A quick doubt, lets study the recurrence sequence: A_{n+1}=(4A_n+2)//A_n+3; A_0<-3.

patylomy7

patylomy7

Open question

2022-08-16

Some questons about recurrence sequences (using a problem).
A quick doubt, lets study the recurrence sequence:
A n + 1 = ( 4 A n + 2 ) / A n + 3
A 0 < 3
First of all i do:
A n + 1 A n < 0
If this is true i can say that A n decrease. This is true for those A n values:
3 > A n > 1
A n > 2
And false (so A n increase) for those A n values:
A n < 3
1 < A n < 2
the case A n < 3 interests me.
The limit L can be -1 or -2 but i cannot say it exists for sure because A n is not limited and monotone for all the A n possible values. For example, the sequence can go from A n > 2 then decrease and go in A n < 3 then again increase and fall in A n > 2 etc...
Another doubt comes from this fact:
It's ok to remove -1 from the possible values of L because in this case the sequence still growing?
Anyways: It happens so many times that i know the sequence increase or decrease in an interval but i don't know if doing it it will fall in another interval where it starts decreasing or increasing and in this scenario i don't know how to demonstrate if it goes on some limit or just starts to "ping-pong" on different intervals.
Or in other words i don't know how many it decrease/increase so i cannot say if it will go out from the interval i'm considering.

Answer & Explanation

Dereon Parker

Dereon Parker

Beginner2022-08-17Added 11 answers

Step 1
If you suspect oscillating behavior, then apply the recursion twice, i.e., examine how A n + 2 depends on A n .
In the case of fractions of linear terms one can fully linearize the problem by writing A n = P n / Q n , P 0 = A 0 , Q 0 = 1 and using the one degree of freedom to extract from
P n + 1 Q n + 1 = A n + 1 = 4 A n + 2 A n + 3 = 4 P n + 2 Q n P n + 3 Q n
the linear system [ P n + 1 Q n + 1 ] = [ 4 2 1 3 ] [ P n Q n ]
As the characteristic equation is
0 = z 2 7 z + 10 = ( z 2 ) ( z 5 )
the roots are z 1 = 5 and z 2 = 2 with eigenvectors v 1 = ( 2 1 ) and v 2 = ( 1 1 ) .
Step 2
The solution will thus have the form P n = 2 c 1 5 n + c 2 2 n , Q n = c 1 5 n c 2 2 n , Q 0 = 1 c 2 = c 1 1, P 0 = A 0 c 1 = 1 3 ( A 0 + 1 ) and thus
A n = 2 ( A 0 + 1 ) 5 n + ( A 0 2 ) 2 n ( A 0 + 1 ) 5 n ( A 0 2 ) 2 n = 2 ( A 0 + 1 ) + ( A 0 2 ) ( 2 5 ) n ( A 0 + 1 ) ( A 0 2 ) ( 2 5 ) n
Which will in all but one exceptional case (where c 1 = 0, i.e., A 0 = 1) converge to 2.
Flambergru

Flambergru

Beginner2022-08-18Added 4 answers

Step 1
Assume for the moment that the recursive sequence converges. Then the limit would satisfy the quadratic equation L ( L + 3 ) = 4 L + 2 0 = L 2 L 2 = ( L 2 ) ( L + 1 ).
Take the negative fixed point L = 1 and consider the sequence B n = A n + 1 or A n = 1 + B n . Then
B n + 1 = 1 + 4 + 4 B n + 2 1 + B n + 3 = 5 B n B n + 2 which tells that the iteration will move away from that fixed point with speed around 5 2 except in the case where B 0 = 0, A 0 = 1, which is excluded.
Step 2
For the second fixed point L = 2 a similar consideration with A n = 2 + C n gives
C n + 1 = 2 + 4 ( 2 + C n ) + 2 C n + 2 + 3 = 2 C n C n + 5
Now if A 0 < 3 then C 0 < 5 and C 1 > 0 so that 0 < C n + 1 < 2 5 C n for n > 1. Thus the sequence ( C n ) n converges to 0, in consequence ( A n ) n to 2.

Do you have a similar question?

Recalculate according to your conditions!

Ask your question.
Get an expert answer.

Let our experts help you. Answer in as fast as 15 minutes.

Didn't find what you were looking for?