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Date November 2017 Marks available 4 Reference code 17N.3dm.hl.TZ0.2
Level HL only Paper Paper 3 Discrete mathematics Time zone TZ0
Command term Show that Question number 2 Adapted from N/A

Question

Consider the recurrence relation

un=5un16un2, u0=0 and u1=1.

Find an expression for un in terms of n.

[6]
a.

For every prime number p>3, show that p|up1.

[4]
b.

Markscheme

the auxiliary equation is λ25λ+6=0     M1

λ=2, 3     (A1)

the general solution is un=A×2n+B×3n     A1

imposing initial conditions (substituting n=0, 1)     M1

A+B=0 and 2A+3B=1     A1

the solution is A=1, B=1

so that un=3n2n     A1

[6 marks]

a.

up1=3p12p1

p>3, therefore 3 or 2 are not divisible by p     R1

hence by FLT, 3p112p1(mod for p > 3     M1A1

{u_{p - 1}} \equiv 0(\bmod p)     A1

p|{u_{p - 1}} for every prime number p > 3     AG

[4 marks]

b.

Examiners report

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

Syllabus sections

Topic 10 - Option: Discrete mathematics » 10.6 » Fermat’s little theorem.

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