A sequence a1,a2,a3,… of positive reals satisfies an+1=21+an. Determine all a1 such that ai=46+2 for some positive integer i.
A number or a short expression. Fractions can be typed as 3/2, and spacing doesn't matter.
Solution
Clearly a1<1, or else 1≤a1≤a2≤a3≤… We can therefore write a1=cosθ for some 0<θ<90∘. Note that cos2θ=21+cosθ, and cos15∘=46+2. Hence, the possibilities for a1 are cos15∘,cos30∘, and cos60∘, which are 22+6,23, and 21.
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