Evaluate this sum in terms of n (the number of terms):
1 2 4 8 16
S = --- + ----- + ----- + ------- + ---------- + .....
2 5 41 3,281 21,523,361
As others have noted, the numerator is 2^(n-1).
Here's an observation about the denominator. Let the denominator be D(n) and the numerator be N(n).
D(n) = (D(n-1) * N(n-1) * D(n-2) * N(n-2) * D(n-3)) + 1
For n=4,
D(4) = (D(3) * N(3) * D(2) * N(2) * D(1)) + 1
D(4) = (41 * 4 * 5 * 2 * 2) + 1 = 3,281
Same works for n = 5:
D(5) = (D(4) * N(4) * D(3) * N(3) * D(2) ) + 1
D(4) = (3,281 * 8 * 41 * 4 * 5) + 1 = 21,523,361
Unfortunately it fails for n=1, 2, and 3.
But it's a start.
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Posted by dopey915
on 2005-12-22 09:39:28 |