Recursive sequences and finding their expressions

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on solving linear homogeneous recurrence relations, specifically the equation sn+2 - 4sn+1 + 4sn = 0 with initial conditions s0 = 3 and s1 = 1. The associated characteristic equation x2 - 4x + 4 = 0 has a double root at x = 2. The general solution is derived as sn = (c1 + c2n)2n, with constants c1 and c2 determined from initial conditions, resulting in the closed form sn = (3 - (5/2)n)2n.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of linear homogeneous recurrence relations
  • Familiarity with characteristic equations
  • Knowledge of solving second-order difference equations
  • Basic algebraic manipulation skills
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of characteristic equations for different types of recurrence relations
  • Learn about the method of undetermined coefficients for non-homogeneous recurrence relations
  • Explore applications of recurrence relations in algorithm analysis
  • Investigate advanced topics in discrete mathematics, such as generating functions
USEFUL FOR

Mathematicians, computer scientists, and students studying discrete mathematics or algorithm analysis will benefit from this discussion, particularly those interested in recurrence relations and their applications.

delc1
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Hi all,

I don't understand what is being asked by this question?

View attachment 2445

If anyone knows could they please describe the process, that would be greatly appreciated.
 

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delc1 said:
Hi all,

I don't understand what is being asked by this question?

View attachment 2445

If anyone knows could they please describe the process, that would be greatly appreciated.
The procedure for solving this type of linear second order difference equations is illustrated in...

http://mathhelpboards.com/discrete-mathematics-set-theory-logic-15/difference-equation-tutorial-draft-part-ii-860-post4544.html#post4544

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$
 
delc1 said:
Hi all,

I don't understand what is being asked by this question?

View attachment 2445

If anyone knows could they please describe the process, that would be greatly appreciated.

You are being asked to find the closed-form for the given linear homogeneous recurrence. The first step is to find the roots of the associated characteristic equation. Can you state this equation and its roots?
 
Hmmmm I tried doing this equation myself but am also stuck.

I tried subbing in n=2, 3 and 4 into the equation and have found that:
S2= -8
S3= -36
S4= -112
S5= -304

So the pattern that I have found is that there is a difference of -28, -76 and -192 but this doesn't lead me to an easily findable equation.
 
Writing the difference equation in the form...

$\displaystyle s_{n+2} - 4\ s_{n+1} + 4\ s_{n} = 0,\ s_{0}=3,\ s_{1}=1\ (1)$

... the associated characteristic equation is...

$\displaystyle x^{2} -4\ x +4 = 0\ (2)$

... the solution of which is x=2 with multiplicity 2. That means that the general solution of (1) is...

$\displaystyle s_{n} = (c_{1} + c_{2}\ n)\ 2^{n}\ (3)$

The constants$c_{1}$ and $c_{2}$ cn befound from the initial conditions, so that is...

$\displaystyle s_{n} = (3 - \frac{5}{2}\ n)\ 2^{n}\ (4)$

Kind regards$\chi$ $\sigma$
 
chisigma said:
Writing the difference equation in the form...

$\displaystyle s_{n+2} - 4\ s_{n+1} + 4\ s_{n} = 0,\ s_{0}=3,\ s_{1}=1\ (1)$

... the associated characteristic equation is...

$\displaystyle x^{2} -4\ x +4 = 0\ (2)$

... the solution of which is x=2 with multiplicity 2. That means that the general solution of (1) is...

$\displaystyle s_{n} = (c_{1} + c_{2}\ n)\ 2^{n}\ (3)$

The constants$c_{1}$ and $c_{2}$ cn befound from the initial conditions, so that is...

$\displaystyle s_{n} = (3 - \frac{5}{2}\ n)\ 2^{n}\ (4)$

Kind regards$\chi$ $\sigma$

Cheers, that's a much simpler way of thinking of solving the problem, I guess it was the fact that 2 was a double root that confused me.
 

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