The mystik spiral(challenge)

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Still one of my favorite problems. Feel free to attempt to solve it.

  1. Start at a 0,0

  2. Travel along the x axis in the positive direction a distance of 1

  3. Turn 90 degrees counterclockwise

  4. go forward 1/2 of the distance of the previous step

  5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 forever.

  6. how far from the origin to you end up?

Bonus points for finding an equation for

1.Start at a 0,0

2.travel along the x axis in the positive direction a distance of A

  1. Turn θ degrees counterclockwise

  2. go forward B times the previous distance walked

  3. Repeat steps 3 and 4 forever.

  4. how far from the origin to you end up?

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Use complex numbers.

The final position is, supposing $1>B\ge 0$,

$$A+ABe^{i\theta}+AB^2e^{2i\theta}+\cdots$$ $$=A(1+Be^{i\theta}+B^2e^{2i\theta}+\cdots)$$ $$=A\frac{1}{1-Be^{i\theta}}$$

The distance is $$\left|\frac{A}{1-Be^{i\theta}}\right|=\frac{A}{\sqrt{1-2B\cos\theta+B^2}}$$

For $A=1$, $B=1/2$, $\theta=\pi/2$, the distance is $$\left|\frac{1}{1-\frac{i}{2}}\right|=\frac{2}{\sqrt{5}}$$