Date | May 2017 | Marks available | 9 | Reference code | 17M.3dm.hl.TZ0.4 |
Level | HL only | Paper | Paper 3 Discrete mathematics | Time zone | TZ0 |
Command term | Solve | Question number | 4 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Consider the recurrence relation \(a{u_{n + 2}} + b{u_{n + 1}} + c{u_n} = 0,{\text{ }}n \in \mathbb{N}\) where \(a\), \(b\) and \(c\) are constants. Let \(\alpha \) and \(\beta \) denote the roots of the equation \(a{x^2} + bx + c = 0\).
Verify that the recurrence relation is satisfied by
\[{u_n} = A{\alpha ^n} + B{\beta ^n},\]
where \(A\) and \(B\) are arbitrary constants.
Solve the recurrence relation
\({u_{n + 2}} - 2{u_{n + 1}} + 5{u_n} = 0\) given that \({u_0} = 0\) and \({u_1} = 4\).
Markscheme
attempt to substitute the given expression for \({u_n}\) into the recurrence relation M1
\(a{u_{n + 2}} + b{u_{n + 1}} + c{u_n} = a(A{\alpha ^{n + 2}} + B{\beta ^{n + 2}}) + b(A{\alpha ^{n + 1}} + B{\beta ^{n + 1}}) + c(A{\alpha ^n} + B{\beta ^n})\) A1
\( = A{\alpha ^n}(a{\alpha ^2} + b\alpha + c) + B{\beta ^n}(a{\beta ^2} + b\beta + c)\) A1
\( = 0\) because \(\alpha \) and \(\beta \) both satisfy \(a{x^2} + bx + c = 0\) R1AG
Note: Award M1A0A1R0 for solutions that are set to zero throughout and conclude with \(0 = 0\). Award the R1 for any valid reason.
[4 marks]
the auxiliary equation is \({x^2} - 2x + 5 = 0\) A1
solving their quadratic equation (M1)
the roots are \(1 \pm 2{\text{i}}\) A1
the general solution is
\({u_n} = A{\left( {1 + 2{\text{i}}} \right)^n}{\mkern 1mu} + B{\left( {1 - 2{\text{i}}} \right)^n}{\mkern 1mu} {\mkern 1mu} {\mkern 1mu} \left( {{u_n} = {{\left( {\sqrt 5 } \right)}^n}\left( {A\,{\text{cis}}\left( {n\arctan 2} \right) + B\,{\text{cis}}\left( { - n\arctan 2} \right)} \right)} \right)\) (A1)
attempt to substitute both boundary conditions M1
\(A + B = 0;{\text{ }}A(1 + 2{\text{i}}) + B(1 - 2{\text{i}}) = 4\) A1
attempt to solve their equations for \(A\) and \(B\) M1
\(A = - {\text{i}},{\text{ }}B = {\text{i}}\) A1
\({u_n} = {\text{i}}{(1 - 2{\text{i}})^n} - {\text{i}}{(1 + 2{\text{i}})^n}\,\,\,\left( {{u_n} = 2{{\left( {\sqrt 5 } \right)}^n}\sin (n\arctan 2)} \right)\) A1
Note: Accept the trigonometric form for \({u_n}\).
[9 marks]