Convergence of indeterminate forms of a sequence

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the convergence of a sequence involving the factorial function and an integral, specifically the expressions n!/2^n and ∫ e^(-x^2) dx. Participants are exploring the behavior of these forms as n approaches infinity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the simplification of the factorial expression and question whether it tends to infinity. There is also confusion regarding the integral and how the limit as n approaches infinity applies to it. Some participants suggest that a comparison test might be useful for the integral.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing insights and questioning the assumptions made about the expressions. There is no explicit consensus yet, but some guidance has been offered regarding the need to clarify how n is involved in the integral.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the integral cannot be expressed in terms of elementary functions, which may affect the approach to determining convergence. There is also a mention of the need for limits on the integral to properly analyze its behavior.

trap101
Messages
339
Reaction score
0
State whether the sequence converges as n--> ##∞##, if it does find the limit

i'm having trouble with these two:

n!/2n and ∫ e-x2 dx


now I know they're special forms so the ordinary tricks won't work. Any help or hints?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
trap101 said:
State whether the sequence converges as n--> ##∞##, if it does find the limit

i'm having trouble with these two:

n!/2n and ∫ e-x2 dx
For the first, what have you tried?

For the second, that's an integral, not a sequence. How does n approaching infinity enter into things?
trap101 said:
now I know they're special forms so the ordinary tricks won't work. Any help or hints?
 
Mark44 said:
For the first, what have you tried?

For the second, that's an integral, not a sequence. How does n approaching infinity enter into things?


For the first one I simplified it a tad if it's correct to do this:

n!/2n = n (n-1)!/2n = (n-1)!/2 ...so would that tend to ∞?

for the second one:

before being concerned with the integral, e-x2 taking it's limit to ∞ would have the sequnce converge to 0 because e-x2 = 1/ ex2, but shouldn't I integrate it first before I attempt to take the limit?
 
trap101 said:
For the first one I simplified it a tad if it's correct to do this:

n!/2n = n (n-1)!/2n = (n-1)!/2 ...so would that tend to ∞?

for the second one:

before being concerned with the integral, e-x2 taking it's limit to ∞ would have the sequnce converge to 0 because e-x2 = 1/ ex2, but shouldn't I integrate it first before I attempt to take the limit?

For the first one, yes, I think it's pretty clear your simplified form goes to infinity. For the second one you haven't really said how 'n' is involved. Are there limits on your integral? You can't really integrate it in terms of elementary functions. A comparison test might be useful.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K