The World of Numbers | EOT

Question 15

Show that the rational number (a+b)2\dfrac{(a+b)}{2} lies between the rational numbers aa and bb.

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Solution
Understand the Question

We are given the initial terms of a sequence, W1=1W_1 = 1 and W2=2W_2 = 2, along with the recurrence relation for n>2n > 2: Wn=W1+W2++Wn2+2W_n = W_1 + W_2 + \dots + W_{n-2} + 2

To find the terms W1,W2,,W8W_1, W_2, \dots, W_8 and identify the sequence:

  1. Use the recurrence formula step-by-step to calculate each successive term up to W8W_8.
  2. Examine the generated sequence to recognise the mathematical pattern.

Step 1 · Calculate W3W_3

Given W1=1W_1 = 1, W2=2W_2 = 2, and Wn=W1+W2++Wn2+2W_n = W_1 + W_2 + \dots + W_{n-2} + 2 for n>2n > 2.

For n=3n = 3:

W3=W1+2=1+2=3\begin{aligned} W_3 &= W_1 + 2 \\ &= 1 + 2 \\ &= 3 \end{aligned}

Step 2 · Calculate W4W_4

For n=4n = 4:

W4=W1+W2+2=1+2+2=5\begin{aligned} W_4 &= W_1 + W_2 + 2 \\ &= 1 + 2 + 2 \\ &= 5 \end{aligned}

Step 3 · Calculate W5W_5

For n=5n = 5:

W5=W1+W2+W3+2=1+2+3+2=8\begin{aligned} W_5 &= W_1 + W_2 + W_3 + 2 \\ &= 1 + 2 + 3 + 2 \\ &= 8 \end{aligned}

Step 4 · Calculate W6W_6

For n=6n = 6:

W6=W1+W2+W3+W4+2=1+2+3+5+2=13\begin{aligned} W_6 &= W_1 + W_2 + W_3 + W_4 + 2 \\ &= 1 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 2 \\ &= 13 \end{aligned}

Step 5 · Calculate W7W_7

For n=7n = 7:

W7=W1+W2+W3+W4+W5+2=1+2+3+5+8+2=21\begin{aligned} W_7 &= W_1 + W_2 + W_3 + W_4 + W_5 + 2 \\ &= 1 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 8 + 2 \\ &= 21 \end{aligned}

Step 6 · Calculate W8W_8

For n=8n = 8:

W8=W1+W2+W3+W4+W5+W6+2=1+2+3+5+8+13+2=34\begin{aligned} W_8 &= W_1 + W_2 + W_3 + W_4 + W_5 + W_6 + 2 \\ &= 1 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 8 + 13 + 2 \\ &= 34 \end{aligned}

Step 7 · List and Identify the Sequence

Diagram 1

The terms calculated are: W1=1,W2=2,W3=3,W4=5,W5=8,W6=13,W7=21,W8=34W_1 = 1, \quad W_2 = 2, \quad W_3 = 3, \quad W_4 = 5, \quad W_5 = 8, \quad W_6 = 13, \quad W_7 = 21, \quad W_8 = 34

Notice that every term after W2W_2 is the sum of the previous two terms:

W3=W2+W1=2+1=3W_3 = W_2 + W_1 = 2 + 1 = 3 W4=W3+W2=3+2=5W_4 = W_3 + W_2 = 3 + 2 = 5 W5=W4+W3=5+3=8W_5 = W_4 + W_3 = 5 + 3 = 8

This is the Virahanka-Fibonacci sequence.

Answer

The values are W1=1,W2=2,W3=3,W4=5,W5=8,W6=13,W7=21,W8=34W_1 = 1, W_2 = 2, W_3 = 3, W_4 = 5, W_5 = 8, W_6 = 13, W_7 = 21, W_8 = 34. This is the Virahanka-Fibonacci sequence.

Common Mistakes
  • Index Upper Limit Error: Summing terms up to Wn1W_{n-1} instead of Wn2W_{n-2} in the recurrence formula.
  • Missing Constant Term: Forgetting to add +2+2 after summing the preceding terms.
  • Cascading Arithmetic Errors: An error in calculating an early term like W3W_3 or W4W_4 will cause all subsequent terms to be incorrect.

More questions in EOT

Q1

Convert the following rational numbers in the form of a terminating decimal or non-terminating and repeating decimal, whichever the case may be, by the process of long division:

(i) 350\dfrac{3}{50}

(ii) 29\dfrac{2}{9}

Q2

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Q3

Convert the following decimal numbers in the form of pq\dfrac{p}{q}.

(i) 12.612.6

(ii) 0.01200.0120

(iii) 3.0523.05\overline{2}

(iv) 1.2351.2\overline{35}

(v) 0.230.\overline{23}

(vi) 2.052.0\overline{5}

(vii) 2.1252.12\overline{5}

(viii) 3.1253.12\overline{5}

(ix) 2.16252.\overline{1625}

Q4

Locate the following rational numbers on the number line.

(i) 0.5320.532

(ii) 1.15ˉ1.1\bar{5}

Q5

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Q6

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Q7

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Q8

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Q9

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Q10

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Q11

Without performing division, determine whether the decimal expansion of 18125\dfrac{18}{125} is terminating or non-terminating. If it terminates, state the number of decimal places.

Q12

A rational number in its lowest form has denominator 23×52^3 \times 5. How many decimal places will its decimal expansion have? Explain your answer.

Q13

Let a=712a = \dfrac{7}{12} and b=56b = \dfrac{5}{6}. Express both aa and bb in the form k1m\dfrac{k_1}{m} and k2m\dfrac{k_2}{m} where k1k_1, k2k_2 and mm are integers and k2k1>6k_2 - k_1 > 6. Using the same denominator mm, write exactly five distinct rational numbers lying between aa and bb keeping an integer numerator. Explain why the condition k2k1>n+1k_2 - k_1 > n + 1 is necessary to find nn such rational numbers between the two rational numbers aa and bb using this method.

Q14

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Q15

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Q16

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