AlgebraDifficulty 7.9National olympiad, round 2Find the answer
Let F(0)=0,F(1)=23, and F(n)=25F(n−1)−F(n−2) for n≥2. Determine whether or not ∑n=0∞F(2n)1 is a rational number.
A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.
Solution
The characteristic equation of our linear recurrence is x2−25x+1=0, with roots x1=2 and x2=21. So F(n)=a⋅2n+b⋅(21)n with some constants a,b. By F(0)=0 and F(1)=23, these constants satisfy a+b=0 and 2a+2b=23. So a=1 and b=−1, and therefore F(n)=2n−2−n Observe that F(2n)1=(22n)2−122n=22n−11−(22n)2−11=22n−11−22n+1−11 so n=0∑∞F(2n)1=n=0∑∞(22n−11−22n+1−11)=220−11=1 Hence the sum takes the value 1, which is rational.
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