Maths Olympiad Prep

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Algebra Difficulty 8.0 Shortlist Find the answer

Find the set of all aR a \in \mathbb{R} for which there is no infinite sequene (xn)n0R (x_n)_{n \geq 0} \subset \mathbb{R} satisfying x0\equala, x_0 \equal{} a, and for n\equal0,1, n \equal{} 0,1, \ldots we have xn\plus1\equalxn\plusαβxn\plus1 x_{n\plus{}1} \equal{} \frac{x_n \plus{} \alpha}{\beta x_n \plus{} 1} where αβ>0. \alpha \beta > 0.

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

Solution

We are tasked with finding the set of all aR a \in \mathbb{R} for which there is no infinite sequence (xn)n0R (x_n)_{n \geq 0} \subset \mathbb{R} satisfying x0=a x_0 = a , and for n=0,1, n = 0, 1, \ldots , the equation

xn+1=xn+αβxn+1 x_{n+1} = \frac{x_n + \alpha}{\beta x_n + 1}

is given with the condition αβ>0 \alpha \beta > 0 .

First, consider the fixed points of the recurrence relation. A fixed point x x satisfies:

x=x+αβx+1 x = \frac{x + \alpha}{\beta x + 1}

Multiplying through by βx+1 \beta x + 1 gives:

x(βx+1)=x+α x(\beta x + 1) = x + \alpha

Simplifying, we have:

βx2+x=x+α \beta x^2 + x = x + \alpha

βx2=α \beta x^2 = \alpha

x2=αβ x^2 = \frac{\alpha}{\beta}

x=±αβ x = \pm \sqrt{\frac{\alpha}{\beta}}

Since we are interested in the set of a a for which the sequence cannot be infinite, these correspond to values where the iterations potentially stabilize and do not proceed infinitely.

Next, evaluate under the condition αβ>0 \alpha \beta > 0 . This implies both α \alpha and β \beta have the same sign, which ensures that αβ \sqrt{\frac{\alpha}{\beta}} is a real number.

If a=αβ a = \sqrt{\frac{\alpha}{\beta}} , then the sequence:

- Starts at a a ,
- Immediately lands on a fixed point, and
- Remains at this point, leading to failure in forming an infinite non-repetitive sequence, as it cycles at a constant value.

Consequently, the set of all a a for which there is no infinite sequence satisfying the given condition is precisely the fixed point we identified:

{αβ} \boxed{\left\{ \sqrt{\frac{\alpha}{\beta}} \right\}}

Thus, the reference answer provided, being the set {αβ}\{ \sqrt{\frac{\alpha}{\beta}} \}, is indeed correct.

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