Reordering a Geometric Sequence

Problem

A finite geometric sequence {an}\{a_n\} has NN terms (N3N \geqslant 3), first term a1>0a_1 > 0, and common ratio q(0,1)q \in (0, 1). Its terms are rearranged into a sequence {bn}\{b_n\} such that

aibiajbjwhenever 1i<jN.a_i b_i \geqslant a_j b_j \qquad \text{whenever } 1 \leqslant i < j \leqslant N.

1. For N=3N = 3, list all valid sequences {bn}\{b_n\}. 2. Does there exist a valid {bn}\{b_n\} with bk12bk2bkb_{k-1}^2 \neq b_{k-2}b_k for every 3kN3 \leqslant k \leqslant N? Explain. 3. If a valid {bn}\{b_n\} is chosen uniformly at random, find the probability that it is itself geometric.

Answer

Solution

Difficulty9/10
Topicscombinatorics, Geometric Progression, Counting, Recursion, sequences

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