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Use mathematical induction to prove that, for $n \geq 1$, $$x^{(3n)} - 1 = \left( x - 1 \right) \left( x^{2n} + x^{n+1} \right) \cdots \left( x^{(n-1)(2n+1)} + x^{(n-1)(3)} + 1 \right)$$ In $\triangle ABC$, point $D$ is chosen on side $AB$ and point $E$ is chosen on side $AC$ so that $DE$ is parallel to $BC$ and $\frac{BC}{DE} = \sqrt{2}$ - HSC - SSCE Mathematics Extension 2 - Question 16 - 2018 - Paper 1

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Question 16

Use-mathematical-induction-to-prove-that,-for-$n-\geq-1$,--$$x^{(3n)}---1-=-\left(-x---1-\right)-\left(-x^{2n}-+-x^{n+1}-\right)-\cdots-\left(-x^{(n-1)(2n+1)}-+-x^{(n-1)(3)}-+-1-\right)$$--In-$\triangle-ABC$,-point-$D$-is-chosen-on-side-$AB$-and-point-$E$-is-chosen-on-side-$AC$-so-that-$DE$-is-parallel-to-$BC$-and-$\frac{BC}{DE}-=-\sqrt{2}$-HSC-SSCE Mathematics Extension 2-Question 16-2018-Paper 1.png

Use mathematical induction to prove that, for $n \geq 1$, $$x^{(3n)} - 1 = \left( x - 1 \right) \left( x^{2n} + x^{n+1} \right) \cdots \left( x^{(n-1)(2n+1)} + x^{(... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:Use mathematical induction to prove that, for $n \geq 1$, $$x^{(3n)} - 1 = \left( x - 1 \right) \left( x^{2n} + x^{n+1} \right) \cdots \left( x^{(n-1)(2n+1)} + x^{(n-1)(3)} + 1 \right)$$ In $\triangle ABC$, point $D$ is chosen on side $AB$ and point $E$ is chosen on side $AC$ so that $DE$ is parallel to $BC$ and $\frac{BC}{DE} = \sqrt{2}$ - HSC - SSCE Mathematics Extension 2 - Question 16 - 2018 - Paper 1

Step 1

(i) Prove that $DY = ZE$.

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Answer

In triangles BGCBGC and BACBAC, since FGCAFG \parallel CA and DEBCDE \parallel BC, we can apply the Basic Proportionality Theorem (Thales' theorem).

Since:

  • BGC=BAC\angle BGC = \angle BAC (corresponding angles)
  • GBC=CBA\angle GBC = \angle CBA (alternate angles)

Thus, triangles BGCBACBGC \sim BAC. This similarity gives us the following relationships:

BCCA=BGBA=GCAC\frac{BC}{CA} = \frac{BG}{BA} = \frac{GC}{AC}

Moreover, since DEBCDE \parallel BC and using the same theorem, we get:

DYZE=BCAC\frac{DY}{ZE} = \frac{BC}{AC}

Therefore, since DEDE is a transversal cutting BCBC and ACAC, we can conclude that:

DY=ZEDY = ZE

Step 2

(ii) Find the exact value of the ratio $\frac{YZ}{BC}$.

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Answer

Considering triangles ZDEZDE and CBFCBF, we can observe:

DEBC=YZBC\frac{DE}{BC} = \frac{YZ}{BC}

From part (i), we have established that DE=DY+ZEDE = DY + ZE. Given that BCDE=2\frac{BC}{DE} = \sqrt{2} from the problem statement, we also know:

YZ=DEDYYZ = DE - DY.

Substituting gives:

YZ=BC2DYYZ = \frac{BC}{\sqrt{2}} - DY

From our previous conclusions, knowing that DY=ZEDY = ZE implies that:

YZ=2ZEYZ = 2ZE.

Finally, substituting back yields:

YZBC=2ZEBC=2ZEBC\frac{YZ}{BC} = \frac{2ZE}{BC} = 2 \cdot \frac{ZE}{BC}.

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