• Congratulations to the Class of 2024 on your results!
    Let us know how you went here
    Got a question about your uni preferences? Ask us here

HSC 2016 MX2 Marathon (archive) (1 Viewer)

Status
Not open for further replies.

leehuan

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 31, 2014
Messages
5,805
Gender
Male
HSC
2015
Re: HSC 2016 4U Marathon

I didn't use a diagram :p you don't need to
PM me briefly the method without the diagram cause I didn't think much into it.

But the question recommended the use of a diagram so I proceeded with one
 

KingOfActing

lukewarm mess
Joined
Oct 31, 2015
Messages
1,016
Location
Sydney
Gender
Male
HSC
2016
Re: HSC 2016 4U Marathon

I had to help a student do this maths question just now. I feel it would be good to leave it on the 4U marathon as an instructive exercise for any E3 or above aiming student to attempt.

Algebraically because I hate geometrical anything:

 

leehuan

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 31, 2014
Messages
5,805
Gender
Male
HSC
2015
Re: HSC 2016 4U Marathon

^The answer is C.
 

seanieg89

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2006
Messages
2,662
Gender
Male
HSC
2007
Re: HSC 2016 4U Marathon

Find all functions f:N->N such that f(n)+f(f(n))=2n.

(N is the set of positive integers).

You might find induction useful to justify your answer.
 

parad0xica

Active Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2016
Messages
204
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
Re: HSC 2016 4U Marathon

Find all functions f:N->N such that f(n)+f(f(n))=2n.

(N is the set of positive integers).

You might find induction useful to justify your answer.
How would you do this using HSC techniques...
 

KingOfActing

lukewarm mess
Joined
Oct 31, 2015
Messages
1,016
Location
Sydney
Gender
Male
HSC
2016
Re: HSC 2016 4U Marathon

Find all functions f:N->N such that f(n)+f(f(n))=2n.

(N is the set of positive integers).

You might find induction useful to justify your answer.
I have no idea if this is right

PS Am I using the term mapping right? It flows better than "renaming the variable".





Alternate method I just thought of - is this valid?

f(n) = n is a solution (clearly, by inspection, whatever).

Assume there is another solution such that for some n f(n) > n and the functional equation holds:

f(f(n))+ f(n) > f(n)+ n > 2n which is a contradiction

Assume there is a solution such that for some n f(n) < n and the functional equation holds:

f(f(n)) + f(n) < f(n) + n < 2n which is a contradiction

Hence for every n, n <= f(n) <= n meaning f(n) = n is the only solution
 
Last edited:

seanieg89

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2006
Messages
2,662
Gender
Male
HSC
2007
Re: HSC 2016 4U Marathon

Your first method needs to be tidied up a bit to work. What is a_1? For any particular a_1 you can choose A and B in lots of different ways. You need to show that for ANY such choice, a_2 must be equal to a_1, or the sequence must violate the properties that iterating f must have. You have not quite done this from what I can see.

For your second attempt,how are you deducing your first inequality: f(f(n))+f(n)>f(n)+n?

You are on the right track though (to the solution I came up with, which is the one I intended 4U students to find), thinking about such inequalities.
 

seanieg89

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2006
Messages
2,662
Gender
Male
HSC
2007
Re: HSC 2016 4U Marathon

How would you do this using HSC techniques...
Pretty much just using properties of inequality and induction. Out-of-HSC techniques don't come into it at all unless you approach it in a really weird way.
 

Paradoxica

-insert title here-
Joined
Jun 19, 2014
Messages
2,556
Location
Outside reality
Gender
Male
HSC
2016
Re: HSC 2016 4U Marathon

Find all functions f:N->N such that f(n)+f(f(n))=2n.

(N is the set of positive integers).

You might find induction useful to justify your answer.
Since f(n) is a natural valued function, we know f(n) is natural for all n in N

f(1) + f(f(1)) = 2

The left hand side consists of two naturals. The right hand side is 2. The only way to express 2 as a sum of 2 naturals is 1 + 1. Therefore, f(1) = f(f(1)) = 1.

f(2) + f(f(2)) = 4

If f(2) = 3 then we have f(3) = 1

But then that would mean f(3) + f(f(3)) = 1 + 1 = 2 =\= 6.

Contradiction. Thus, f(2) =\= 3

If f(2) = 1, then f(f(2)) = 3 <=> f(1) = 3.

Contradiction. Thus, f(2) = f(f(2)) = 2.

P(n): f(n) = n for all n in N

P(1), P(2) are the available true base cases.

Suppose P(k) is true for all 0 < k < n + 1, and that P(n + 1) is not true.

Assumed: f(1) = 1, ... f(n) = n, f(n + 1) =\= n + 1

f(n+1) + f(f(n + 1)) = 2n + 2

Suppose f(n + 1) = m where m < n + 1

But then f(n) + f(f(n) = m + f(m) = 2m < 2n + 2

Thus, f(n + 1) cannot be less than n + 1

Suppose f(n+1) = m where m > n + 1

Then f(n + 1) + f(f(n+1)) = m + f(m) = 2n + 2

Then f(m) = 2n + 2 - m < n + 1 since m > n + 1

Let 2n + 2 - m = m* < n+1

But then f(m) + f(f(m)) = m* + m* = 2m* < 2n + 2 < 2m

Which is a contradiction. Thus, f(n+1) cannot be greater than n+1

So now we have n < f(n+1) < n+2

f(n+1) is an integer. Thus, f(n+1) can only be equal to n+1, since the inequality is necessarily true.

So if P(1), ..., P(n) is true, then P(n+1) cannot be untrue, i.e. it must also be true.

By the Axiom of Mathematical Induction, P(n) is true for all n in N.

So the only solution to the functional equation is f(n) = n.

 
Last edited:

Paradoxica

-insert title here-
Joined
Jun 19, 2014
Messages
2,556
Location
Outside reality
Gender
Male
HSC
2016
Re: HSC 2016 4U Marathon

You were quite vague on the induction hint. So I just guessed I had to use strong induction.

Next question:

In an equilateral triangle ABC, a segment is projected from A such that it intersects the side BC at D and the circumcircle again at Q

Prove the following statement:



Here is a diagram to help with visualisation:

 
Last edited:

porcupinetree

not actually a porcupine
Joined
Dec 12, 2014
Messages
664
Gender
Male
HSC
2015
Re: HSC 2016 4U Marathon

You were quite vague on the induction hint. So I just guessed I had to use strong induction.

Next question:

In an equilateral triangle ABC, a segment is projected from A such that it intersects the side BC at D and the circumcircle again at Q

Prove the following statement:



Here is a diagram to help with visualisation:

 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top