Date | November 2015 | Marks available | 1 | Reference code | 15N.3dm.hl.TZ0.2 |
Level | HL only | Paper | Paper 3 Discrete mathematics | Time zone | TZ0 |
Command term | Find | Question number | 2 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
A recurrence relation is given by un+1+2un+1=0, u1=4.
Use the recurrence relation to find u2.
Find an expression for un in terms of n.
A second recurrence relation, where v1=u1 and v2=u2, is given by vn+1+2vn+vn−1=0, n≥2.
Find an expression for vn in terms of n.
Markscheme
u2=−9 A1
[1 mark]
METHOD 1
un+1=−2un−1
let un=a(−2)n+b M1A1
EITHER
a(−2)n+1+b=−2(a(−2)n+b)−1 M1
a(−2)n+1+b=a(−2)n+1−2b−1
3b=−1
b=−13 A1
u1=4⇒−2a−13=4 (M1)
⇒a=−136 A1
OR
using u1=4, u2=−9
4=−2a+b, −9=4a+b M1A1
solving simultaneously M1
⇒a=−136, and b=−13 A1
THEN
so un=−136(−2)n−13
METHOD 2
use of the formula un=anu0+b(1−an1−a) (M1)
letting u0=−52 A1
letting a=−2 and b=−1 A1
un=−52(−2)n−1(1−(−2)n1−−2) M1A1
=−136(−2)n−13 A1
[6 marks]
auxiliary equation is k2+2k+1=0 M1
hence k=−1 (A1)
so let vn=(an+b)(−1)n M1
(2a+b)(−1)2=−9 and (a+b)(−1)1=4 A1
so a=−5, b=1 M1A1
vn=(1−5n)(−1)n
Note: Caution necessary to allow FT from (a) to part (c).
[6 marks]
Total [13 marks]