Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 3 / 101 of 260 #101 of 1964

Problem 101

AMC 10/12, early questions
Algebra Difficulty 3.2 Find the answer

Given a sequence {an}\left\{ a_n \right\} whose sum of the first nn terms is SnS_n, and for any positive integer nn, it holds that an=34Sn+2a_n = \frac{3}{4}S_n + 2. Let bn=log2anb_n = \log_2 a_n.

(1) Find the general formula for the sequences {an}\left\{ a_n \right\} and {bn}\left\{ b_n \right\}.

(2) Let cn=1bnbn+1c_n = \frac{1}{b_n b_{n+1}}, and the sum of the first nn terms of the sequence {cn}\left\{ c_n \right\} is TnT_n. Prove that: 115Tn<16\frac{1}{15} \leqslant T_n < \frac{1}{6}.

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

Official solution

(1) Solution: In an=34Sn+2a_n = \frac{3}{4}S_n + 2, setting n=1n=1 gives a1=8a_1=8,

Since for any positive integer nn, an=34Sn+2a_n = \frac{3}{4}S_n + 2 holds, we also have an+1=34Sn+1+2a_{n+1} = \frac{3}{4}S_{n+1} + 2,

Subtracting these equations gives an+1an=34an+1a_{n+1} - a_n = \frac{3}{4} a_{n+1},

Thus, an+1=4ana_{n+1} = 4a_n,

And since a10a_1 \neq 0,

The sequence {an}\{a_n\} is a geometric sequence,

Therefore, an=84n1=22n+1a_n = 8 \cdot 4^{n-1} = 2^{2n+1},

Hence, bn=log2an=2n+1b_n = \log_2 a_n = 2n + 1;

(2) Proof: cn=1bnbn+1=1(2n+1)(2n+3)=12(12n+112n+3)c_n = \frac{1}{b_n b_{n+1}} = \frac{1}{(2n+1)(2n+3)} = \frac{1}{2}\left( \frac{1}{2n+1} - \frac{1}{2n+3} \right)

Therefore, Tn=12[(1315)+(1517)++(12n+112n+3)]T_n = \frac{1}{2}\left[ \left( \frac{1}{3} - \frac{1}{5} \right) + \left( \frac{1}{5} - \frac{1}{7} \right) + \cdots + \left( \frac{1}{2n+1} - \frac{1}{2n+3} \right) \right]

=12(1312n+3)=n3(2n+3)= \frac{1}{2}\left( \frac{1}{3} - \frac{1}{2n+3} \right) = \frac{n}{3(2n+3)}

=1612(2n+3)= \frac{1}{6} - \frac{1}{2(2n+3)},

Thus, TnT_n is monotonically increasing, and when n=1n=1, TnT_n has its minimum value 115\frac{1}{15},

Therefore, 115Tn<16\boxed{\frac{1}{15} \leqslant T_n < \frac{1}{6}}.

Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic, difficulty and ordering added by this site.