Maths Olympiad Prep

Library / /328 of 520

Algebra Difficulty 3.4 AMC 10/12 Find the answer

Given an arithmetic sequence {an} with the sum of its first n terms denoted as Sn, and S3 = 15, a3 + a8 = 2a5 + 2.
(1) Find an;
(2) Let Tn represent the sum of the first n terms of the sequence {1Sn\frac{1}{S_n}}, prove that Tn < 34 \frac{3}{4} .

A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.

Solution

(1) Denote the common difference of the arithmetic sequence {an} as d. From S3 = 15 and a3 + a8 = 2a5 + 2, we obtain:
3a1 + 3d = 15,
2a1 + 9d = 2(a1 + 4d) + 2.

Solving these equations, we get d = 2 and a1 = 3.

Hence, an = a1 + (n - 1)d = 3 + 2(n - 1) = 2n + 1.

(2) Proof:
1Sn=13n+12n(n1)2=1n(n+2)=12(1n1n+2)\frac{1}{S_n} = \frac{1}{3n + \frac{1}{2}n(n - 1) \cdot 2} = \frac{1}{n(n + 2)} = \frac{1}{2} \left( \frac{1}{n} - \frac{1}{n + 2} \right)

The sum of the first n terms, Tn, is given by:
Tn = 12\frac{1}{2} (1 - 13\frac{1}{3} + 12\frac{1}{2} - 14\frac{1}{4} + 13\frac{1}{3} - 15\frac{1}{5} + ... + 1n1\frac{1}{n - 1} - 1n+1\frac{1}{n + 1} + 1n\frac{1}{n} - 1n+2\frac{1}{n + 2})
= 12\frac{1}{2} (1 + 12\frac{1}{2} - 1n+1\frac{1}{n + 1} - 1n+2\frac{1}{n + 2})
= 34\frac{3}{4} - 2n+32(n+1)(n+2)\frac{2n + 3}{2(n + 1)(n + 2)}.

Since 2n+32(n+1)(n+2)>0\frac{2n + 3}{2(n + 1)(n + 2)} > 0, we have Tn < 34\boxed{\frac{3}{4}}.

Want a route through all this instead of an archive? The track puts 2,000 problems in a working order, from AMC 10 level to the IMO shortlist.

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