If u0=12u_0=\frac{1}{2} and un+1=3un2un+1u_{n+1}=\dfrac{3u_n}{2u_n+1} for any non-negative integer nn,

  1. (i)

    write down the values of u1u_1, u2u_2, u3u_3 and u4u_4 in the form f(n)1+f(n)\dfrac{f(n)}{1+f(n)}, where f(n)f(n) is expressed in terms of nn. Hence formulate a conjecture for unu_n in terms of nn.

  2. (ii)

    Prove your conjecture by the method of mathematical induction for any non-negative integer nn.

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Worked solution

6(i)

1. Evaluate the first four terms using the given recurrence relation.

Given u0=12u_0 = \frac{1}{2} and un+1=3un2un+1u_{n+1} = \frac{3u_n}{2u_n+1}:

u1=3(12)2(12)+1=3/22=34u_1 = \frac{3(\frac{1}{2})}{2(\frac{1}{2})+1} = \frac{3/2}{2} = \frac{3}{4}

u2=3(34)2(34)+1=9/410/4=910u_2 = \frac{3(\frac{3}{4})}{2(\frac{3}{4})+1} = \frac{9/4}{10/4} = \frac{9}{10}

u3=3(910)2(910)+1=27/1028/10=2728u_3 = \frac{3(\frac{9}{10})}{2(\frac{9}{10})+1} = \frac{27/10}{28/10} = \frac{27}{28}

u4=3(2728)2(2728)+1=81/2882/28=8182u_4 = \frac{3(\frac{27}{28})}{2(\frac{27}{28})+1} = \frac{81/28}{82/28} = \frac{81}{82}

2. Express the evaluated terms in the form $\frac{f(n)}{1+f(n)}$ where $f(n)$ is explicitly in terms of $n$.

u1=31+3=311+31u_1 = \frac{3}{1+3} = \frac{3^1}{1+3^1}

u2=91+9=321+32u_2 = \frac{9}{1+9} = \frac{3^2}{1+3^2}

u3=271+27=331+33u_3 = \frac{27}{1+27} = \frac{3^3}{1+3^3}

u4=811+81=341+34u_4 = \frac{81}{1+81} = \frac{3^4}{1+3^4}

3. Formulate a general conjecture for $u_n$.

Observing that f(n)=3nf(n) = 3^n, we can generalise the pattern for the nnth term:
un=3n1+3nu_n = \frac{3^n}{1+3^n}

Answer

u1=311+31,u2=321+32,u3=331+33,u4=341+34u_1 = \dfrac{3^1}{1+3^1}, u_2 = \dfrac{3^2}{1+3^2}, u_3 = \dfrac{3^3}{1+3^3}, u_4 = \dfrac{3^4}{1+3^4}

Conjecture: un=3n1+3nu_n = \dfrac{3^n}{1+3^n}

6(ii)

1. State the conjecture derived from part (i) and verify the base case for $n=0$.

From (i), the conjecture is un=3n1+3nu_n = \dfrac{3^n}{1+3^n}.
Let PnP_n be the statement that un=3n1+3nu_n = \dfrac{3^n}{1+3^n}.

For n=0n=0:
LHS=u0=12 (given)\text{LHS} = u_0 = \frac{1}{2} \text{ (given)}
RHS=301+30=11+1=12\text{RHS} = \frac{3^0}{1+3^0} = \frac{1}{1+1} = \frac{1}{2}
Since LHS=RHS\text{LHS} = \text{RHS}, P0P_0 is true.

2. State the inductive hypothesis.

Assume that PkP_k is true for some non-negative integer kk, i.e.,
uk=3k1+3ku_k = \frac{3^k}{1+3^k}

3. Express $u_{k+1}$ using the given recurrence relation and substitute the inductive hypothesis.

We want to show that Pk+1P_{k+1} is true. Using the given recurrence relation:
uk+1=3uk2uk+1u_{k+1} = \frac{3u_k}{2u_k+1}
Substituting our assumption for uku_k:
uk+1=3(3k1+3k)2(3k1+3k)+1u_{k+1} = \frac{3\left(\dfrac{3^k}{1+3^k}\right)}{2\left(\dfrac{3^k}{1+3^k}\right)+1}

4. Simplify the expression to establish $P_{k+1}$.

Multiply the numerator and the denominator by (1+3k)(1+3^k):
uk+1=3(3k)2(3k)+(1+3k)u_{k+1} = \frac{3(3^k)}{2(3^k) + (1+3^k)}
uk+1=3k+13⋅3k+1u_{k+1} = \frac{3^{k+1}}{3 \cdot 3^k + 1}
uk+1=3k+11+3k+1u_{k+1} = \frac{3^{k+1}}{1+3^{k+1}}
This matches the formula for n=k+1n=k+1. Hence, Pk  ⟹  Pk+1P_k \implies P_{k+1}.

5. Provide the final concluding statement for mathematical induction.

Since P0P_0 is true, and PkP_k is true implies Pk+1P_{k+1} is true, by the principle of mathematical induction, PnP_n is true for all non-negative integers nn.

Answer

The conjecture un=3n1+3nu_n = \dfrac{3^n}{1+3^n} is proven to be true for all non-negative integers nn by the principle of mathematical induction.

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