}=\lambda S_n-1 and an+1an+2=λSn+11a_{n+1}a_{n+2}=\lambda S_{n+1}-1, subtract to derive the result;
(II) First, from the given, we can obtain a2=λ1a_2=\lambda-1. Knowing from (I) that a3=λ+1a_3=\lambda+1, we solve to get λ=4\lambda=4, then judge accordingly.

Thus, the final answers are:
- For part (I), the proof that an+2an=λa_{n+2}-a_n=\lambda.
- For part (II), the sequence {an}\{a_n\} is an arithmetic sequence when λ=4\lambda=\boxed{4}.

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Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.