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Converging Means
Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level 
Take any two positive numbers and call the larger one $a_1$ and smaller $b_1$. Calculate the arithmetic mean of the two numbers and call this $a_2$, where: $$a_2 = (a_1+ b_1)/2.$$Calculate the geometric mean of $a_1$ and $b_1$ and call this $ b_2$ so that: $$b_2 = \sqrt{(a_1b_1)}.$$ Suppose you start with 3 and 12, then the arithmetic mean is 7.5 and the geometric mean is 6.
Repeat the calculations to generate a sequence of arithmetic means $a_1$, $a_2$, $a_3$, ... and a sequence of geometric means $b_1$, $b_2$, $b_3$, ... where $$a_{n+1} = (a_n+ b_n)/2,$$ $$b_{n+1} = \sqrt{(a_nb_n)}.$$In the example given $$a_2 = 6.75,$$ $$b_2 = \sqrt{(45)}= 6.708\; \mbox{to 3 decimal places}.$$Calculate the first 5 terms of each sequence and mark them on a number line. Calculate a few more terms and make a note of what happens to the two sequences.
Now repeat the same calculations starting with different choices of positive values for $a_1$ and $b_1$. You should notice the same behaviour of the two sequences whatever starting values you choose. Describe and explain this behaviour.
You may like to write a short program for a calculator or computer to calculate the sequences and if so you should send in your program with your solution.
Repeat the calculations to generate a sequence of arithmetic means $a_1$, $a_2$, $a_3$, ... and a sequence of geometric means $b_1$, $b_2$, $b_3$, ... where $$a_{n+1} = (a_n+ b_n)/2,$$ $$b_{n+1} = \sqrt{(a_nb_n)}.$$In the example given $$a_2 = 6.75,$$ $$b_2 = \sqrt{(45)}= 6.708\; \mbox{to 3 decimal places}.$$Calculate the first 5 terms of each sequence and mark them on a number line. Calculate a few more terms and make a note of what happens to the two sequences.
Now repeat the same calculations starting with different choices of positive values for $a_1$ and $b_1$. You should notice the same behaviour of the two sequences whatever starting values you choose. Describe and explain this behaviour.
You may like to write a short program for a calculator or computer to calculate the sequences and if so you should send in your program with your solution.
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