Math Problem Statement
Consider the sequence defined by a1 = 2, a2 = 3, and a2k+2 = 2 + ak + ak+1 and a2k+1 = 2 + 2ak for all integers k ⩾ 1. Determine all positive integers n such that an n is an integer.
Solution
The sequence is defined as follows:
- For , and
We are tasked with determining all positive integers such that is an integer.
Step 1: Generate the sequence for the first few terms
Let's calculate some terms of the sequence to understand its behavior.
For :
For :
For :
For :
Step 2: Identify the integers in the sequence
From the calculated values, we see that are integers. This is not surprising, since the recurrence relations involve integer operations (addition and multiplication by 2), and the starting values are integers.
Thus, all terms of the sequence are integers for all .
Step 3: Conclusion
Since all terms of the sequence are integers, every positive integer makes an integer.
Therefore, the answer is: All positive integers satisfy the condition.
Would you like more details on the sequence behavior or the derivation of this conclusion? Here are some related questions you might find interesting:
- How would the sequence behave if the initial conditions were different?
- Can we prove this sequence formula by induction?
- How could we compute the general form of the sequence term ?
- What is the growth rate of this sequence as increases?
- How does the recurrence relation change if the constants (e.g., 2) were different?
Tip: When working with recurrence relations, always start by calculating the first few terms to get an intuition about the sequence's behavior!
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Sequences and Series
Recurrence Relations
Integer Properties
Formulas
a1 = 2
a2 = 3
a2k+2 = 2 + ak + ak+1
a2k+1 = 2 + 2ak
Theorems
Mathematical Induction
Properties of Integer Sequences
Suitable Grade Level
Grades 9-12
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