Iterated Difference Sequences

Problem

Consider the following list of sequences:

  • Sequence 11: 1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,\quad 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, \dots
  • Sequence 22: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,\quad 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, \dots
  • Sequence 33: 1,2,4,7,11,16,22,29,\quad 1, 2, 4, 7, 11, 16, 22, 29, \dots
  • Sequence 44: 1,2,4,8,15,26,42,64,\quad 1, 2, 4, 8, 15, 26, 42, 64, \dots
  • \cdots

In general, the differences between consecutive terms of sequence mm form exactly sequence m1m-1. Find the general term of sequence mm, and the sum of its first nn terms.

Answer

Solution

Difficulty6/10
Topicscombinatorics, Recursion, Binomial Theorem, sequences, Telescoping

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