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The recursive relation is $f(n+1) = 2 + \frac{1}{f(n)} $, I would like to find $$\lim_{n\to\infty} f(n)$$ given $f(1)=3$.

I tried to use RSolve but it does not give me a definite value.

RSolve[{f[n + 1] - 1/f[n] == 2}, f[1] == 3, n]
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  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Try this: FixedPoint[2 + 1/# &, 3.]. It applies the function repeatedly until the output doesn't change. $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 27, 2017 at 16:22
  • $\begingroup$ Thank you, FixedPoint worked! $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 27, 2017 at 16:26
  • $\begingroup$ @AnjanKumar - FixedPoint[2 + 1/# &, 3.] // RootApproximant $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 27, 2017 at 16:45
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    $\begingroup$ @BobHanlon That's much better. $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 27, 2017 at 16:50
  • $\begingroup$ You have incorrect syntax for RSolve. $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 27, 2017 at 22:13

3 Answers 3

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In Version 11.2, you can use RSolveValue to obtain the answer as shown below (unfortunately, earlier versions return Indeterminate for this input).

=================

RSolveValue[{f[n + 1] - 1/f[n] == 2, f[1] == 3}, 
f[Infinity], n]
(* 1 + Sqrt[2] *)

N[%]
(* 2.41421 *)

FixedPoint[2 + 1/# &, 3.]
(* 2.41421 *)

=====================

Hope this helps.

Devendra Kapadia, Wolfram Research, Inc.

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7
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It should be RSolve rather than Rsolve and the boundary condition must be inside the list of equations.

Clear[f];
eqns = {f[n + 1] - 1/f[n] == 2, f[1] == 3};

soln = RSolve[eqns, f, n][[1]];

Verifying that the solution satisfies the equations

eqns /. soln // Simplify

(*  {True, True}  *)

f[n] /. soln // FullSimplify

(*  1 + Sqrt[2] - (2 Sqrt[2] (1 - Sqrt[2])^n)/((1 - Sqrt[2])^n + (1 + Sqrt[2])^n)  *)

Limit[f[n] /. soln, n -> Infinity]

(*  1 + Sqrt[2]  *)

Limit[f[n] /. soln, n -> -Infinity]

(*  1 - Sqrt[2]  *)
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Just for fun:

cp = {x, x} /. Solve[x == 2 + 1/x, x];
fp = cp[[2, 1]]
f[x0_, n_] := 
 Sequence @@ {{##}, {{##}[[2]], {##}[[2]]}} & @@@ 
  Partition[NestList[2 + 1/# &, x0, n], 2, 1]
Plot[{2 + 1/x, x}, {x, -5, 5}, 
 Epilog -> {Red, PointSize[0.02], Point@cp}]
ListAnimate@
 Table[Plot[{2 + 1/x, x}, {x, 2.3, 3}, 
   Epilog -> {Red, PointSize[0.02], Point[cp], Line[f[3, j]]}, 
   PlotRange -> {2.3, 2.45}], {j, 1, 5}]

enter image description here

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