MHB Thank you! I'm glad it was helpful.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Albert1
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Integers
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on proving that each term of the sequence defined by a_n = 160{n+6 choose 6} is an integer for n ≥ 3. The proof uses mathematical induction, starting with the base case where a_3 is calculated and shown to be an integer. The inductive step demonstrates that if the formula holds for n, it also holds for n+1, reinforcing the integer property. Corrections to the original formula were acknowledged, confirming the validity of the approach. The conclusion emphasizes that the result follows from the properties of binomial coefficients, which are inherently integers.
Albert1
Messages
1,221
Reaction score
0
$a_1=3,a_2=5757,\,\, a_n=\dfrac {7(a_a+a_2+-------+a_n)}{n}, \,\, (n\geq2)\,\, prove \,\,each\,\, term\,\, of\,\, a_n\,\,
is \,\, an \,\, integer$

correction :
$a_1=3,a_2=5757,\,\, a_n=\dfrac {7(a_1+a_2+-------+a_{n-1})}{n}, \,\, (n\geq2)\,\, prove \,\,each\,\, term\,\, of\,\, a_n\,\,
is \,\, an \,\, integer$
 
Last edited:
Mathematics news on Phys.org
Albert said:
$a_1=3,a_2=5757,\,\, a_n=\dfrac {7(a_{\color{red}1}+a_2+-------+a_{n{\color{red}-1}})}{n}, \,\, (n\geq2)\,\, prove \,\,each\,\, term\,\, of\,\, a_n\,\,
is \,\, an \,\, integer$
[sp]Assuming that I'm right in making those corrections to the question, I claim that $$a_n = 160{n+6\choose6}$$ for all $n\geqslant3$. The result then follows because binomial coefficients are integers.

To prove the claimed result by induction, check first that $a_1+a_2 = 3+5757 = 5760 = 2^7\cdot3^2\cdot5$, so that $a_3 = \dfrac{2^7\cdot3^2\cdot5\cdot7}3 = 2^7\cdot3\cdot5\cdot7.$ But $$160{9\choose6} = 2^5\cdot5\cdot\frac{9\cdot8\cdot7}{1\cdot2\cdot3} = 2^7\cdot3\cdot5\cdot7.$$ That establishes the base case $n=3$.

Now suppose that the result is true for $n$. Since $a_n = \frac7n(a_1+a_2 + \ldots + a_{n-1})$, it follows that $$a_1+a_2 + \ldots + a_{n-1} = \frac{na_n}7 = \frac{160n}7{n+6\choose6},$$ and so $$a_1+a_2 + \ldots + a_n = \frac{160n}7{n+6\choose6} + 160{n+6\choose6} = \frac{160(n+7)}7{n+6\choose6}.$$ Therefore $$a_{n+1} = \frac7{n+1}(a_1+a_2 + \ldots + a_n) = \frac{160(n+7)}{n+1}{n+6\choose6} = \frac{160(n+7)\cdot (n+6)!}{(n+1)\cdot6!\cdot n!} = \frac{160(n+7)!}{6!(n+1)!} = 160{n+7\choose n+1} = 160{n+7\choose 6}.$$ That completes the inductive step.[/sp]
 
Opalg said:
[sp]Assuming that I'm right in making those corrections to the question, I claim that $$a_n = 160{n+6\choose6}$$ for all $n\geqslant3$. The result then follows because binomial coefficients are integers.

To prove the claimed result by induction, check first that $a_1+a_2 = 3+5757 = 5760 = 2^7\cdot3^2\cdot5$, so that $a_3 = \dfrac{2^7\cdot3^2\cdot5\cdot7}3 = 2^7\cdot3\cdot5\cdot7.$ But $$160{9\choose6} = 2^5\cdot5\cdot\frac{9\cdot8\cdot7}{1\cdot2\cdot3} = 2^7\cdot3\cdot5\cdot7.$$ That establishes the base case $n=3$.

Now suppose that the result is true for $n$. Since $a_n = \frac7n(a_1+a_2 + \ldots + a_{n-1})$, it follows that $$a_1+a_2 + \ldots + a_{n-1} = \frac{na_n}7 = \frac{160n}7{n+6\choose6},$$ and so $$a_1+a_2 + \ldots + a_n = \frac{160n}7{n+6\choose6} + 160{n+6\choose6} = \frac{160(n+7)}7{n+6\choose6}.$$ Therefore $$a_{n+1} = \frac7{n+1}(a_1+a_2 + \ldots + a_n) = \frac{160(n+7)}{n+1}{n+6\choose6} = \frac{160(n+7)\cdot (n+6)!}{(n+1)\cdot6!\cdot n!} = \frac{160(n+7)!}{6!(n+1)!} = 160{n+7\choose n+1} = 160{n+7\choose 6}.$$ That completes the inductive step.[/sp]
sorry a typo
Yes you are right in making those corrections to the question
very good solution !
 
Seemingly by some mathematical coincidence, a hexagon of sides 2,2,7,7, 11, and 11 can be inscribed in a circle of radius 7. The other day I saw a math problem on line, which they said came from a Polish Olympiad, where you compute the length x of the 3rd side which is the same as the radius, so that the sides of length 2,x, and 11 are inscribed on the arc of a semi-circle. The law of cosines applied twice gives the answer for x of exactly 7, but the arithmetic is so complex that the...
Thread 'Imaginary Pythagoras'
I posted this in the Lame Math thread, but it's got me thinking. Is there any validity to this? Or is it really just a mathematical trick? Naively, I see that i2 + plus 12 does equal zero2. But does this have a meaning? I know one can treat the imaginary number line as just another axis like the reals, but does that mean this does represent a triangle in the complex plane with a hypotenuse of length zero? Ibix offered a rendering of the diagram using what I assume is matrix* notation...
Fermat's Last Theorem has long been one of the most famous mathematical problems, and is now one of the most famous theorems. It simply states that the equation $$ a^n+b^n=c^n $$ has no solutions with positive integers if ##n>2.## It was named after Pierre de Fermat (1607-1665). The problem itself stems from the book Arithmetica by Diophantus of Alexandria. It gained popularity because Fermat noted in his copy "Cubum autem in duos cubos, aut quadratoquadratum in duos quadratoquadratos, et...

Similar threads

Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
4
Views
3K
Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
1K
Back
Top