c(n+2) = -8c(n+1) - 16c(n), c(1) = -1, c(2) = 8
Given the above recurrence equation and starting conditions, the goal is to find the solution (that is, an equation that calculates c(n) without reference to previous terms).
The characteristic polynomial is:
n^2 = -8n - 16
n^2 + 8n + 16 = 0
n = -4 (repeated root)
What has made this problem difficult for me is the repeated root. Because of the repeated root, the solution given at
http://mathworld.wolfram.com/LinearR...eEquation.html
doesn't work because it involves dividing by zero.
In case it helps, here are some more terms:
c(0) = 0
c(1) = -1
c(2) = 8
c(3) = -48
c(4) = 256
c(5) = -1280
c(6) = 6144
c(7) = -28672
Also, the ratio between successive terms appears to be approaching some number close to -4.
Thanks