Ratio-Arithmetic Sequences

Problem

Call a sequence {an}\{a_n\} ratio-arithmetic with ratio-difference tt if

an+2an+1an+1an=tfor all nN.\frac{a_{n+2}}{a_{n+1}} - \frac{a_{n+1}}{a_n} = t \qquad \text{for all } n \in \mathbb{N}^*.

Determine, with proof, which of the following are true:

1. every geometric sequence is ratio-arithmetic, but not every arithmetic sequence is; 2. the sequence an=2n1n2a_n = \dfrac{2^{n-1}}{n^2} is ratio-arithmetic with t=12t = \dfrac{1}{2}; 3. the Fibonacci-type sequence with a1=1a_1 = 1, a2=2a_2 = 2, an=an1+an2a_n = a_{n-1} + a_{n-2} (n3n \geqslant 3) is not ratio-arithmetic; 4. if {an}\{a_n\} is arithmetic and {bn}\{b_n\} is geometric, then {anbn}\{a_nb_n\} is ratio-arithmetic.

Answer

Solution

Difficulty7/10
TopicsArithmetic Progression, Geometric Progression, Monotonicity, sequences

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