For points $$P\,\,\, = \left( {{x_1},\,{y_1}} \right)$$ and $$Q\,\,\, = \left( {{x_2},\,{y_2}} \right)$$ of the co-ordinate plane, a new distance $$d\left( {P,\,Q} \right)$$ is defined by $$d\left( {P,\,Q} \right)$$$$ = \left( {{x_2},\,{y_2}} \right)\left| {{x_1} - {x_2}} \right| + \left| {{y_1} - {y_2}} \right|.$$ Let $$O = (0, 0)$$ and $$A = (3, 2)$$. Prove that the set of points in the first quadrant which are equidistant (with respect to the new distance) from $$O$$ and $$A$$ consists of the union of a line segment of finite length and an infinite ray. Sketch this set in a labelled diagram.

The fourth power of the common difference of an arithmatic progression with integer entries is added to the product of any four consecutive terms of it. Prove that the resulting sum is the square of an integer.

A coin probability $$p$$ of showing head when tossed. It is tossed $$n$$ times. Let $${p_n}$$ denote the probability that no two (or more) consecutive heads occur. Prove that $${p_1} = 1,\,\,{p_2} = 1 - {p^2}$$ and $${p_n} = \left( {1 - p} \right).\,\,{p_{n - 1}} + p\left( {1 - p} \right){p_{n - 2}}$$ for all $$n \ge 3.$$

Prove by induction on, that $${p_n} = A{\alpha ^n} + B{\beta ^n}$$ for all $$n \ge 1,$$ where $$\alpha $$ and $$\beta $$ are the roots of quadratic equation $${x^2} - \left( {1 - p} \right)x - p\left( {1 - p} \right) = 0$$ and $$A = {{{p^2} + \beta - 1} \over {\alpha \beta - {\alpha ^2}}},B = {{{p^2} + \alpha - 1} \over {\alpha \beta - {\beta ^2}}}.$$

Let $$a,\,b,\,c$$ be possitive real numbers such that $${b^2} - 4ac > 0$$ and let $${\alpha _1} = c.$$ Prove by induction that $${\alpha _{n + 1}} = {{a\alpha _n^2} \over {\left( {{b^2} - 2a\left( {{\alpha _1} + {\alpha _2} + ... + {\alpha _n}} \right)} \right)}}$$ is well-defined and
$${\alpha _{n + 1}} < {{{\alpha _n}} \over 2}$$ for all $$n = 1,2,....$$ (Here, 'well-defined' means that the denominator in the expression for $${\alpha _{n + 1}}$$ is not zero.)