[Math] Finding the formula for nth term of a sequence

recursionsequences-and-seriessummation

I have the following recursive sequence an i want to find the general formula for the nth term of a sequence:

$$a_{n+2}=4a_{n+1}+4a_n,a_1=1,a_2=2$$

I have the following characteristic equation:
$x^2=4x+4$ but this has no integer zeroes so i do not know how to proceed with this.

Best Answer

there exists universal method of solving linear recurrences

for example in these topics

Linear Homogeneous Recurrence Relations and Inhomogenous Recurrence Relations

solving recurrence relations

Solving a Linear Recurrence Relation

it was described.

it is also in Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recurrence_relation

or just google for "solving linear recurrence relations" or "solving homogeneous linear recurrence relations"

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