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Algebra Difficulty 4.5 AIME Prove it

Given a sequence {an}\{a_n\} satisfying a1=1a_1=1, an+1an2an+1=0a_{n+1} \cdot a_n - 2a_n + 1 = 0 (nNn \in \mathbb{N}^*):
(I) Conjecture a general formula for the sequence {an}\{a_n\} and use mathematical induction to prove your conclusion;
(II) Let n,kn, k be any two positive integers, use contradiction to prove: at least one of 1+anak\frac{1+a_n}{a_k} and 1+akan\frac{1+a_k}{a_n} is less than 2.

Solution

(I) From the given, we have an+1=2an1an=21ana_{n+1} = \frac{2a_n - 1}{a_n} = 2 - \frac{1}{a_n}. Since a1=1a_1=1, we calculate the first few terms:
a2=212=32a_2 = 2 - \frac{1}{2} = \frac{3}{2},
a3=223=43a_3 = 2 - \frac{2}{3} = \frac{4}{3},
a4=234=54a_4 = 2 - \frac{3}{4} = \frac{5}{4}.

From this pattern, we can conjecture that an=n+1na_n = \frac{n+1}{n}.

To prove, consider the following:
1. Base case: When n=1n=1, a1=1=21a_1=1=\frac{2}{1}. Therefore, the conjecture is correct.
2. Inductive step: Assume that for n=kn=k (where k1k \ge 1, kZk \in \mathbb{Z}), the conjecture holds, i.e., ak=k+1ka_k = \frac{k+1}{k}. Then,
ak+1=21ak=2kk+1=k+2k+1=(k+1)+1k+1,a_{k+1} = 2 - \frac{1}{a_k} = 2 - \frac{k}{k+1} = \frac{k+2}{k+1} = \frac{(k+1)+1}{k+1},
which implies the conjecture holds for n=k+1n=k+1 as well.

Combining the base case and the inductive step, we have proven that the sequence {an}\{a_n\} follows the formula an=n+1na_n = \frac{n+1}{n}. Therefore,
an=n+1n.\boxed{a_n = \frac{n+1}{n}}.

(II) Assume 1+anak2\frac{1+a_n}{a_k} \geq 2 and 1+akan2\frac{1+a_k}{a_n} \geq 2. Since an,ak>0a_n, a_k > 0, we have 1+an>2an1+a_n > 2a_n and 1+ak>2ak1+a_k > 2a_k. Adding these inequalities gives us (1+an)+(1+ak)2an+2ak(1+a_n) + (1+a_k) \geq 2a_n + 2a_k, which implies an+ak2a_n + a_k \leq 2.

However, since an=n+1n=1+1n>1a_n = \frac{n+1}{n} = 1 + \frac{1}{n} > 1 and ak=k+1k=1+1k>1a_k = \frac{k+1}{k} = 1 + \frac{1}{k} > 1, we get an+ak>2a_n + a_k > 2, which is a contradiction.

Therefore, our assumption is false, and at least one of 1+anak\frac{1+a_n}{a_k} and 1+akan\frac{1+a_k}{a_n} must be less than 2. Hence,
At least one of 1+anak and 1+akan is less than 2.\boxed{\text{At least one of } \frac{1+a_n}{a_k} \text{ and } \frac{1+a_k}{a_n} \text{ is less than } 2}.

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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.