Created by T.

Madas

RECURRENCE
RELATIONS

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 1 (**)
A sequence u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 , … is given by the recurrence relation

un+1 = 3un + 2 , u1 = 2 .

Find the value of u2 , u3 , u4 and u5 .

u2 = 8 , u3 = 26 , u4 = 80 , u5 = 242

Question 2 (**)
A sequence y1 , y2 , y3 , y4 , … is given by

yn +1 = 4 yn − 3 , y1 = 2 .

a) Find the value of y2 , y3 , y4 and y5 .

It is further given that y10 = 262145 .

b) Calculate the value of y9 .

y2 = 5 , y3 = 17 , y4 = 65 , y5 = 257 , y9 = 65537

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 3 (**)
A sequence u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 , … is given by the recurrence relation

un+1 = 2un − n 2 + 3 , u1 = 2 .

Find the value of u2 , u3 , u4 and u5 .

u2 = 6 , u3 = 11 , u4 = 16 , u5 = 19

Question 4 (**)
A sequence u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 , … is given by

2
un+1 = ( 3 − un ) , u1 = 4 .

a) Find the value of u2 , u3 and u4 .

b) State the value of u10 .

C1K , u2 = 1 , u3 = 4 , u4 = 1 , u10 = 1

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 5 (**)
A sequence b1 , b2 , b3 , b4 , … is given by

bn+1 = 5bn − 3 , b1 = k ,

where k is a non zero constant.

a) Find the value of b4 in terms of k .

b) Given that b4 = 7 , determine the value of k .

MP2-O , b4 = 125k − 93 , k = 4
5

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 6 (**)
A recurrence relation is defined for n ≥ 1 by

an+1 = 3an + 4 , a1 = k ,

where k is a non zero constant.

a) Find the value of a4 in terms of k .

It is further given that

r =1
ar = 32 .

b) Determine the value of k .

a4 = 27 k + 52 , k = −1

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 7 (**)
A sequence u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 , … is given by

un+1 = 3un − 9 , u1 = k ,

where k is a non zero constant.

a) Find the value of u3 in terms of k .

It is further given that

r =1
ur = 38 .

b) Find the value of k .

u3 = 9k − 36 , k = 5

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 8 (**)
A recurrence relation is defined for n ≥ 1 by

tn +1 = ktn − 1 , t1 = 2 ,

where k is a non zero constant.

a) Find the value of t3 in terms of k .

b) Given that t3 = 14 find the possible values of k .

t3 = 2k 2 − k − 1 , k = − 5 ,3
2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 9 (**)
A sequence u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 , … is given by

un+1 = kun + 5 , u1 = 2 ,

where k is a non zero constant.

a) Find the value of u3 in terms of k .

It is further given that


r =1
ur = 7 .

b) Find the possible values of k .

u3 = 2k 2 + 5k + 5 , k = −1, − 5
2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 10 (**)
A sequence x1 , x2 , x3 , x4 , … is given by the recurrence formula

xn+1 = 5 ( xn + 1) − 2n 2 , x1 = 4 .
5

Calculate the value of x2 , x3 , x4 , and x5 .

x2 = 7 , x3 = 32 , x4 = 147 , x5 = 708

Question 11 (**)
A sequence t1 , t2 , t3 , t4 , t5 , t6 … is given by the recurrence formula

2
tn +1 = ntn − ( tn ) + 4 , t1 = 2 .

Find the value of t2 , t3 , t4 , t5 and t6 .

t2 = 2 , t3 = 4 , t4 = 0 , t5 = 4 , t6 = 8

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 12 (**+)
A recurrence relation is defined for n ≥ 1 by

an+1 = 7 an − n3 − 3 , a1 = 1 .

a) Find the value of a4 .

b) Evaluate the sum

r =1
ar .

SYN-W , a4 = 40 , 267

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 13 (**+)
A sequence u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 , u5 , u6 , … is given by

un+ 2 = un+1 + 2un , u2 = 4 , u3 = 8 .

a) Find the value of u4 , u5 and u6 .

b) Determine the value of u1 .

u4 = 16 , u5 = 32 , u6 = 64 , u1 = 2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 14 (**+)
A sequence of numbers is given by the recurrence relation

1
un+1 = , n ≥ 1 , u1 = 2 .
1 − un

a) Find the value of u2 , u3 and u4 .

b) State the value of u12 .

c) Show clearly that

12

r =1
ur = 6 .

C1E , u2 = −1, u3 = 1 , u4 = 2 , u12 = 1

2 2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 15 (**+)
A sequence of numbers is given by the recurrence relation

un+1 = kun + 4 , n ≥ 1 , u1 = 16 ,

where k is a non zero constant.

a) If u3 = 10 , find the possible values of k .

b) Determine the value of u4 , given that k > 0 .

k = 1 , − 3 , u4 = 9
2 4

Question 16 (**+)
A sequence t1 , t2 , t3 , t4 , t5 , … is given by

tn +1 = 2tn + 1 , t5 = 103 .

Find the value of t1 .

t1 = 11
2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 17 (**+)
A sequence y1 , y2 , y3 , y4 , … is given by the recurrence formula

yn +1 = 2 yn − 4n + 4 , y5 = 52 .

a) Make yn the subject of the above recurrence formula.

b) Hence determine the value of y4 , y3 , y2 and y1 .

yn+1 + 4n − 4
yn = , y4 = 32 , y3 = 20 , y2 = 12 , y1 = 6
2

Question 18 (***)
A sequence is defined for n ≥ 1 by the recurrence relation

un+1 = 2un + 1 , u1 = 3 .

a) Find the first five terms of the sequence.

b) By considering the first few powers of 2 , write down an expression for the n th
term of the sequence.

3, 7, 15, 31, 63,... , un = 2n +1 − 1

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 19 (***)
A sequence of numbers is given by the recurrence relation

18
an+1 = 5 − , n ≥ 1 , a2 = 0 .
4 + an

a) Find the value of a3 , a4 and a5 .

b) Determine the value of a1 .

c) Calculate the value of

r =1
ar .

5
C1B , u3 = 1 , u3 = 1, u5 = 7 , u1 = − 2 ,
2 5 5 
r =1
ur = 2.5

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 20 (***)
A sequence x1 , x2 , x3 , x4 , … is given by

k − 5 xn
xn+1 = , x1 = 1 , k > 5 ,
xn

where k is a non zero constant.

a) Determine the value of x3 in terms of k , giving the final answer as a single

simplified fraction.

It is further given that x3 > 6 .

b) Find the range of the values of k .

25 − 4k
SYN-F , x3 = , 5 < k < 11
k −5 2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 21 (***)
A sequence u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 , … is given by the recurrence relation

n
( )
un+1 = 2un + ( −1) n2 + 2 , u1 = 10 .

Find the value of u2 , u3 , u4 and u5 .

u2 = 17 , u3 = 40 , u4 = 69 , u5 = 156

Question 22 (***+)
A sequence u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 , … is defined by the recursive relation

un+1 = 2un + 3 , u1 = k ,

where k is a non zero constant.

a) Given that u6 = 189 , find the value of u5 .

b) Determine the value of k .

u5 = 93 , k = 3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 23 (***+)
A sequence a1 , a2 , a3 , a4 , … is given by

an+1 = p + qan ,

where p and q are non zero constants.

It is given that a1 = 250 , a2 = 220 and a3 = 196 .

a) Determine the value of p and the value of q .

b) Show clearly that the sequence converges to 100 .

SYN-G , p = 20 , q = 4
5

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 24 (***+)
A sequence x1 , x2 , x3 , x4 ,… is given by

a + 2 xn
xn+1 = , x1 = 2 ,
xn

where a is a non zero constant.

a) Find a simplified expression for x3 in terms of a .

It is given that x3 = 12 .

b) Determine the value of a .

4a + 8
C1H , x3 = , a = −5
a+4

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 25 (***+)
A recurrence relation is defined for n ≥ 1 by

un+1 = a + 1 un , u1 = 520 ,
2

where a is a non zero constant.

a) Given that u4 = 72 , find the value of a .

b) Given further that u10 = 9 , find the value of u9 .

C1D , a = 4 , u9 = 10

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 26 (***+)
A sequence of positive numbers is given by the recurrence relation for n ≥ 1 by

un+1 = kun + 4 , u1 = 16 ,

where k is a non zero constant.

a) Given that u3 = 10 , find the value of k .

b) Given further that the sequence converges to a limit L , use an algebraic

method to determine the value of L .

k = 1 , L =8
2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 27 (***+)
A sequence u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 , … is given by

un + 1
un+1 = , u1 = k ,
2

where k is a non zero constant.

a) Given that u4 = 21 find the value of u3 .

b) Determine the value of k .

C1U , u3 = 41 , k = 161

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 28 (***+)
A sequence u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 , … is given by

un+ 2 = kun+1 + 5un , u1 = 2 , u 2 = −2 ,

where k is a non zero constant.

a) Find the value of u4 in terms of k .

b) Given that u4 = 2 , find the possible values of k .

u4 = −2k 2 + 10k − 10 , k = 2, 3

Question 29 (***+)
A sequence is defined for n ≥ 1 by the recurrence relation

n +1 n −1
un+1 = 2un + 4n − n2 + ( −1) 2 , u1 = 2 .

Find the first five terms of the sequence.

2, 8, 18, 43, 78, ...

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 30 (***+)
A sequence a1 , a2 , a3 , a4 , … is given by the recurrence formula

an
an+1 = , a1 = 1
1 + an

a) Determine the value of a2 , a3 , a4 and a5 .

b) State an expression for the n th term of the sequence and verify that it satisfies
the above recurrence formula.

a2 = 1 , a3 = 1 , a4 = 1 , a5 = 1 , an = 1n
2 3 4 5

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 31 (***+)
A sequence u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 , … is defined by the recursive relation

un+ 2 = 3un+1 − 2un , u1 = k ,

where k is a non zero constant.

Given that u6 = 33 and u7 = 65 , determine the value of k .

k =2

Question 32 (***+)
A sequence u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 , … is given by

un+1 = 4un + kun −1 ,

where k is a non zero constant.

It is further given that u2 = 4 , u3 = 12 and u5 = 178 .

Determine the value of k .

C1F,write un+ 2 = ... k = − 1

2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 33 (***+)
A recurrence relation is defined for n ≥ 1 by

tn +1 = atn + b , t1 = 2 ,

where a and b are non zero constants.

Given further that

3
t2 = 3 and

r =1
tr = 12 ,

find the possible value of a and the possible value of b .

C1W , a = 4 , b = −5

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 34 (***+)
A sequence of numbers, u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 , ... , is defined by

1
un = , u1 = 2 .
1 − un−1

Determine the value of

20

n =1
un .

20
MP2-B ,

n =1
un = 10

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 35 (****)
A recurrence relation is defined for n ≥ 1 by

n
un+1 = k + ( −1) un , u1 = 4 ,

where k is a non zero constant.

a) Show clearly that u5 = 4 .

b) State, in terms of k , the value of u26 .

c) Given further that

r =1
ur = 6 ,

find the value of k .

d) Evaluate the sum

26

 r =1
ur .

C1Q , u26 = k − 4 , k = 3 , S26 = 39

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 36 (****)
A sequence u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 , u5 , … is given by

un+ 2 = un+1 + 6un , u1 = 1 , u2 = 13 .

a) Find the value of u3 , the value of u4 and the value of u5 .

b) Find a simplified expression for the n th term of the above sequence by

considering the first few terms of the sequence shown below

3 − 2 , 9 + 4 , 27 − 8 , 81 + 16 , 243 − 32 , …

n
C1I , u3 = 19 , u4 = 97 , u5 = 211 , un = 3n + ( −2 )

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 37 (****)
A sequence t1 , t2 , t3 , t4 , … is given by

tn +1 = a + btn ,

where a and b are non zero constants.

It is given that t3 = 320 , t4 = 240 and t5 = 200 .

a) Determine the value of a and the value of b .

b) Find the value of t6 .

c) Show clearly that t1 = 800 .

The sequence converges to a limit L .

d) Determine the value of L .

a = 80 , b = 1 , t6 = 180 , L = 160
2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 38 (****)
A recurrence relation is defined for n ≥ 1 by

2
an+1 = ( an ) − 4 , a1 = k ,

where k is a non zero constant.

a) Find the value of a3 in terms of k .

It is given that a2 + a3 = 26 .

b) Find the possible values of k .

C1O , a3 = k 4 − 8k 2 + 12 , k = ±3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 39 (****)
A sequence y1 , y2 , y3 , y4 , y5 , y6 … is given by

yn + 2 = yn +1 + 2 yn , y1 = 1 , y2 = 5 .

a) Find the value of y3 , y4 , y5 and y6 .

b) Find a simplified expression for the n th term of the sequence, by considering

the first few powers of 2 .

n
C1V , y3 = 7 , y4 = 17 , y5 = 31 , y6 = 65 yn = 2n + ( −1)

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 40 (****)
A sequence u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 , … is given by

12
un+1 = k − , u1 = 1 ,
un

where k is a non zero constant.

It is further given that

4u2 = u3 + 1 .

a) Show that one of the possible values of k is 15 and find the other.

b) If k = 15 find the exact value of u4 .

k = 40 , u4 = 153
3 11

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 41 (****)
A sequence of numbers is defined by the recurrence relation for n ≥ 1

un+1 = kun + 6 , u1 = 4 ,

where k is a non zero constant.

a) Find, in terms of k , the value of u2 and the value of u3

b) Given that u3 = 10 find the possible values of k .

The sequence tends to a limit L .

c) Find the value of u4 .

d) Determine the value of L .

u2 = 4k + 6 , u3 = 4k 2 + 6k + 6 , k = −2, 1 , u4 = 11 , L = 12
2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 42 (****)
A recurrence relation is defined for n ≥ 1 by

U n+1 = aU n + b , U1 = k ,

where a , b and k are non zero constants.

It is given that U 2 = 5 , U 3 = 13 and U 4 = 45 .

a) Find the value of a and the value of b .

b) Determine the value of k .

a = 4 , b = −7 , U1 = k = 3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 43 (****)
A sequence of numbers is given by the recurrence relation

tn +1 = Atn + B , n ≥ 1 ,

where A and B are non zero constants.

It is given that t4 = 205 and t5 = 189 , and the sequence converges to 125 .

a) By forming and solving two equations show that A = 4 and B = 25 .

5

b) Find the value of t1 .

t1 = 281.25

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 44 (****)
A sequence of numbers is given by the recurrence relation

un+1 = pun + q , n ≥ 1 ,

where p and q are non zero constants.

It is given that u3 = 285 and u4 = 321 , and the sequence converges to 375 .

a) Find the value of p and the value of q

b) Determine the value of u1 .

p = 3 , q = 150 , u1 = 125
5

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 45 (****)

Pn +1 = A + BPn , t > 1 .

The relationship above gives the amount of money Adrian pays into a pension scheme
each year Pn , where n is the pension contribution in the n th year.

Adrian’s annual contributions in the 2nd , 3rd and 4th years were £1625 , £2425 and
£3065 , respectively.

a) Find the value of A and the value of B .

b) Determine Adrian’s annual contributions in the first year.

Adrian’s annual contributions cannot exceed a certain amount L .

c) Find the value of L .

A = 1125 , B = 0.8 , P1 = 625 , L = 5625

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 46 (****)
In a clinical trial the concentration C , of a certain blood agent, is measured at one hour
intervals since a trial drug was first administered to a patient.

The following readings were obtained

C3 = 88 , C4 = 76 and C5 = 70 ,

where Ct denotes the reading t hours after the drug was first administered.

It is thought that C satisfies the relationship

Ct +1 = a + bCt , t ≥ 0 .

a) Find the value of a and the value of b .

b) Determine the initial concentration of the blood agent, when the drug was first
administered.

The value of C converges to a limit L .

c) Find the value of L .

C1X , a = 32 , b = 1 , C0 = 256 , L = 64
2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 47 (****)
A sequence u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 , … is given by

n4
( un+1 )( un )2 = , u1 = 1 .
2
n+2

Calculate the value of u2 , u3 , u4 and u5 , and hence write an expression for the n th
term of the sequence.

2
1 , 4 , 9 , 16 , 25 , ... , u = n
2 3 4 5 6 n
n +1

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 48 (****)
A sequence x1 , x2 , x3 , x4 , … is given by the recurrence formula

xn
xn+1 = , x1 = 1
2nxn + xn + 1

a) Determine the value of x2 , x3 , x4 and x5 .

b) State an expression for the n th term of the sequence and verify that it satisfies
the above recurrence formula.

1
x2 = 1 , x3 = 1 , x4 = 1 , x5 = 1 , xn = 2
4 9 16 25 n

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 49 (****)
A recurrence relation obeys the relationship

xn+1 = xn + 12 , x1 = k ,

where k is a non zero constant.

This recurrence relation converges to a limit L , for a suitable range of values of k .

a) Find the value of L .

b) Determine the range of values of k , so L exists.

L = 4 , k ≥ −12

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 50 (****)
A sequence u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 , … is given by

1
un+1 = , u1 = k ,
1 − un

where k is a non zero constant.

a) Show clearly that u4 = k .

b) Given that u2 × u3 = − 1 , determine the value of k .

2

c) State the value of u110 .

k = 2 , u110 = −1

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 51 (****)
A sequence u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 , u5 ... satisfies

un+1 = Aun + B ,

where A and B are non zero constants.

The second and third term of this sequence are 464 and 428 , respectively.

Given further that the sequence converges to 320 , find the value of the fourth term of
this sequence.

SYN-T , u4 = 401

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 52 (****+)
A sequence of numbers is given by the recurrence relation

Aun + 2
un+1 = , n ≥ 1 , u1 = 1 ,
4 + Bun 2

where A and B are non zero constants.

a) If u2 = −2 and u3 = − 1 , find the value of A and the value of B .

3

b) Show clearly that

37

r =1
ur = −16 .

C1Y , A = 6 , B = −13

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 53 (****+)
A sequence u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 , … is given by

un a
un+1 = + , u1 = 2 ,
a un

where a is a non zero constant.

a) Find the value of u3 in terms of a .

It is further given that

u1 + u2 = 4.5 .

b) Find the possible values of u3 .

4 + a2 2a 2 29 89
u3 = 2
+ 2
, u3 = ,
2a 4+a 10 40

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 54 (****+)
A sequence t1 , t2 , t3 , t4 , t5 , … is given by

tn +1 = a tn + 3n + 2 , t ∈ » , t1 = −2 ,

where a is a non zero constant.

3
a) Given that
(
r =1
r 3 + tr ) = 12 , determine the possible values of a .

31
b) Evaluate
(r =8
tr +1 − a tr ) .

MP2-U , a = 5, a = − 7 , 1452
2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 55 (****+)
A sequence u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 , … is given by

un = 2n 2 − 7 n − 5 .

Find an expression for un +1 as a recurrence relation of the form

un+1 = Aun + Bn + C , u1 = D ,

where A , B , C and D are constants to be found.

un+1 = un + 4n − 5, u1 = −10

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 56 (****+)
A sequence u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 , … is given by

un = 2 n + 4n .

Find an expression for un +1 as a recurrence relation of the form

un+1 = Aun + Bn + C , u1 = D ,

where A , B , C and D are constants to be found.

C1Z , un+1 = 2un − 4n + 4, u1 = 6

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 57 (****+)
A recurrence relation is defined for n ≥ 1 by

tn +1 = atn + b ,

where a and b are non zero constants.

It is given that t2 = 176 , t3 = 248 and t4 = 284 .

a) Find the value of a and the value of b .

b) Determine the value of t1 .

The sequence converges to a limit l .

c) Find the value of l .

The n th term of the sequence is given by

n
( )
tn = p + q 1
2
, where p and q are constants.

d) Find the value of p and the value of q .

a = 1 , b = 160 , t1 = 32 , l = 320 , p = 320 , q = −576

2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 58 (****+)
A sequence u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 , … is given by

n
un = 3n + ( −2 ) .

Find an expression for un+ 2 , as a recurrence relation of the form,

un+ 2 = Aun+1 + Bun , u1 = C , u2 = D

where A , B , C and D are constants to be found.

SYN-V , un+ 2 = un+1 + 6un , u1 = 1, u2 = 13

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 59 (****+)
A sequence u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 , … is given by

un+1 = f ( n, un ) .

The first few terms of the sequence are

2, − 1, 5, − 4, 8, − 7,...

Find an expression for un +1 , in the form un+1 = f ( n, un ) .

n
MP2-W , un+1 = un + ( −1) ( 3n )

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 60 (****+)
The n th term of the sequence is given by

n+2
un = , n ∈ » , n ≥ 1.
2n + 1

Show that the same sequence can be generated by the recurrence relation

Aun − 1
un+1 = , u1 = 1 , n ∈ » , n ≥ 1 ,
Bun + 1

where A and B are integers to be found.

C1S , A = 5 , B = 4

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 61 (****+)
A sequence is defined for n ≥ 1 by the recurrence relation

5un
un+1 = , u1 = 1 .
1 + 8un 5

Determine an expression for un , given that it is of the form

a n −1
un = ,
c + ka n−1

where a , c and k are constants to be found.

5n −1
MP2-Y , un =
( )
3 + 2 5n−1

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 62 (*****)
A sequence u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 , u5 … is given by the recurrence formula

3un + un +1
un + 2 = , u1 = 1 , u2 = 1 .
2

It is further given that in this sequence the ratio of consecutive terms converges to a
limit L .

Determine the value of L .

u 
SP-Y , lim  n+1  = L = 3
n→∞  un  2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 63 (*****)
A factory gets permission to dispose, at the start of every day, 600 kg of waste into a
stream of water.

The running stream removes 40% of the any waste present, by the end of the day.

Determine a simplified expression for the amount of waste present in the stream at the
end of the n th day.

 n


()
MP2-T , un = 900 1 − 3 
5 

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 64 (*****)
The Fibonacci sequence is given by the recurrence formula

un+ 2 = un +1 + un , u1 = 1 , u2 = 1 .

It is further given that in this sequence the ratio of consecutive terms converges to a
limit φ , known as the Golden Ratio.

(
Show, by using the above recurrence formula, that φ = 1 1 + 5 .
2 )
MP2-S , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 65 (*****)
The n th term of a sequence is given by

n
()
un = 1 + 1
3
, where n ≥ 1 .

a) By expressing un +1 in terms of un , or otherwise, define the terms of the

sequence as a recurrence relation.

A recurrence relation is defined for n ≥ 1 by

U n +1 = 2U n − 5 , U1 = 6 .

b) By finding the n th term of the sequence, or otherwise, show that

u31 = 1,073, 741,829 .

2 + un
C1T , un+1 = , u1 = 4 , U n = 2n−1 + 5
3 3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 66 (*****)
A sequence is defined by the recurrence relation

2n
un = un −1 , n ∈ » u0 = 1 .
2n + 1

Show, by direct manipulation, that

2
4n × ( n !)
un = .
( 2n + 1)!

[you may not use proof by induction]

proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 67 (*****)
A sequence of numbers, u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 , ... , is defined by

un+1 = 3un − 1 , u1 = 2 .

Determine, in terms of n , a simplified expression for

n
 ur .
r =1

SYN-Z , Sn = 1 3n +1 + 2n − 3
4 

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 68 (*****)
It is given that

r =1
ur = 6 n+1 − 10 × 2n + 4 ,

where un is the n th term of a sequence.

Show clearly that

un + 2 = Aun+1 + Bun ,

where A and B are integers to be found.

SP-P , un + 2 = 8un +1 − 12un

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 69 (*****)
The function f satisfies the following three relationships

i. f ( 3n − 2 ) ≡ f ( 3n ) − 2 , n ∈ » .

ii. f ( 3n ) ≡ f ( n ) , n ∈ » .

iii. f (1) = 25 .

Determine the value of f ( 25) .

SP-H , f ( 25 ) = 23

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 70 (*****)
A sequence is defined by the recurrence relation

n
un +1 = un , n ∈ » u1 = 2 .
2n + 1

Show, by direct manipulation, that

2
2n × ( n − 1)!
un = .
( 2n − 1)!

[You may not use proof by induction in this question]

proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 71 (*****)
Consider the following sequence.

1 , 1 , 7 , 1, 13 , 4 , 19 , 11 , ... , x ∈ » , x < 2 .
7 2 9 11 3 13 7

a) Determine the n th of this sequence and hence find a recurrence relation

formula for this sequence.

b) Find a different, to that given in part (a), recurrence relation formula for the
same sequence.

c) Determine a third recurrence relation formula for this sequence.

The recurrence relations in this question must be in the form F ( un+1, un , n )

20 3n 2 + 19n + 6
X , un+1 = un + , un+1 = un ,
( n + 6 )( n + 7 ) 3n2 + 19n − 14

 1  3n 2 − 3n − 2
un+1 =   2
 un  n + 13n + 42

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 72 (*****)
The n th term of a series is given recursively by

a ( 2n + 1)
An = An −1 , n ∈ » , n ≥ 1 ,
2n + 4

where a is a positive constant.

Given further that A0 = 1 , show that

n
 a   2n + 2  1
An =     .
 4   n  n +1

proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 73 (*****)
A sequence is defined as

2r
ur +1 = ur + , u1 = 0 , r ∈ » .
r + r2 +1
4

Determine the exact value of u61 .

3660
u61 =
3661

Created by T. Madas