Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 3 / 81 of 260 #81 of 1964

Problem 81

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

In the sequence {an}\{a_n\}, a1=1a_1=1, an+1=an3an+1a_{n+1}= \frac {a_n}{3a_n+1}, for n=1,2,3,n=1, 2, 3, \ldots.
- (I) Calculate the values of a2a_2, a3a_3, a4a_4;
- (II) Conjecture the general formula for the sequence {an}\{a_n\} and prove it using mathematical induction.

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

Official solution

Solution:
- (I) Since a1=1a_1=1 and an+1=an3an+1a_{n+1}= \frac {a_n}{3a_n+1},
a2=a13a1+1=14\therefore a_2= \frac {a_1}{3a_1+1}= \frac {1}{4};
a3=a23a2+1=1434+1=17a_3= \frac {a_2}{3a_2+1}= \frac { \frac {1}{4}}{ \frac {3}{4}+1}= \frac {1}{7}, a4=1737+1=110a_4= \frac { \frac {1}{7}}{ \frac {3}{7}+1}= \frac {1}{10};
- (II) From (I), we can conjecture: an=13n2a_n= \frac {1}{3n-2}.
Proof:
1) When n=1n=1, a1=1a_1=1, the equation holds;
2) Assume when n=kn=k, ak=13k2a_k= \frac {1}{3k-2},
then when n=k+1n=k+1, ak+1=ak3ak+1=13k23×13k2+1=13k+1=13(k+1)2a_{k+1}= \frac {a_k}{3a_k+1}= \frac { \frac {1}{3k-2}}{3× \frac {1}{3k-2}+1}= \frac {1}{3k+1}= \frac {1}{3(k+1)-2},
which means the equation also holds for n=k+1n=k+1.
In conclusion, for any natural number nNn\in\mathbb{N}^*, an=13n2a_n= \frac {1}{3n-2}.
Thus, the final answer is an=13n2\boxed{a_n= \frac {1}{3n-2}}.

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