Are These Limit Points, Limsup, and Liminf Correct for These Sequences?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the limit points, limsup, and liminf of several sequences. Participants explore the calculations and reasoning behind these concepts, seeking to verify correctness and understand the methods for determining limit points.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Post 1 presents four sequences and calculates their limit points, limsup, and liminf, suggesting that the limit points for the first sequence are 3 and -3, for the second are 1 and 0, for the third are e and e-1, and seeks confirmation on these findings.
  • Post 2 questions the correctness of the calculations and asks how to prove that the identified limit points are the only ones, particularly for the fourth sequence.
  • Post 3 agrees with the calculations presented in Post 1 and suggests examining additional subsequences (a4k, a4k+1, a4k+2, a4k+3) to find limit points for the fourth sequence, proposing that they yield limit points of 1 and -1.
  • Post 4 and Post 5 affirm the suggestions made in Post 3, indicating agreement without further elaboration.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the calculations for the first three sequences, but there is uncertainty regarding the fourth sequence and its limit points. Multiple approaches are suggested, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved for this case.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the methods for determining limit points in the fourth sequence, and there are unresolved questions about the completeness of the limit point analysis for all sequences.

mathmari
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Hey! :o

I want to find the $\lim\sup$, $\lim\inf$ and the limit points of the following sequences:
1. $a_n=(-1)^n\frac{3n+4}{n+1}$
2. $a_n=\sqrt[n]{n+(-1)^nn}$
3. $a_n=\left ( \frac{n+(-1)^n}{n}\right )^n$
4. $a_n=(-1)^{\frac{n(n+1)}{2}}\sqrt[n]{1+\frac{1}{n}}$ I have done the following:

1. $$a_{2k}=(-1)^{2k}\frac{3(2k)+4}{2k+1}=\frac{6k+4}{2k+1}\Rightarrow \lim_{k\rightarrow \infty}a_{2k}=3 \\ a_{2k-1}=(-1)^{2k-1}\frac{3(2k-1)+4}{2k-1+1}=-\frac{6k+1}{2k}\Rightarrow \lim_{k\rightarrow \infty}a_{2k-1}=-3$$
So, $(a_n)$ has the limit points $3$ and $-3$.
Therefore, $\lim\sup a_n=3$ and $\lim\inf a_n=-3$. 2. $$a_{2k}=\sqrt[2k]{2k+(-1)^{2k}2k}=\sqrt[2k]{4k}=2^{\frac{1}{k}}\left ( k^{\frac{1}{k}}\right )^{\frac{1}{2}}\Rightarrow \lim_{k\rightarrow \infty}a_{2k}=1\\ a_{2k-1}=\sqrt[2k-1]{2k-1+(-1)^{2k-1}(2k-1)}=0\Rightarrow \lim_{k\rightarrow \infty}a_{2k-1}=0$$
So, $(a_n)$ has the limit points $1$ and $0$.
Therefore, $\lim\sup a_n=1$ and $\lim\inf a_n=0$. 3. $$a_{2k}=\left ( \frac{2k+(-1)^{2k}}{2k}\right )^{2k}=\left (\frac{2k+1}{2k}\right )^{2k}=\left (1+\frac{1}{2k}\right )^{2k}\Rightarrow \lim_{k\rightarrow \infty}a_{2k}=e \\ a_{2k-1}=\left ( \frac{2k-1+(-1)^{2k-1}}{2k-1}\right )^{2k-1}=\left (\frac{2k-1-1}{2k-1}\right )^{2k-1}=\left (1-\frac{1}{2k-1}\right )^{2k-1}\Rightarrow \lim_{k\rightarrow \infty}a_{2k-1}=e^{-1}$$
So, $(a_n)$ has the limit points $e$ and $e^{-1}$.
Therefore, $\lim\sup a_n=e$ and $\lim\inf a_n=e^{-1}$. Is everything correct so far? How could we prove that the limit points that I found at each case are the only ones? (Wondering) 4. $$a_n=(-1)^{\frac{n(n+1)}{2}}\sqrt[n]{1+\frac{1}{n}}$$
I tried to find again the limits of $a_{2k}$ and $a_{2k-1}$ but I failed.
Do we find the limit points in this case in an other way? (Wondering)
 
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mathmari said:
Is everything correct so far? How could we prove that the limit points that I found at each case are the only ones? (Wondering) 4. $$a_n=(-1)^{\frac{n(n+1)}{2}}\sqrt[n]{1+\frac{1}{n}}$$
I tried to find again the limits of $a_{2k}$ and $a_{2k-1}$ but I failed.
Do we find the limit points in this case in an other way? (Wondering)

Hey mathmari! (Smile)

They look good to me.

How about trying $a_{4k},\ a_{4k+1},\ a_{4k+2}$, and $a_{4k+3}$? (Wondering)
 
I like Serena said:
They look good to me.

(Happy)

I like Serena said:
How about trying $a_{4k},\ a_{4k+1},\ a_{4k+2}$, and $a_{4k+3}$? (Wondering)

Calculating these we get that the limit points are $1$ and $-1$, so $\lim\sup a_n=1$ and $\lim\inf a_n=-1$, right? (Wondering)

Instead of these we could also calculate the subsequences $a_{4k},\ a_{4k-1},\ a_{4k-2}$, and $a_{4k-3}$, or not? (Wondering)
 
Yes και yes. (Mmm)
 
I like Serena said:
Yes και yes. (Mmm)

Thank you! (Mmm)
 

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