arXiv:1503.05305v1 [math.NT] 18 Mar 2015
Applied Mathematical Sciences, Vol. x, 2015, no. xx, xxx - xxx
HIKARI Ltd, www.m-hikari.com
On Generalized Fibonacci Numbers1
Jerico B. Bacani∗ and Julius Fergy T. Rabago†
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
College of Science
University of the Philippines Baguio
Baguio City 2600, Philippines
∗
[email protected], †
[email protected]
Copyright c 2015 Jerico B. Bacani and Julius Fergy T. Rabago. This is an open
access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work
is properly cited.
Abstract
We provide a formula for the nth term of the k-generalized Fibonaccilike number sequence using the k-generalized Fibonacci number or knacci number, and by utilizing the newly derived formula, we show that
the limit of the ratio of successive terms of the sequence tends to a root
of the equation x+x−k = 2. We then extend our results to k-generalized
Horadam (kGH) and k-generalized Horadam-like (kGHL) numbers. In
dealing with the limit of the ratio of successive terms of kGH and kGHL,
a lemma due to Z. Wu and H. Zhang [8] shall be employed. Finally, we
remark that an analogue result for k-periodic k-nary Fibonacci sequence
can also be derived.
Mathematics Subject Classification: 11B39, 11B50.
Keywords: k-generalized Fibonacci numbers, k-generalized Fibonacci-like
numbers, k-generalized Horadam numbers, k-generalized Horadam-like numbers, convergence of sequences
1
to appear by April 2015
2
1
J. B. Bacani and J. F. T. Rabago
Introduction
A well-known recurrence sequence of order two is the widely studied Fibonacci
sequence {Fn }∞
n=1 , which is defined recursively by the recurrence relation
F1 = F2 = 1,
Fn+1 = Fn + Fn−1
(n ≥ 1).
(1)
Here, it is conventional to define F0 = 0.
In the past decades, many authors have extensively studied the Fibonacci
sequence and its various generalizations (cf. [2, 3, 4, 6, 7]). We want to
contribute more in this topic, so we present our results on the k-generalized
Fibonacci numbers or k-nacci numbers and of its some generalizations. In
particular, we derive a formula for the k-generalized Fibonacci-like sequence
using k-nacci numbers.
Our work is motivated by the following statement: Consider the set of
sequences satisfying the relation Sn = Sn−1 + Sn−2 . Since the sequence {Sn }
is closed under term-wise addition (resp. multiplication) by a constant, it can
be viewed as a vector space. Any such sequence is uniquely determined by a
choice of two elements, so the vector space is two-dimensional. If we denote
such sequence as (S0 , S1 ), then the Fibonacci sequence Fn = (0, 1) and the
shifted Fibonacci sequence Fn−1 = (1, 0) are seen to form a canonical basis for
this space, yielding the identity:
Sn = S1 Fn + S0 Fn−1
(2)
for all such sequences {Sn }. For example, if S is the Lucas sequence 2, 1, 3, 4, 7, . . .,
then we obtain Sn : = Ln = 2Fn−1 + Fn .
One of our goals in this paper is to find an analogous result of the equation
(2) for k-generalized Fibonacci numbers. The result is significant because
it provides an explicit formula for the nth term of a k-nacci-like (resp. kgeneralized Horadam and k-generalized Horadam-like) sequences without the
need of solving a system of equations. By utilizing the formula, we also show
that the limit of the ratio of successive terms of a k-nacci sequence tends to a
root of the equation x + x−k = 2. We then extend our results to k-generalized
Horadam and k-generalized Horadam-like sequences. We also remark that an
analogue result for k-periodic k-nary Fibonacci sequences can be derived.
2
Fibonacci-like sequences of higher order
We start off this section with the following definition.
Definition 2.1. Let n ∈ N ∪ {0} and k ∈ N\{1}. Consider the sequences
(k)
(k) ∞
{Fn }∞
n=0 and {Gn }n=0 having the following properties:
3
On Generalized Fibonacci Numbers
Fn(k)
and
0,
1,
=
Pk
0 ≤ n < k − 1;
n = k − 1;
(k)
i=1 Fn−i , n > k − 1,
G(k)
n =
(
(k)
(k)
Gn ,
Pk
(k)
i=1 Gn−i ,
0 ≤ n ≤ k − 1;
n > k − 1,
(k)
(3)
(4)
(k)
and Gn 6= 0 for some n ∈ [0, k−1]. The terms Fn and Gn satisfying (3) and
(4) are called the nth k-generalized Fibonacci number or nth k-step Fibonacci
number (cf. [7]), and nth k-generalized Fibonacci-like number, respectively.
(k)
For {Fn }∞
n=0 , some famous sequences of this type are the following:
k
2
3
4
5
name of sequence
first few terms of the sequence
Fibonacci
0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, . . .
Tribonacci
0, 0, 1, 1, 2, 4, 7, 13, 24, 44, 81, . . .
Tetranacci
0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 2, 4, 8, 15, 29, 56, 108, . . .
Pentanacci
0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 31, 61, 120, . . .
(k)
(k)
∞
By considering the sequences {Fn }∞
n=0 and {Gn }n=0 we obtain the following relation.
(k)
(k)
Theorem 2.2. Let Fn and Gn be the nth k-generalized Fibonacci and kgeneralized Fibonacci-like numbers, respectively. Then, for all natural numbers
n ≥ k,
!
m+1
k−3
X
X
(k)
(k)
(k)
(k) (k)
(5)
Gm+1
Fn−1−j + Gk−1 Fn(k) .
G(k)
n = G0 Fn−1 +
m=0
j=0
Proof. We prove this using induction on n. Let k be fixed. Equation (5) is
obviously valid for n < k. Now, suppose (5) is true for n ≥ r ≥ k where r ∈ N.
Then,
(k)
Gr+1
=
k
X
(k)
G(r+1)−i
i=1
k
X
(k)
= G0
(k)
F(r+1)−i−1 +
k−3
X
(k)
Gm+1
m=0
i=1
(k)
+ Gk−1
k
X
j=0
(k)
F(r+1)−i
i=1
=
(k) (k)
G0 F(r+1)−1
+
k−3
X
m=0
m+1
X
(k)
Gm+1
m+1
X
j=0
!
k
X
(k)
F(r+1)−i−1−j
i=1
(k)
F(r+1)−1−j
!
(k)
!!
(k)
+ Gk−1 Fr+1 .
4
J. B. Bacani and J. F. T. Rabago
Remark 2.3. Using the formula obtained by G. P. B. Dresden (cf. [2, Theo(k)
rem 1]), we can now express Gn explicitly in terms of n as follows:
k
X
(k)
G(k)
n = G0
A(i; k)αin−2 +
i=1
k−3
X
m=0
G(k)
m+1
m+1
k
XX
j=0 i=1
(k)
A(i; k)αin−2−j +Gk−1
k
X
A(i; k)αin−1 ,
i=1
where A(i; k) = (αi − 1)[2 + (k + 1)(αi − 2)]−1 and α1 , α2 , . . . , αk are roots of
(k)
xk − xk−1 − · · · − 1 = 0. Another formula of Dresden for Fn (cf. [2, Theorem 2])
(k)
can also be used to express Gn explicitly in terms of n. More precisely, we have
m+1
k
k−3
k
h
i
X
X
X
X
(k)
G(k)
Round A(k)αin−2 +
G(k)
Round A(k)αin−2−j
n = G0
m+1
m=0
i=1
j=0 i=1
(k)
+ Gk−1
k
X
i=1
Round A(k)αin−1 ,
where A(k) = (α − 1)[2 + (k + 1)(α − 2)]−1 for all n ≥ 2 − k and for α the unique
positive root of xk − xk−1 − · · · − 1 = 0.
Extending to Horadam numbers
In 1965, A. F. Horadam [5] defined a second-order linear recurrence sequence
∞
{Wn (a, b; p, q)}∞
n=0 , or simply {Wn }n=0 by the recurrence relation
W0 = a,
W1 = b,
Wn+1 = pWn + qWn−1 ,
(n ≥ 2).
The sequence generated is called the Horadam’s sequence which can be viewed
easily as a certain generalization of {Fn }. The nth Horadam number Wn with
initial conditions W0 = 0 and W1 = 1 can be represented by the following
Binet’s formula:
αn − β n
Wn (0, 1; p, q) =
(n ≥ 2),
α−β
2
where α p
and β are the roots of the
pquadratic equation x − px − q = 0, i.e.
2
2
α = (p+ p + 4q)/2 and β = (p− p + 4q). We extend this definition to the
concept of k-generalized Fibonacci sequence and we define the k-generalized
Horadam (resp. Horadam-like) sequence as follows:
Definition 2.4. Let qi ∈ N for i ∈ {1, 2, . . . , n}. For n ≥ k, the nth k(k)
generalized Horadam sequence, denoted by {Un (0, . . . , 1; q1 , . . . , qk )}∞
n=0 , or
(k) ∞
th
simply {Un }n=0 , is a sequence whose n term is obtained by the recurrence
relation
k
X
(k)
(k)
(k)
(k)
(k)
Un = q1 Un−1 + q2 Un−2 + · · · + qk Un−k =
qi Un−i ,
(6)
i=1
5
On Generalized Fibonacci Numbers
(k)
(k)
with initial conditions Ui = 0 for all 0 ≤ i < k − 1 and Uk−1 = 1. Similarly,
(k)
the k-generalized Horadam-like sequence, denoted by {Vn (a0 , . . . , ak−1 ; q1 , . . . , qk )}∞
n=0
(k)
,
has
the
same
recurrence
relation
given
by
equation
(6)
but
or simply {Vn }∞
n=0
(k)
with initial conditions Vi = ai for all 0 ≤ i ≤ k − 1 where ai ′ s ∈ N ∪ {0} with
at least one of them is not zero.
(k)
It is easy to see that when q1 = · · · = qk = 1, then Un (0, . . . , 1; 1, . . . , 1) =
(k)
(k)
(k)
Fn and Vn (a0 , . . . , ak−1 ; 1, . . . , 1) = Gn . Using Definition 2.4 we obtain the
following relation, which is an analogue of equation (5).
(k)
(k)
Theorem 2.5. Let Un and Vn be the nth k-generalized Horadam and nth
k-generalized Horadam-like numbers, respectively. Then, for all n ≥ k,
(k)
(k)
Vn(k) = qk V0 Un−1 +
k−3
X
m=0
(k)
Vm+1
m+1
X
j=0
(k)
qk−(m+1)+j Un−1−j
!
(k)
+ Vk−1 Un(k) .
(7)
Proof. The proof uses mathematical induction and is similar to the proof of
Theorem 2.2.
Convergence properties
In the succeeding discussions, we present the convergence properties of the
(k)
(k) ∞
(k) ∞
(k) ∞
sequences {Fn }∞
n=0 , {Gn }n=0 , {Un }n=0 , and {Vn }n=0 . First, it is known
(k)
(k)
(e.g. in [7]) that limn→∞ Fn /F(n−1) = α, where α is a k-nacci constant. This
constant is the unique positive real root of xk − xk−1 − · · · − 1 = 0 and can
also be obtained by solving the zero of the polynomial xk (2 − x) − 1. Using
this result, we obtain the following:
Theorem 2.6.
(k)
lim G(k)
n /Gn−1 = α,
n→∞
where α the unique positive root of xk − xk−1 − · · · − 1 = 0.
(8)
6
J. B. Bacani and J. F. T. Rabago
(k)
(k)
Proof. The proof is straightforward. Letting n → ∞ in Gn /Gn−1 we have
(k)
lim G(k)
n /Gn−1
n→∞
(k)
(k)
(k)
+
G
F
F
n
n−1−j
k−1
m=0
j=0
= lim
P
P
(k) (k)
(k)
(k)
(k)
m+1 (k)
n→∞
G0 Fn−2 + k−3
G
F
+
G
F
m+1
n−2−j
k−1 n−1
m=0
j=0
(k)
Pk−3
(k)
(k) Pm+1 Fn−1−j
(k) Fn(k)
+ Gk−1 (k)
(k)
G0 + m=0 Gm+1 j=0 Fn−1
Fn−1
= lim
(k)
(k)
Pk−3
n→∞
(k)
(k) Pm+1 Fn−2−j
(k) Fn−2
+ Gk−1
G0 (k) + m=0 Gm+1 j=0
(k)
Fn−1
Fn−1
Pk−3
(k)
(k) P
(k)
−j
G0 + m=0
Gm+1 m+1
+ αGk−1
j=0 α
=
P
(k)
(k) Pm+1 −(j+1)
(k)
α−1 G0 + k−3
G
+ Gk−1
α
m+1
m=0
j=0
(k)
(k)
Pk−3
(k)
(k)
G0 Fn−1 +
(k)
Gm+1
Pm+1
= α.
(k)
(k)
Now, to find the limit of Un /Un−1 (resp. Vn /Vn−1 ) as n → ∞ we need
the following results due to Wu and Zhang [8]. Here, it is assumed that the
qi ′ s satisfy the inequality qi ≥ qj ≥ 1 for all j ≥ i, where 1 ≤ i, j ≤ k with
2 ≤ k ∈ N.
Lemma 2.7. [8] Let q1 , q2 , . . . , qk be positive integers with q1 ≥ q2 ≥ · · · ≥
qk ≥ 1 and k ∈ N\{1}. Then, the polynomial
f (x) = xk − q1 xk−1 − q2 xk−2 − · · · − qk−1 x − qk ,
(9)
(i) has exactly one positive real zero α with q1 < α < q1 + 1; and
(ii) its other k − 1 zeros lie within the unit circle in the complex plane.
Lemma 2.8. [8] Let k ≥ 2 and let {un }∞
n=0 be an integer sequence satisfying
the recurrence relation given by
un = q1 un−1 + q2 un−2 + · · · + qk−1 un−k+1 + qk un−k , n > k,
(10)
where q1 , q2 , . . . , qk ∈ N with initial conditions ui ∈ N ∪ {0} for 0 ≤ i < k and
at least one of them is not zero. Then, a formula for un may be given by
un = cαn + O(d−n ) (n → ∞),
where c > 0, d > 1, and q1 < α < q1 + 1 is the positive real zero of f (x).
We now have the following results.
(11)
On Generalized Fibonacci Numbers
7
Theorem 2.9. Let {Un }∞
n=0 be the integer sequence satisfying the recurrence
(k)
relation (6) with initial conditions Ui = 0 for all 0 ≤ i < k − 1, 2 ≤ k ∈ N
(k)
and Uk−1 = 1 with q1 ≥ q2 ≥ · · · ≥ qk ≥ 1. Then,
Un(k) = cαn + O(d−n ) (n → ∞),
(12)
where c > 0, d > 1, and α ∈ (q1 , q1 + 1) is the positive real zero of f (x).
Furthermore,
(k)
lim Un(k) /Un−1 = α.
(13)
n→∞
Proof. Equation (12) follows directly from Lemmas 2.7 and 2.8. To obtain
(k)
(k)
(13), we simply use (12) and take the limit of the ratio Un /Un−1 as n → ∞;
that is, we have the following manipulation:
(k)
cαn + O(d−n )
n→∞ cαn−1 + O(d−(n−1) )
cα + limn→∞ (O(d−n )/αn−1 )
=
c + limn→∞ (O(d−(n−1) )/αn−1 )
= α.
lim Un(k) /Un−1 = lim
n→∞
Consequently, we have the following corollary.
Corollary 2.10. Let {Vn }∞
n=0 be an integer sequence satisfying (6) but with
(k)
initial conditions Vi = ai for all 0 ≤ i ≤ k−1 where ai ′ s ∈ N∪{0} with atleast
one of them is not zero. Furthermore, assume that q1 ≥ q2 ≥ · · · ≥ qk ≥ 1,
where 2 ≤ k ∈ N then
(k)
lim Vn(k) /Vn−1 = α,
(14)
n→∞
where q1 < α < q1 + 1 is the positive real zero of f (x).
Proof. The proof uses Theorem 2.5 and the arguments used are similar to the
proof of Theorem 2.6.
Remark 2.11. Observe that when qi = 1 for all i = 0, 1, . . . , k in Corollary
(k)
(k)
(2.10), then limn→∞ r : = limn→∞ Fn /Fn−1 = α, where 1 < α < 2. Indeed,
the limit of the ratio r is 2 as n increases.
k-Periodic Fibonacci Sequences
In [3], M. Edson and O. Yayenie gave a generalization of Fibonacci sequence.
(a,b)
They called it generalized Fibonacci sequence {Fn }∞
n=0 which they defined
8
J. B. Bacani and J. F. T. Rabago
it by using a non-linear recurrence relation depending on two real parameters
(a, b). The sequence is defined recursively as
(a,b)
F0
= 0,
(a,b)
F1
= 1,
Fn(a,b) =
(
(a,b)
(a,b)
aFn−1 + Fn−2 , if n is even,
(a,b)
(a,b)
bFn−1 + Fn−2 , if n is odd.
(15)
This generalization has its own Binet-like formula and satisfies identities that
are analogous to the identities satisfied by the classical Fibonacci sequence
(see [3]). A further generalization of this sequence, which is called k-periodic
Fibonacci sequence has been presented by M. Edson, S. Lewis, and O. Yayenie
in [4]. A related result concerning to two-periodic ternary sequence is presented
in [1] by M. Alp, N. Irmak and L. Szalay. We expect that analogous results
of (5), (7), and (12) can easily be found for these generalizations of Fibonacci
sequence. For instance, if we alter the starting values of (15), say we start at
two numbers A and B and preserve the recurrence relation in (15), then we
obtain a sequence that we may call 2-periodic Fibonacci-like sequence, which
is defined as follows:
(
(a,b)
(a,b)
aGn−1 + Gn−2 , if n is even,
(a,b)
(a,b)
G0 = A, G1 = B, Gn(a,b) =
(16)
(a,b)
(a,b)
bGn−1 + Gn−2 , if n is odd.
(a,b) ∞
}n=0
The first few terms of {Fn
(a,b) ∞
}n=0
and {Gn
(a,b)
are as follows:
(a,b)
n
Fn
Gn
0
0
A
1
B
1
a
aB + A
2
3
ab + 1
(ab + 1)B + bA
a2 b + 2a
(a2 b + 2a)B + (ab + 1)A
4
a2 b2 + 3ab + 1
(a2 b2 + 3ab + 1)B + (ab2 + 2b)A
5
3 2
2
3 2
6
a b + 4a b + 3a
(a b + 4a2 b + 3a)B + (a2 b2 + 3ab + 1)A
7 a3 b3 + 5a2 b2 + 6ab + 1 (a3 b3 + 5a2 b2 + 6ab + 1)B + (a2 b3 + 4ab2 + 3b)A
(a,b)
(a,b)
Suprisingly, by looking at the table above, Gn can be obtained using Fn
(b,a)
and Fn . More precisely, we have the following result.
(a,b)
(a,b)
Theorem 2.12. Let Fn and Gn be the nth terms of the sequences defined
in (15) and (16), respectively. Then, for all n ∈ N, the following formula holds
(a,b)
Gn(a,b) = G1
(a,b)
Fn(a,b) + G0
(b,a)
Fn−1 .
(17)
9
On Generalized Fibonacci Numbers
Proof. The proof is by induction on n. Evidently, the formula holds for n =
0, 1, 2. We suppose that the formula also holds for some n ≥ 2. Hence, we
have
(a,b)
(a,b)
Fn−1 + G0
(a,b)
Fn(a,b) + G0
Gn−1 = G1
Gn(a,b) = G1
(a,b)
(a,b)
Fn−2 ,
(b,a)
(a,b)
Fn−1 .
(b,a)
Suppose that n is even. (The case when n is odd can be proven similarly.) So
we have
(a,b)
(a,b)
Gn+1 = aGn(a,b) + Gn−1
(a,b) (a,b)
(a,b) (b,a)
(a,b) (a,b)
(a,b) (b,a)
= a G1 Fn + G0 Fn−1 + G1 Fn−1 + G0 Fn−2
(b,a)
(b,a)
(a,b)
(a,b)
(a,b)
aFn−1 + Fn−2
aFn(a,b) + Fn−1 + G0
= G1
(a,b)
= G1
(a,b)
(a,b)
Fn+1 + G0
Fn(b,a) ,
proving the theorem.
(a,b)
The sequence {Gn }∞
n=0 has already been studied in ([3], Section 4). The
(a,b)
(a,b) ∞
authors [3] have related the two sequences {Fn }∞
}n=0 using
n=0 and {Gn
the formula
n−2⌊n/2⌋
b
(a,b)
(a,b) (a,b)
(a,b)
(a,b)
Gn = G1 F n + G0
Fn−1 .
(18)
a
Notice that by simply comparing the two identities (17) and (18), we see that
n−2⌊n/2⌋
b
(b,a)
(a,b)
Fn−1 =
Fn−1 , ∀n ∈ N.
a
(a,b)
(a,b)
The convergence property of {Fn+1 /Fn }∞
n=0 has also been discussed in ([3],
Remark 2). It was shown that, for a = b, we have
√
(a,b)
Fn+1
α
a + a2 + 4
−→ =
as n −→ ∞.
(19)
(a,b)
a
2
Fn
(a,b)
(a,b)
Using (17) and (19), we can also determine the limit of the sequence {Gn+1 /Gn
as n tends to infinity, and for a = b, as follows:
(a,b)
lim
n→∞
Gn+1
(a,b)
Gn
= lim
n→∞
G1
(a,a)
G1
Fn+1 + G0
(a,b)
Fn
G1
(a,a)
=
(a,b)
G1
(a,b)
(a,b)
(a,b)
Fn
(a,b)
Fn−1
+ G0
(a,a)
limn→∞
(a,a)
+ G0
Fn+1
(a,a)
Fn
(b,a)
(b,a)
(a,a)
+ G0
limn→∞
= lim
(a,a)
Fn−1
(a,a)
Fn
n→∞
(a,a)
Fn+1 + G0
(a,a)
Fn
G1
G1
(a,a)
=
αa−1 G1
(a,a)
G1
(a,a)
(a,a)
Fn
(a,a)
Fn−1
+ G0
(a,a)
+ G0
(a,a)
+ aα−1 G0
(a,a)
=
α
.
a
(a,a)
(a,a)
}
10
J. B. Bacani and J. F. T. Rabago
(a,b)
For the case a 6= b, the ratio of successive terms of {Fn
However, it is easy to see that
(a,b)
F2n
(a,b)
F2n+1
α
−→ ,
b
(a,b)
F2n−1
(a,b)
F2n
α
−→ ,
a
} does not converge.
(a,b)
Fn+2
and
(a,b)
Fn
−→ α + 1,
√
where α = (ab + a2 b2 + 4ab)/2 (cf. [3]). Knowing all these limits, we can in(a,b)
(a,b)
(a,b)
(a,b)
vestigate the convergence property of the sequences {G2n /G2n−1 }, {G2n+1 /G2n },
(a,b)
(a,b)
(a,b)
(b,a)
and {Gn+2 /Gn }. Notice that Fn = Fn
for every n ∈ {1, 3, 5, . . .}. So
(b,a)
(a,b)
G2n
lim
n→∞ G(a,b)
2n−1
=
(a,b) (a,b)
G1 F2n
lim
n→∞ G(a,b) F (a,b)
1
2n−1
(a,b) (b,a)
+ G0 F2n−1
(a,b) (b,a)
+ G0 F2n−2
(b,a)
(a,b) F2n
G1
= lim
n→∞
(a,b)
+G
= lim
n→∞
(a,b)
+ G0
(b,a)
F2n−1
G1
(a,b) F2n
G1
(a,b)
(a,b) F2n−2
(a,b)
0
F2n−1
(a,b)
(a,b)
=
αa−1 G1
(a,b)
G1
+
(a,b)
(a,b)
F2n−1
(a,b)
G1
(a,b)
(a,b) F2n−2
+ G0
(a,b)
+ G0
(a,b)
aα−1 G0
(a,b)
+ G0
=
(a,b)
(b,a)
F2n−1
α
.
a
(a,b)
Similarly, it can be shown that G2n+1 /G2n → α/b and Gn+2 /Gn → α + 1
as n → ∞.
The recurrence relations discussed above can easily be extended into subscripts with real numbers. For instance, consider the piecewise defined function
(a,b)
G⌊x⌋ :
(a,b)
G0
(a,b)
= A, G1
(a,b)
= B, G⌊x⌋ =
(a,b)
(a,b)
aG⌊x⌋−1 + G⌊x⌋−2 , if ⌊x⌋ is even,
bG(a,b) + G(a,b) ,
⌊x⌋−2
⌊x⌋−1
(20)
if ⌊x⌋ is odd.
Obviously, the properties of (16) will be inherited by (20). For example,
(a,b)
(a,b)
(.2,.3)
suppose G0
= 2, G1
= 3, a = 0.2, and b = 0.3. Then, G⌊x⌋ =
(.2,.3)
G1
(.2,.3)
F⌊x⌋
(.2,.3)
+ G0
(.3,.2)
F⌊x⌋−1 . Also,
(.2,.3)
lim
x→∞
G2⌊x⌋
(.2,.3)
G2⌊x⌋−1
(.2,.3)
= 1.3839,
lim
x→∞
G2⌊x⌋+1
(.2,.3)
G2⌊x⌋
(.2,.3)
= 0.921886,
lim
x→∞
G⌊x⌋+2
(.2,.3)
G⌊x⌋
(.1,.1)
= 1.276807.
(.1,.1)
If a = b = 0.1, then the ratio of successive terms of {Gn } with G0
=2
(.1,.1)
and G1
= 3 converges to 1.05125. See Figure 1 for the plots of these limits.
Now, we may take the generalized Fibonacci sequence (15) a bit further
by considering a 3-periodic ternary recurrence sequence related to the usual
11
On Generalized Fibonacci Numbers
Figure 1: G0 = 2, G1 = 3, a = 0.2, b = 0.3; G0 = 2, G1 = 3, a = 0.1, b = 0.1.
Tribonacci sequence:
(a,b,c)
Tn(a,b,c)
(a,b,c)
(a,b,c)
= 0, T1
= 0, T2
= 1,
T
0
(a,b,c)
(a,b,c)
(a,b,c)
aTn−1 + Tn−2 + Tn−3 , if n ≡ 0 (mod 3),
(a,b,c)
(a,b,c)
(a,b,c)
=
bTn−1 + Tn−2 + Tn−3 , if n ≡ 1 (mod 3), (n ≥ 3)
cT (a,b,c) + T (a,b,c) + T (a,b,c) , if n ≡ 2 (mod 3).
n−1
n−2
n−3
(21)
(a,b,c)
Suppose we define the sequence {Un
}∞
n=0 satisfying the same recurrence
(a,b,c)
(a,b,c)
equation as in (21) but with arbitrary initial conditions U0
, U1
, and
(a,b,c)
(a,b,c) ∞
(a,b,c) ∞
U2
. Then, the sequences {Un
}n=0 and {Tn
}n=0 are related as follows:
(a,b,c) (a,b,c)
(b,c,a)
(c,a,b)
(a,b,c) (b,c,a)
(a,b,c)
+ U2
Tn
, (n ≥ 2).
Tn−1 + Tn−2
Un(a,b,c) = U0
Tn−1 + U1
(a1 ,a2 ,...,ak )
Remark 2.13. In general, the k-periodic k-nary sequence {Fn
(k)
{Fn } related to k-nacci sequence:
(k)
(k)
F0 = F1
(k)
Fn =
(k)
}: =
(k)
= · · · = Fk−2 = 0, Fk−1 = 1,
P
(k)
(k)
a1 Fn−1 + kj=2 Fn−j , if n ≡ 0 (mod k),
P
(k)
(k)
a2 Fn−1 + kj=2 Fn−j , if n ≡ 1 (mod k),
(n ≥ k)
..
.
P
(k)
(k)
ak Fn−1 + kj=2 Fn−j , if n ≡ −1 (mod k).
(22)
12
J. B. Bacani and J. F. T. Rabago
(a ,a ,...,a )
(k)
and the sequence {Gn 1 2 k } : = {Gn } defined in the same recurrence equa(k)
(k)
(k)
tion (22) but with arbitrary initial conditions G0 , G1 , . . . , Gk−1 are related
in the following fashion:
!
m+1
k−3
X (k;j+1)
X
(k)
(k)
(k)
(k;1)
(23)
Gm+1
Fn−1−j + Gk−1 F(k)
G(k)
n ,
n = G0 Fn−1 +
m=0
j=0
where (k; j) : = (aj+1 , aj+2 , . . . , ak , a1 , a2 , . . . , aj ), j = 0, 1, . . . , k −1. This result
can be proven by mathematical induction and we leave this to the interested
reader.
References
[1] Alp, M., Irmak, N., and Szalay, L., Two-periodic ternary recurrences and their binet-formula, Acta Math. Univ. Comenianae, Vol.
LXXXI, 2 (2012), pp. 227–232.
[2] Dresden, G. P. B., A Simplifed Binet Formula for k-Generalized Fibonacci Numbers, J. Integer Sequences, 19, (2013).
[3] Edson, M., Yayenie, O., A New Generalization of Fibonacci Sequence
and Extended Binets Formula, Integers, 9 (# A48) (2009), pp. 639–654.
[4] Edson, M., Lewis, S., Yayenie, O., The k-periodic Fibonacci sequence and an extended Binet’s formula, Integers, 11 (# A32) (2011),
pp. 639–652.
[5] Horadam, A. F., Basic properties of certain generalized sequence of
numbers, Fibonacci Quarterly, 3 (1965), pp. 161–176.
[6] Koshy, T., Fibonacci and Lucas Numbers with Applications, John Wiley,
New York, 2001.
[7] Noe, Tony; Piezas, Tito III; and Weisstein, Eric W. ”Fibonacci n-Step Number.” From MathWorld –A Wolfram Web Resource.
http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Fibonaccin-StepNumber.html
[8] Wu, Z., Zhang, H., On the reciprocal sums of higher-order sequences,
Adv. Diff. Equ., 2013, 2013:189.
Received: March 3, 2015