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Let \(a, b\) be positive integers and \((a, b) = 1\). Prove that the quantity cannot be a real number except in the following cases \((a, b) = (1, 1)\), \((1,3)\), \((3,1)\).

For what values of \(n\) does the polynomial \((x+1)^n - x^n - 1\) divide by:

a) \(x^2 + x + 1\); b) \((x^2 + x + 1)^2\); c) \((x^2 + x + 1)^3\)?

Find the largest and smallest values of the functions

a) \(f_1 (x) = a \cos x + b \sin x\); b) \(f_2 (x) = a \cos^2x + b \cos x \sin x + c \sin^2x\).

The Babylonian algorithm for deducing \(\sqrt{2}\). The sequence of numbers \(\{x_n\}\) is given by the following conditions: \(x_1 = 1\), \(x_{n + 1} = \frac 12 (x_n + 2/x_n)\) (\(n \geq 1\)).

Prove that \(\lim\limits_{n\to\infty} x_n = \sqrt{2}\).