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If (aⁿ + bⁿ)/(aⁿ-1) + bn-1 is the A.M. between a and b, find n.

Mathematics

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To find the value of nn such that an+bnan−1+bn−1\frac{a^n + b^n}{a^{n-1} + b^{n-1}} is the Arithmetic Mean (A.M.) between aa and bb, we set up the following equation:

  1. Set the given expression equal to the formula for the A.M.

    The A.M. between aa and bb is a+b2\frac{a+b}{2}.

    an+bnan−1+bn−1=a+b2\frac{a^n + b^n}{a^{n-1} + b^{n-1}} = \frac{a+b}{2}
  2. Cross-multiply the terms.

    2(an+bn)=(a+b)(an−1+bn−1)2(a^n + b^n) = (a+b)(a^{n-1} + b^{n-1})
  3. Expand the right side of the equation.

    2an+2bn=a⋅an−1+a⋅bn−1+b⋅an−1+b⋅bn−12a^n + 2b^n = a \cdot a^{n-1} + a \cdot b^{n-1} + b \cdot a^{n-1} + b \cdot b^{n-1}

    Using the exponent rule xp⋅xq=xp+qx^p \cdot x^q = x^{p+q}:

    2an+2bn=an+abn−1+ban−1+bn2a^n + 2b^n = a^n + ab^{n-1} + ba^{n-1} + b^n
  4. Rearrange the terms to group ana^n and bnb^n terms.

    Subtract ana^n and bnb^n from both sides:

    2an−an+2bn−bn=abn−1+ban−12a^n - a^n + 2b^n - b^n = ab^{n-1} + ba^{n-1} an+bn=abn−1+ban−1a^n + b^n = ab^{n-1} + ba^{n-1}
  5. Group terms with common factors.

    Move terms involving aa to one side and terms involving bb to the other side:

    an−ban−1=abn−1−bna^n - ba^{n-1} = ab^{n-1} - b^n
  6. Factor out common terms from each side.

    Factor an−1a^{n-1} from the left side and bn−1b^{n-1} from the right side:

    an−1(a−b)=bn−1(a−b)a^{n-1}(a - b) = b^{n-1}(a - b)
  7. Solve for nn.

    Assuming a≠ba \neq b, we can divide both sides by (a−b)(a-b):

    an−1=bn−1a^{n-1} = b^{n-1}

    Assuming b≠0b \neq 0, divide both sides by bn−1b^{n-1}:

    an−1bn−1=1\frac{a^{n-1}}{b^{n-1}} = 1

    This can be written as:

    (ab)n−1=1\left(\frac{a}{b}\right)^{n-1} = 1

    For this equation to hold, the exponent must be zero (assuming ab≠0,1,−1\frac{a}{b} \neq 0, 1, -1):

    n−1=0n-1 = 0 n=1n = 1

    The value of nn is 1\boxed{1}.

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