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Algebra Difficulty 4.7 AIME Prove it

The sequence {an}\{a_n\} has the sum of its first nn terms equal to SnS_n. Given that an+Sn=na_n + S_n = n and cn=an1c_n = a_n - 1. For the sequence {bn}\{b_n\}, we have b1=a1b_1 = a_1, and bn=anan1b_n = a_n - a_{n-1} for n2n \geq 2.
(1) Prove that the sequence {cn}\{c_n\} is a geometric sequence.
(2) Find the general formula for the terms of the sequence {bn}\{b_n\}.

Solution

Let's prove each part step-by-step.

(1) We are given that an+Sn=na_n + S_n = n. It follows that for n=1n=1, we have a1+S1=1a_1 + S_1 = 1, which simplifies to 2a1=12a_1 = 1, hence a1=12a_1 = \frac{1}{2}. For n+1n + 1, we have an+1+Sn+1=n+1a_{n+1} + S_{n+1} = n + 1. Subtracting the nth equation from the n+1th, we get:
an+1+Sn+1(an+Sn)=n+1na_{n+1} + S_{n+1} - (a_n + S_n) = n+1 - n
an+1an=1a_{n+1} - a_n = 1
Since Sn+1=Sn+an+1S_{n+1} = S_n + a_{n+1}, the left side can be written as 2an+1(an+Sn)=12a_{n+1} - (a_n + S_n) = 1. This implies 2an+1n=12a_{n+1} - n = 1, so 2(an+11)=an12(a_{n+1} - 1) = a_n - 1. Therefore, the ratio between consecutive terms cn+1c_{n+1} and cnc_n is:
cn+1cn=an+11an1=12\frac{c_{n+1}}{c_n} = \frac{a_{n+1} - 1}{a_n - 1} = \frac{1}{2}
Given that c1=a11=121=12c_1 = a_1 - 1 = \frac{1}{2} - 1 = -\frac{1}{2}, we conclude that {cn}\{c_n\} is a geometric sequence with first term 12-\frac{1}{2} and common ratio 12\frac{1}{2}.

(2) Knowing that {cn}\{c_n\} is a geometric sequence with first term 12-\frac{1}{2} and common ratio 12\frac{1}{2}, we can write:
cn=12nc_n = -\frac{1}{2^n}
And thus:
an=cn+1=112na_n = c_n + 1 = 1 - \frac{1}{2^n}
For an1a_{n-1}, it follows that:
an1=112n1a_{n-1} = 1 - \frac{1}{2^{n-1}}
For n2n \geq 2, we have:
bn=anan1=(112n)(112n1)=12nb_n = a_n - a_{n-1} = \left(1 - \frac{1}{2^n}\right) - \left(1 - \frac{1}{2^{n-1}}\right) = \frac{1}{2^n}
For n=1n = 1, we simply have b1=a1=12b_1 = a_1 = \frac{1}{2}. Therefore, the general term for {bn}\{b_n\} is:
bn=12nb_n = \frac{1}{2^n}
For all nNn \in \mathbb{N}^* (positive integers).

The general formula for the terms of the sequence {bn}\{b_n\} is thus:
bn=12n b_n = \boxed{\frac{1}{2^n}}
for all nNn \in \mathbb{N}^*.

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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.