Solution
Core Logic
The equation x² + x + 1 = 0 has complex roots which are the non-real cube roots of unity. Thus, we can set α = ω (where ω³ = 1 and 1 + ω + ω² = 0).
Let's analyze the general term block Tk = (ω^k + (1)/(ω^k))²:
Tk = (ω^k + ω-k)² = ω2k + ω-2k + 2 = ω2k + ω^k + 2Because ω^k is periodic with period 3, let's examine the values of Tk for different values of k:
- If k is a multiple of 3 (k=3m): ω2k = 1, ω^k = 1 Tk = 1 + 1 + 2 = 4.
- If k is not a multiple of 3 (k=3m+1 or 3m+2): ω2k + ω^k = -1 Tk = -1 + 2 = 1.
Step 1: Evaluating periodic blocks
Every block of three consecutive terms (k = 1, 2, 3) contributes exactly:
Sum of a block = 1 + 1 + 4 = 6We want the total summation to equal 20. Let's divide 20 by our block value 6:
20 = 3 × 6 + 2This means the sum must consist of 3 full periodic blocks plus additional terms that add up to 2.
Step 2: Determining the final term count n
The number of terms in 3 full blocks is 3 × 3 = 9 terms, giving a sum of 18. To get the remaining value of 2, we look at the next terms:
- Term 10 (k=10, not a multiple of 3) adds 1 Total = 18 + 1 = 19.
- Term 11 (k=11, not a multiple of 3) adds 1 Total = 19 + 1 = 20.
Hence, the series terminates exactly at n = 11.
Pattern Recognition
Whenever complex roots of unity or cyclic properties show up inside series sums, group terms into blocks based on the underlying period length (3 here) to convert large sums into simple modular arithmetic arithmetic calculations.
Chapter Mix
Class 11 Mathematics: Complex Numbers Class 11 Mathematics: Sequences and Series