# Thread: prove by induction algebra help!

1. ## prove by induction algebra help!

a sequece of integers x1,x2...xk..is defined recursively as follows:
x1=1 and xk+1 =xk/xk+2 for kis greater then or equal to 1
calculate x2,x3 and x4...i got
k=1:x1+1 =x1/x1+2=1/1+2=3=x^2
k=2:x2+1 =x2/x2+2=3/3+2=3=x^3
k=3:x3+1 =x3/x3+2=3/3+3=4=x^
is this right and another question using the info in the fisrt part how do i find and prove by induction a formula for the nth term xn in terms of n for all n is greater than or equal to 1,calcilate x10.

2. ## Re: prove by induction algebra help!

Wait do you mean $x_{k + 1} = \frac{x_k}{x_{k + 2}}$ or $x_{k + 1} = \frac{x_k}{x_k} + 2$? Can you clarify please and clean up your question as it's very ambiguous right now

3. ## Re: prove by induction algebra help!

sorry its the first one you wrote..i didnt how to type it like you did so its a little messy sorry

4. ## Re: prove by induction algebra help!

Originally Posted by university
k=1:x1+1 =x1/x1+2=1/1+2=3=x^2
k=2:x2+1 =x2/x2+2=3/3+2=3=x^3
k=3:x3+1 =x3/x3+2=3/3+3=4=x^
This is also not clear, if $k=1$ then:
$x_2=\frac{x_1}{x_3} \Leftrightarrow x_2=\frac{1}{x_3}$

Do you mean something like this? ...

5. ## Re: prove by induction algebra help!

well i just subbed in the numbers everwhere there was xk

6. ## Re: prove by induction algebra help!

well i just subbed in the numbers everwhere there was xk
$x_{k + 1} \ne x_k + 1$