Find the explicit formula of this sequence, if this is possible.

Question

Let U(n) be the sequence with n a natural number such that :

U(2n+1)-U(2n)=1

U(2n)-U(2n-1)=4

U(0)=3

Find the explicit formula of this sequence, if this is possible.

I honestly don't know how to begin.

Except that it's fairly easy to see that:

- when n is even, U(n) = U(n-1)+4

- when n is odd, U(n)=U(n-1)+1

Ian Fowler · Accepted Answer

For n even: U(n) = 5n/2 + 3For n odd: U(n) = 5n/2 + 3/2I just wrote out the first 8 terms3,4,8,9,13,14,18,19,... and separated the odd and even positions3,8,13,18,..4,9,13,19,...Both are arithmetic with common difference = 5 and I just picked the constant to start in the right place.You can also add your 2 recursion formulas to get: U(2n+1) - U(2n-1) = 5 soU(2n+1) = 5 + U(2n-1). i.e. go back 2 and add 5 and that helped me get the 5n/2

Jotadiolyne Dicci · Answer

@Ian Fowler Ok I found it ! U(n)= 5n/2 + 3 * ((1/4)cos(pi*n)+3/4)

Ian Fowler · Answer

@Jotadiolyne Dicci I don't think so but will give it some thought

Jotadiolyne Dicci · Answer

@Ian Fowler However, is that possible to make just one formula without the for n even and n odd which brings together everything ?

Ian Fowler · Answer

Sorry for the small size but you can blow it up by clicking the image. It took a long time but I finally got my head in the right place. I tried to use Generating Functions , which works for Fibonacci, but not so well here. At any rate, I got it !!

I tried to explain as I went along but feel free to ask more questions. What a great problem - I learned a lot about how to apply alternating sequences along the way. Thanks very much.

BPRP are you out there?? IMHO this definitely deserves a video.

blackpenredpen

math for fun

Find the explicit formula of this sequence, if this is possible.