Every recursively traced (reflected or refracted) ray hits an object, including the primary rays.
You will always cast a ray to the light source after intersecting an object, and this does not count as a recursive “bounce” (but certainly counts as a cast ray).
For each sub-problem, write out a summation (with the Greek Sigma S symbol for the summation) and then, if possible, convert it to closed form.
All of these clarifications have been incorporated to the posted assignment (4:45pm 11/17/08).