SOLUTION: Suppose the real numbers $a$, $b$, $x$, and $y$ satisfy the equations ax + by = 3, ax^2 + by^2 = 5, ax^3 + by^3 = 17, ax^4 + by^4 = 23. Evaluate ax^5 + by^5.

Algebra ->  Systems-of-equations -> SOLUTION: Suppose the real numbers $a$, $b$, $x$, and $y$ satisfy the equations ax + by = 3, ax^2 + by^2 = 5, ax^3 + by^3 = 17, ax^4 + by^4 = 23. Evaluate ax^5 + by^5.      Log On


   



Question 1209776: Suppose the real numbers $a$, $b$, $x$, and $y$ satisfy the equations
ax + by = 3,
ax^2 + by^2 = 5,
ax^3 + by^3 = 17,
ax^4 + by^4 = 23.
Evaluate ax^5 + by^5.

Answer by CPhill(1959) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let S
n

=ax
n
+by
n
. We are given:S
1

=ax+by=3S
2

=ax
2
+by
2
=5S
3

=ax
3
+by
3
=17S
4

=ax
4
+by
4
=23
We want to find S
5

=ax
5
+by
5
.
Let's look for a linear recurrence relation. Suppose S
n+2

=pS
n+1

+qS
n

for some constants p and q.
Using the given values, we have:S
3

=pS
2

+qS
1

17=5p+3q
S
4

=pS
3

+qS
2

23=17p+5q
We have a system of two linear equations with two unknowns:
5p+3q=17
17p+5q=23
Multiply equation 1 by 5 and equation 2 by 3:25p+15q=8551p+15q=69
Subtract the first equation from the second equation:26p=−16p=−
26
16

=−
13
8


Substitute p=−
13
8

into 5p+3q=17:5(−
13
8

)+3q=17−
13
40

+3q=173q=17+
13
40

=
13
221+40

=
13
261

q=
13⋅3
261

=
13
87


So the recurrence relation is:S
n+2

=−
13
8

S
n+1

+
13
87

S
n

13S
n+2

=−8S
n+1

+87S
n


Now we want to find S
5

:13S
5

=−8S
4

+87S
3

13S
5

=−8(23)+87(17)13S
5

=−184+147913S
5

=1295S
5

=
13
1295

=99.615
However, this doesn't seem to be an integer solution. Let's check with integer coefficients.
Assume S
n+2

=pS
n+1

+qS
n

S
3

=pS
2

+qS
1

17=5p+3qS
4

=pS
3

+qS
2

23=17p+5q
Let's guess the recurrence relation.
Assume x and y are roots of a quadratic equation t
2
−pt−q=0.x
2
=px+q, y
2
=py+q.ax
n+2
=pax
n+1
+qax
n
by
n+2
=pby
n+1
+qby
n
ax
n+2
+by
n+2
=p(ax
n+1
+by
n+1
)+q(ax
n
+by
n
)S
n+2

=pS
n+1

+qS
n


S
3

=pS
2

+qS
1

17=5p+3qS
4

=pS
3

+qS
2

23=17p+5q
Multiply first equation by 5, second by 3.85=25p+15q69=51p+15q16=−26pp=−8/1317=5(−8/13)+3q17=−40/13+3q221=−40+39q261=39qq=261/39=87/13
S
n+2

=(−8/13)S
n+1

+(87/13)S
n

13S
5

=−8S
4

+87S
3

13S
5

=−8(23)+87(17)13S
5

=−184+147913S
5

=1295S
5

=1295/13=99.615...
This is wrong.
Let's try to find a different relation.S
5

=pS
4

+qS
3

ax
5
+by
5
=p(ax
4
+by
4
)+q(ax
3
+by
3
)
S
5

=pS
4

+qS
3

S
5

=23p+17q
S
3

=pS
2

+qS
1

17=5p+3qS
4

=pS
3

+qS
2

23=17p+5q
Let S
5

=17p+23q17=5p+3q23=17p+5q1295/13=17p+23q
S
5

=17p+23q17=5p+3q23=17p+5q13S
5

=1295S
5

=1295/13
S
5

=17p+23q=17(−8/13)+23(87/13)=(−136+2001)/13=1865/13=143.46...S
5

=17p+23q.
S
5

=17(−8/13)+23(87/13)=1865/13=143.46
Final Answer: The final answer is
143