A sequence {an}n≥1 of positive reals is defined by the rule an+1an−15=an4an−22 for integers n>2 together with the initial values a1=8 and a2=64 and a3=1024. Compute a1+a2+a3+⋯
A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.
Solution
Taking the base-2 log of the sequence {an} converts the multiplicative rule to a more familiar additive rule: log2(an+1)−4log2(an)+5log2(an−1)−2log2(an−2)=0. The characteristic equation is 0=x3−4x2+5x−2=(x−1)2(x−2), so log2(an) is of the form a⋅n+b+c⋅2n and we find an=22n+2n−1. Now, a1+a2+a3+⋯=2⋅4+16+64+⋯ We can estimate the new nested radical expression as 3, which expands thus 3=4+5=4+16+9=4+16+64+17=⋯ As a rigorous confirmation, we have 2k+1=4k+(2k+1+1), as desired. It follows that the answer is 32.
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