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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.

[4]
a.

Solve the recurrence relation

\({u_{n + 2}} - 2{u_{n + 1}} + 5{u_n} = 0\) given that \({u_0} = 0\) and \({u_1} = 4\).

[9]
b.

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]

a.

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]

b.

Examiners report

[N/A]
a.
[N/A]
b.

Syllabus sections

Topic 10 - Option: Discrete mathematics » 10.11

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