Porisma

Worked solution

Separate odd-index and even-index denominator terms

Given An=∑r=1n1/[r(r+2)]=3/4−1/[2(n+1)]−1/[2(n+2)]A_n=\sum_{r=1}^n1/[r(r+2)]=3/4-1/[2(n+1)]-1/[2(n+2)]:

(i) Deduce An<3/4A_n<3/4 for all positive integers nn. mark

(ii) Given also ∑r=1n1/[r(r+1)]=1−1/(n+1)\sum_{r=1}^n1/[r(r+1)]=1-1/(n+1), find ∑r=1n1/[2r(2r+2)]\sum_{r=1}^n1/[2r(2r+2)]. marks

(iii) Use these results to find ∑r=1n1/(4r2−1)\sum_{r=1}^n1/(4r^2-1) in terms of nn. marks

[2012/VJC/Promo/13(modified)]

CJC · Review problems · Question 8

Answer

En=14[1−1/(n+1)]E_n=\tfrac14[1-1/(n+1)]; ∑r=1n1/(4r2−1)=n/(2n+1)\sum_{r=1}^n1/(4r^2-1)=n/(2n+1).

(i) Retain the positive subtractions

Both 1/[2(n+1)]1/[2(n+1)] and 1/[2(n+2)]1/[2(n+2)] are strictly positive, so An=3/4A_n=3/4 minus two positive terms is less than 3/43/4.

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(ii) Factor the denominator before applying the given result

En=∑r=1n1/[2r(2r+2)]=14∑r=1n1/[r(r+1)]=14[1−1/(n+1)]E_n=\sum_{r=1}^n1/[2r(2r+2)]=\tfrac14\sum_{r=1}^n1/[r(r+1)]=\tfrac14[1-1/(n+1)].

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(iii) Partition the first 2n terms of A into odd and even indices

For odd index j=2r−1j=2r-1, j(j+2)=(2r−1)(2r+1)=4r2−1j(j+2)=(2r-1)(2r+1)=4r^2-1. The even-index terms are 1/[2r(2r+2)]1/[2r(2r+2)]. Thus ∑r=1n1/(4r2−1)=A2n−En\sum_{r=1}^n1/(4r^2-1)=A_{2n}-E_n.

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(iii) Substitute the two prefix formulas

The result is 3/4−1/[2(2n+1)]−1/[2(2n+2)]−1/4+1/[4(n+1)]=12[1−1/(2n+1)]=n/(2n+1)3/4-1/[2(2n+1)]-1/[2(2n+2)]-1/4+1/[4(n+1)]=\tfrac12[1-1/(2n+1)]=n/(2n+1). The last even denominator is 2n(2n+2)2n(2n+2), as printed in the rendered source; no factor of two is omitted.

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Common mistakes

Subtracting the even part from A at n would leave the wrong number of odd-index terms.

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