Find the sum in this given question very interesting and analytical

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the sum of a series involving the greatest integer function applied to powers of two divided by three. Participants explore various approaches to compute the sum from the first term to the 2008th term, examining the properties of the series and the implications of the greatest integer function.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants discuss the nature of dividing powers of two by three, noting that the results can yield remainders of 0, 1, or 2.
  • One participant proposes a method using binomial expansion to analyze the remainders when powers of two are divided by three.
  • Another participant suggests a summation approach, breaking down the series into two separate summations for even and odd indexed terms.
  • Several participants present different formulations for the sum, leading to various expressions that involve powers of four and adjustments for the greatest integer function.
  • One participant highlights a potential misunderstanding regarding the greatest integer function versus the ceiling function, which may affect the calculations presented.
  • Another participant emphasizes the importance of correctly applying the greatest integer function in their calculations, leading to different interpretations of the series terms.
  • Multiple participants express uncertainty about the correctness of their results and engage in checking and correcting their calculations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the final result of the sum, with multiple competing views and methods presented throughout the discussion. There is ongoing debate about the correct application of the greatest integer function and its impact on the calculations.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that their results are not integral, raising questions about the validity of their approaches. There are also mentions of potential mistakes in earlier posts, indicating that the discussion is still evolving and that assumptions may not be fully resolved.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for those interested in mathematical series, the properties of integer functions, and the nuances of summation techniques in combinatorial contexts.

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Vishalrox
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Find the sum of : [2[itex]^{}0[/itex]/3] + [2[itex]^{}1[/itex]/3] + [2[itex]^{}2[/itex]/3] + [2[itex]^{}3[/itex]/3] + [2[itex]^{}4[/itex]/3] + ... + [2[itex]^{}2008[/itex]/3]

where [] is the greatest integer function symbol...

if the question is not clear here is the question..

Find the sum of : [(2^0)/3] + [(2^1)/3] + [(2^2)/3] + [(2^3)/3] + ... [(2^2008)/3]
 
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When we divide a number by 3 there are three options:
1. It is exactly divisible
2. Remainder=1
3. Remainder=2
Exact divisibility does not apply to powers of two
Now,
[tex]{2}^{2n}{=}{4}^{n}{=}{(}3+1{)}^{n}[/tex]
When the above quantity is divided by 3 the remainder is one[We get this from binomial expansion]
Therefore
[tex]{2}^{2n}{=}{3k}{+}{1}[/tex]

[tex]{[}\frac{{2}^{2n}}{3}{]}{=}{k}[/tex]

[tex]{k}{=}\frac{{2}^{2n}{-}{1}}{3}[/tex]

Again,

[tex]{2}^{2n+1}{=}{2}{[}{4}^{n}{]}{=}{2}{(}3+1{)}^{n}[/tex]
When the above quantity is divided by 3 the remainder is 2[We get this from binomial expansion]
Therefore
[tex]{2}^{2n+1}{=}{2}{*}{3k}{+}{2}[/tex]

[tex]{[}\frac{{2}^{2n+1}}{3}{]}{=}{2}{*}{k}[/tex]
[tex]{2k}{=}\frac{{2}^{2n+1}{-}{2}}{3}[/tex]
For the above series terms in the first two terms cannot be expanded in the form [3+1]^2n
We write the values directly—>0 +0
Third term=[{2^(2*1)}/3]=1
Fourth term=[{2^(2*1+1)}/3]=2
Fifth term=[{2^(2*2)}/3]
Sixth term=[{2^(2*2+1)}/3]
The value of n remains the same in a pairwise manner as shown above.
From the third term onwards we take to different series
1. [tex]\Sigma\frac{{2}^{2n}{-}{1}}{3}[/tex]
Summation running from 1 to 1004
2. [tex]\Sigma\frac{{2}^{2n+1}{-}{2}}{3}[/tex]
Summation running from 1 to 1003

Sum=[tex]\frac{4}{9}{[}{4}^{1004}{-}{1}{]}{+}\frac{8}{9}{[}{4}^{1003}{-}{1}{]}{-}{1004}[/tex]
 
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Anamitra said:
When we divide a number by 3 there are three options:
1. It is exactly divisible
2. Remainder=1
3. Remainder=2
Exact divisibility does not apply to powers of two
Now,
[tex]{2}^{2n}{=}{4}^{n}{=}{(}3+1{)}^{n}[/tex]
When the above quantity is divided by 3 the remainder is one[We get this from binomial expansion]
Therefore
[tex]{2}^{2n}{=}{3k}{+}{1}[/tex]

[tex]{[}\frac{{2}^{2n}}{3}{]}{=}{k}[/tex]

[tex]{k}{=}\frac{{2}^{2n}{-}{1}}{3}[/tex]

Again,

[tex]{2}^{2n+1}{=}{2}{[}{4}^{n}{]}{=}{2}{(}3+1{)}^{n}[/tex]
When the above quantity is divided by 3 the remainder is 2[We get this from binomial expansion]
Therefore
[tex]{2}^{2n+1}{=}{2}{*}{3k}{+}{2}[/tex]

[tex]{[}\frac{{2}^{2n+1}}{3}{]}{=}{2}{*}{k}[/tex]
[tex]{2k}{=}\frac{{2}^{2n+1}{-}{2}}{3}[/tex]
For the above series terms in the first two terms cannot be expanded in the form [3+1]^2n
We write the values directly—>0 +0
Third term=[{2^(2*1)}/3]=1
Fourth term=[{2^(2*1+1)}/3]=2
Fifth term=[{2^(2*2)}/3]
Sixth term=[{2^(2*2+1)}/3]
The value of n remains the same in a pairwise manner as shown above.
From the third term onwards we take to different series
1. [tex]\Sigma\frac{{2}^{2n}{-}{1}}{3}[/tex]
Summation running from 1 to 1004
2. [tex]\Sigma\frac{{2}^{2n+1}{-}{2}}{3}[/tex]
Summation running from 1 to 1003

Sum=[tex]\frac{4}{9}{[}{4}^{1004}{-}{1}{]}{+}\frac{8}{9}{[}{4}^{1003}{-}{1}{]}{-}{1004}[/tex]

Nice method...but i just expanded a few terms and i observed the oddth and eventh terms...the oddth term = (previous term * 2)+1...while eventh term = previous term*2...and there are 2009 terms total...the difference between the consecutive oddth terms incremented in GP...1,5,21,85...in the same way for eventh terms too...so consolidating all these...

sum(2^(2n) / 3 - (1/3) + 2^(2n + 1) / 3 - 2/3 , n = 0 , n = 1004) - (2^(2008) / 3 - (1/3))

sum((1/3) * 4^(n) - (1/3) + (2/3) * 4^(n) - (2/3) , n = 0 , n = 1004) - (2^2008 / 3 - (1/3))

(1/3) * sum(4^n + 2 * (4^n - 1) , n = 0 , n = 1004) + 1/3 - (1/3) * 2^(2008) =>

(1/3) * (sum(4^n + 2 * 4^n , n = 0 , n = 1004) - 1 * 1005) + (1/3) - (1/3) * 2^(2008) =>

(1/3) * (3 * sum(4^n , n = 0 , n = 1004) - 1005) + (1/3) - (1/3) * 2^(2008) =>

sum(4^n , n = 0 , n = 1004) - 1005 + (1/3) * (1 - 2^(2008)) =>

(4^(1005) - 1) / 3 + (1/3) * (1 - 4^(1004)) =>

(4 * 4^(1004)) / 3 - (1/3) + (1/3) - 4^(1004) =>

(4/3) * 4^(1004) - 4^(1004) =>

(1/3) * 4^(1004)

So which answer is correct ?
 
Hello Vishal!

So far as your result is concerned the value is not integral.

[tex]\frac{1}{3}{*}{4}^{1004}[/tex]

[tex]\frac{1}{3}{*}{(}{3+1}{)}^{1004}[/tex]

[tex]\frac{1}{3}{*}{(}{3k}{+}{1}{)}[/tex]

As for my result:
[tex]{4}^{1003}{-}{1}{=}{3k}[/tex] -------------- (1)
Again,

[tex]{4}^{1004}{-}{1}{=}{4}{*}{4}^{1003}{-}{1}[/tex]

[tex]{=}{4}{*}{(}{3k}{+}{1}{)}{-}{1}[/tex]

[Equation (1) has been used to get this from the previous step]

[tex]{=}{12k}{+}{3}[/tex]

Therefore,

Sum=
[tex]\frac{4}{9}{(}{12k}{+}{3}{)}{+}\frac{8}{9}{3k}{-}{1003}{-}\frac{1}{3}[/tex]
[tex]{=}\frac{{72k}{+}{12}}{9}{-}{1003}{-}\frac{1}{3}[/tex]
[tex]{=}{8k}{+}{1}{-}{1003}[/tex]

The above result is integral
[The result in the last line of post #2 has been modified:modification in post #6]
 
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ooh...nice...got it...!
 
I think I have a mistake. I am checking.

Corrected Sum=[tex]\frac{4}{9}{[}{4}^{1004}{-}{1}{]}{+}\frac{8}{9}{[}{4}^{1003}{-}{1}{]}{-}{3010}{/}{3}[/tex]
[tex]{=}\frac{4}{9}{[}{4}^{1004}{-}{1}{]}{+}\frac{8}{9}{[}{4}^{1003}{-}{1}{]}{-}{1003}{-}{1}{/}{3}[/tex][I have got 3010/3 by evaluating [1004+2*1003]/3 . You will get this from the summations 1 and 2 in post #2]
 
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Anamitra said:
I think I have a mistake. I am checking.

I think in the first post u hv made a mistake...wait...am solvin...am gettin a similar but diff answer..!
 
[a/3] is not [1/3][a], and is not [a]/3, so if you people are factoring out 1/3 i think you should reconsider.:smile:
 
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Vishalrox said:
Find the sum of : [2[itex]^{}0[/itex]/3] + [2[itex]^{}1[/itex]/3] + [2[itex]^{}2[/itex]/3] + [2[itex]^{}3[/itex]/3] + [2[itex]^{}4[/itex]/3] + ... + [2[itex]^{}2008[/itex]/3]

where [] is the greatest integer function symbol...

if the question is not clear here is the question..

Find the sum of : [(2^0)/3] + [(2^1)/3] + [(2^2)/3] + [(2^3)/3] + ... [(2^2008)/3]

I think i got this one. Compute the first few terms of [2^n/3]

[edit] As Anamitra points out below i confused floor with cieling function, however a slight adjustment fixes the result. THANK YOU ANAMITRA!

0 + 0 + 1 + 2 + 5 + 10 + 21 + 42 + 85 + 170 + 341 + 682 +1365, ...it is clear that this sum has 2009 terms. Group the first 2008 two at a time in order.

(0+0) + (1+2) + (5+10) + (21+42) + (85+170) + (341+682) + ...+ [2^2008/3] it is clear that each sum in parenthesis is 1 less than a power of 4. There are 1004 such sums.

(4^0-1) + (4^1-1) + (4^2-1) + (4^3-1) + (4^4-1) + ...+ (4^1003-1) + [2^2008/3] re-arrange

-1004 + (4^0 + 4^1 + 4^2 + 4^3 + 4^4 + ... + 4^1003) + [2^2008/3]

The sum of consecutive powers of 4, starting at exponent zero up to n is well known, (4^(n+1)-1)/3 i will derive it later.

-1004 + (4^1004-1)/3 + [2^2008/3]

that nasty last expression isn't so nasty if you rewrite it as [4^1004/3] and realize SUBTRACTING 1 from any power of 4 makes it divisible by 3 AND gives the floor of 4^n/3.

-1004 + (4^1004-1)/3 + (4^1004-1)/3 = -1004 + (2(4^1004)-2)/3 = -1004 + (2^2009-2)/3

SUBTRACTING 1 from any even power of 2 makes it divisible by 3 so this gives a whole number:smile:

So the final answer is...
(2^2009 - 2)/3 -1004

DERIVATION:

S = 4^0 + 4^1 + 4^2 + ... + 4^n

multiply by 4

4S = 4^1 + 4^2 + 4^3+ ... + 4^n + 4^(n+1)

subtract

4S - S = 4^(n+1) - 1

S = (4^(n+1) -1)/3 :wink:

P.S. Thanx to Anamitra for pointing out my confusion, from now on let's just call it the floor function to eliminate confusing 'greatest integer' nonsense.:smile:
 
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  • #10
Hi Agentredlum, [x] is the greatest integer less than or equal to x. They call it the"floor"

But you have taken the ceiling--> smallest integer greater than or equal to x.

Calculation of terms[GIF]
[tex]{[}\frac{{2}^{1}}{3}{]}{=}{0}[/tex]

[tex]{[}\frac{{2}^{2}}{3}{]}{=}{1}[/tex]

[tex]{[}\frac{{2}^{3}}{3}{]}{=}{2}[/tex]

[tex]{[}\frac{{2}^{4}}{3}{]}{=}{5}[/tex]

[tex]{[}\frac{{2}^{5}}{3}{]}{=}{10}[/tex]

[tex]{[}\frac{{2}^{6}}{3}{]}{=}{21}[/tex]

The series is:
0+0+1+2+5+10+21+42+85...The the terms of the ceiling you have got:

1+1+2+3+6+11+22+43+86...
For the adjustment in the last term you seem to have taken the floor.
I hope the difference is clear now.
 
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  • #11
Caculations

[tex]{2}^{2n}{=}{(}{3+1}{)}^{n}{=}{3k+1}[/tex]

[tex]{2}^{2n+1}{=}{2}{(}{3+1}{)}^{n}{=}{6k+2}[/tex]

If [] denotes the ceiling:

[tex]{[}\frac{{2}^{2n}}{3}{]}{+}{[}\frac{{2}^{2n+1}}{3}{]}[/tex]

[tex]{=}{k+1}{+}{2k+1}[/tex]

[tex]{=}{3k+2}[/tex]

[tex]{=}{2}^{2n}{+}{1}[/tex]

[Since [tex]{3k}{=}{2}^{2n}{-}{1}[/tex] ...From the first step]

For n=0,1,2,3,4...

the formula gives:

2=1+1
5=2+3
17=6+11
65=22+43 etc.
This confirms your observation analytically.
 
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  • #12
Anamitra said:
Caculations

[tex]{2}^{2n}{=}{(}{3+1}{)}^{n}{=}{3k+1}[/tex]

[tex]{2}^{2n+1}{=}{2}{(}{3+1}{)}^{n}{=}{6k+2}[/tex]

If [] denotes the ceiling:

[tex]{[}\frac{{2}^{2n}}{3}{]}{+}{[}\frac{{2}^{2n+1}}{3}{]}[/tex]

[tex]{=}{k+1}{+}{2k+1}[/tex]

[tex]{=}{3k+2}[/tex]

[tex]{=}{2}^{2n}{+}{1}[/tex]

[Since [tex]{3k}{=}{2}^{2n}{-}{1}[/tex] ...From the first step]

For n=0,1,2,3,4...

the formula gives:

2=1+1
5=2+3
17=6+11
65=22+43 etc.
This confirms your observation analytically.

Please take a look at my edited post #9, i think i fixed the proof.:biggrin:
 
  • #13
LOL By confusing floor with ceiling my technique solved both problems. I guess i made a 'right' mistake. The same question but ceiling instead of floor gives... [2^0/3] + [2^1/3]+ [2^2/3]+ ... + [2^2008/3] = (2^2009 + 1)/3 + 1004:smile:
 
  • #14
I have got the same thing in post #6 as you have got finally.

Sum=[tex]\frac{4}{9}{[}{4}^{1004}{-}{1}{]}{+}\frac{8}{9}{[}{4}^{1003}{-}{1}{]}{-}{3010}{/}{3}[/tex]

[tex]{=}\frac{{4}^{1005}}{9}{+}\frac{{2}{*}{4}^{1004}}{9}{-}{12}{/}{9}{-}{3010}{/}{3}[/tex]

[tex]{=}\frac{{4}^{1004}}{9}{(}{4+2}{)}{-}{12}{/}{9}{-}{1004}{+}{2}{/}{3}[/tex]

[tex]{=}\frac{{2}{*}{4}^{1004}}{3}{-}{2}{/}{3}{-}{1004}[/tex]

[tex]{=}\frac{{2}{*}{4}^{1004}{-}{2}}{3}{-}{1004}[/tex]

[tex]{=}\frac{{2}^{2009}{-}{2}}{3}{-}{1004}[/tex]

But your method is comfortable/easier to work with.The observation you made is quite interesting.But you should always try to establish it in a general manner from theoretical considerations. In this case the general proof is simple enough. You can always follow a technique similar to the one in post #11 or some suitable alternative.
 
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  • #15
The summations 1 and 2 in post #2 can enable one to calculate two distinct series[separately] in relation to the floor function.

Similar summations can be developed for the ceiling function also.

One of course could look for other formulas arising out of some interesting pattern in the terms comprising the series.

[One could also think of replacing the divisor 3[in the series of post #1] by some other natural and follow some technique similar to the one shown in post #2 to develop summation formulas.]
 
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  • #16
Anamitra said:
I have got the same thing in post #6 as you have got finally.

Sum=[tex]\frac{4}{9}{[}{4}^{1004}{-}{1}{]}{+}\frac{8}{9}{[}{4}^{1003}{-}{1}{]}{-}{3010}{/}{3}[/tex]

[tex]{=}\frac{{4}^{1005}}{9}{+}\frac{{2}{*}{4}^{1004}}{9}{-}{12}{/}{9}{-}{3010}{/}{3}[/tex]

[tex]{=}\frac{{4}^{1004}}{9}{(}{4+2}{)}{-}{12}{/}{9}{-}{1004}{+}{2}{/}{3}[/tex]

[tex]{=}\frac{{2}{*}{4}^{1004}}{3}{-}{2}{/}{3}{-}{1004}[/tex]

[tex]{=}\frac{{2}{*}{4}^{1004}{-}{2}}{3}{-}{1004}[/tex]

[tex]{=}\frac{{2}^{2009}{-}{2}}{3}{-}{1004}[/tex]

But your method is comfortable/easier to work with.The observation you made is quite interesting.But you should always try to establish it in a general manner from theoretical considerations. In this case the general proof is simple enough. You can always follow a technique similar to the one in post #11 or some suitable alternative.

Thank you for your notations and indications. Can you please post a picture? I am using my BRAIN to decode TeX but i would rather use my PINKY. My browser does not decode TeX and sometimes it's hard for me to understand posted formulas. Sorry to put you into too much trouble.:smile:

 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #17
Hello!
I have uploaded a .bmp file for you.
 

Attachments

  • #18
Anamitra said:
Hello!
I have uploaded a .bmp file for you.

NICE! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!:smile:
 
  • #19
Hey...gud one...very interesting.
 
Last edited:

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