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Problem: For the sequence $r$ defined by

$$r_n = 3 \cdot 2^n - 4 \cdot 5^n, \ \ \ n \geq 0$$

Prove that {$r_n$} satisfies

$$r_n = 7r_{n-1} - 10r_{n-2}, \ \ \ n \geq 2$$

Can this problem be explained and broken down and show the process? I'd like to follow your steps on my own.

I've been studying this question but the opening multiplication is throwing me off.

Similar Problem

natur3
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    From the given formula for $r_n$ compute also $r_{n-1}$, and $r_{n-2}$. Plug the expressions you get instead of $r_n,r_{n-1}, r_{n-2}$ in the equation $r_n=7r_{n-1}-10r_{n-2}$ and check that it is true for all $n\geq2$. – Pp.. Jan 21 '15 at 02:16

3 Answers3

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To show that $r_n = 3\cdot 2^n - 4\cdot 5^n$ satisfy the equation then start by writing the equation as

$$r_n - 7r_{n-1} + 10r_{n-2} = 0$$

Now calculate $r_n, r_{n-1}$ and $r_{n-2}$ from the formula. This gives us

$$r_n = \color{red}{3\cdot 2^n - 4\cdot 5^n}$$ $$r_{n-1} = 3\cdot 2^{n-1} - 4\cdot 5^{n-1} = \color{blue}{\frac{3}{2}\cdot 2^{n} - \frac{4}{5}\cdot 5^{n}}$$ $$r_{n-2} = 3\cdot 2^{n-2} - 4\cdot 5^{n-2} = \color{green}{\frac{3}{2^2}\cdot 2^{n} - \frac{4}{5^2}\cdot 5^{n}}$$

where we have used the rule $x^{a+b} = x^a \cdot x^b$ and $x^{-a} = \frac{1}{x^a}$ to simplify (for example $2^{n-2} = 2^{n}\cdot 2^{-2} =2^n\cdot \frac{1}{4}$). Now we substitute this into the equation $r_n - 7r_{n-1} + 10r_{n-2} = 0$ to find

$$\left(\color{red}{3\cdot 2^n - 4\cdot 5^n}\right) - 7\cdot\left(\color{blue}{\frac{3}{2}\cdot 2^{n} - \frac{4}{5}\cdot 5^{n}}\right) + 10 \cdot \left(\color{green}{\frac{3}{2^2}\cdot 2^{n} - \frac{4}{5^2}\cdot 5^{n}}\right) = 0$$

and after rearranging we get

$$\left(\color{red}{3\cdot 2^n} - 7\cdot \color{blue}{\frac{3}{2}\cdot 2^n} + 10\cdot\color{green}{\frac{3}{2^2}\cdot 2^n }\right) + \left(-\color{red}{4\cdot 5^n} + 7\cdot \color{blue}{\frac{4}{5}\cdot 5^n} - 10\cdot\color{green}{\frac{4}{5^2}\cdot 5^n }\right) = 0$$

Now we take the $2^n$ and $5^n$ outside of the brackets to find

$$2^n\cdot\left(\color{red}{3} - 7\cdot \color{blue}{\frac{3}{2}} + 10\cdot\color{green}{\frac{3}{2^2}}\right) + 5^n\cdot \left(-\color{red}{4} + 7\cdot \color{blue}{\frac{4}{5}} - 10\cdot\color{green}{\frac{4}{5^2}}\right) = 0$$

By calculating he sums in the brackets we find that they are both $0$ so we are left with $0=0$ which shows that the formula for $r_n$ does indeed satify the equation.

Winther
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$$7r_{n-1}-10r_{n-2}=7(3.2^{n-1}-4.5^{n-1})-10(3.2^{n-2}-4.5^{n-2})$$ $$7r_{n-1}-10r_{n-2}=(42-30).2^{n-2}+(-140+2=40)5^{n-2}$$ $$7r_{n-1}-10r_{n-2}=3.2^n-4.5^n$$ $$7r_{n-1}-10r_{n-2}=r_n$$

Bumblebee
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  • Thank you for this. I will go over this line by line. Thank you as well @Winther for your detailed breakdown. – natur3 Jan 21 '15 at 03:27
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Based on the input I was given by some members here's what I came up with following some of those steps and putting it in my own words in a way to make sure I understand what's happening:

$r_n = 3\cdot2^n - 4\cdot5^n$, $n \geq 0$

$r_n = 7r_{n-1} - 10r_{n-2}$, $n \geq 2$

$n = 1$
$1-1 = 1$

Working the left side first
$7\left(3\cdot2^1 - 4\cdot5^{1} \right)$
$7\left(\frac{3}{2}\cdot2 - \frac{4}{5}\cdot5 \right)$
$7\left(\left(1.5\cdot2\right) -\left(0.8\cdot5\right)\right)$
3, -4 <-- These are the first numbers in 3*2 and -4*5 (but ignoring -4 for now)

Moving the 3 the to the outside now. Repeat the process for the 7.
$3\left(7\cdot2^1 - 10\cdot2^{1} \right)$
$3\left(\frac{7}{2}\cdot2 - \frac{10}{4}\cdot2 \right)$ <-- Multiply the denominator by $2^n$ for the denominoator of the second part.
$3\left(\left(3.5\cdot2\right) -\left(2.5\cdot2\right)\right)$
$\left(7-5\right)$
$2$ <-- Bring down the 3
$3\cdot2$ <-- These are the first numbers in $r_n$
Now I have 3, 2 or $3 \cdot 2$ of $r_n$

Working the right side now
$-10\left(3\cdot2 - 4\cdot5 \right)$
$-10\left(\frac{3}{2}\cdot2 - \frac{4}{5}\cdot5 \right)$
$-10\left(\left(1.5\cdot2\right) -\left(0.8\cdot5\right)\right)$
3, -4 <-- We have the same values again this time we use the -4 and ignore the 3

Moving the -4 to the outside and repeating the same process above when we moved the 3 to the outside and moved the 7 inside.
$-4\left(7\cdot5 - 10\cdot5 \right)$
$-4\left(\frac{7}{5}\cdot5 - \frac{10}{25}\cdot5 \right)$ <-- Multiply the denominator by $5^n$ for the denominoator of the second part.
$-4\left(\left(1.4\cdot5\right) -\left(0.4\cdot5\right)\right)$
$\left(7-2\right)$
$5$ <-- Bring down the -4
$-4\cdot5$ <-- These are the first numbers in $r_n$
Now I have -4, 5 or $-4 \cdot 5$ of $r_n$

We then have: $r_n = 3\cdot2^n - 4\cdot5^n$, $n \geq 0$

natur3
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  • Hey can I get your input on this one also? @Demosthene – natur3 Jan 21 '15 at 06:34
  • There are some algebraic issues in your solution. Study @Winther posted solution for the algebraic steps. – nullByteMe Jan 22 '15 at 14:18
  • @inquisitor after looking at it I thought something was slightly off as well. Could you point out one of them? – natur3 Jan 22 '15 at 19:34
  • There are mistakes in a few areas, but I'll just point out 2. You have $n=1$ and then below that $1-1=1$ but that is a false statement since $1-1=0$ and not $1$. The other area that is causing your mistakes to compound is how you handle exponents. $2^{n-1}=2^{n} 2^{-1}$ and $2^{-1}$ is actually $\frac{1}{2}$. So that turns it into $\frac{1}{2}2^n$ – nullByteMe Jan 22 '15 at 19:42
  • @inquisitor aw man your correct. Thanks for this I'm going to try this again later tonight. – natur3 Jan 22 '15 at 19:43