Hard sequence queston (calculus)

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of sequences in calculus, specifically examining the convergence of the product of two sequences, {An} and {Bn}, where {An} converges to a non-zero limit L and {Bn} diverges.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the implications of assuming the product {An * Bn} converges. There are discussions about using proof by contradiction and the conditions under which limits can be applied. Questions arise regarding the application of theorems related to limits and the handling of epsilon-delta arguments.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, raising questions about the validity of their approaches and theorems. Some have suggested methods such as proof by contradiction, while others are clarifying the conditions necessary for applying certain limit theorems. There is no explicit consensus yet, but several productive lines of reasoning are being explored.

Contextual Notes

There are mentions of potential misunderstandings regarding the application of limit theorems, particularly in relation to the divergence of {Bn}. Participants are also navigating language barriers that may affect their comprehension of the mathematical concepts discussed.

eibon
Messages
27
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


if {An} converges and lim {An}=L L\neq 0
and {Bn} diverges then does {An X Nn} diverge? prove formally


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


IMG2.jpg


can anyone give me a hint or show a solution?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Examine the sequences:
<br /> a_{n}=1-\frac{1}{\sqrt{n}},\quad b_{n}=n<br />
 
i don't see how that helps
 
You'll probably find it easier to organize your proof as a proof by contradiction. Assume {a_n*b_n} converges, say to M, and a_n converges to a nonzero L. Can you show that means b_n would converge to M/L?
 
yeah i thought of proof by contradiction to day, but i end up getting (M/(L+\epsilon1)) < Bn< (m+\epsilon2)/L

and how do you get it converges to M/L? do i need to let epsilon = something?
 
Last edited:
L<An<L +\epsilon \leftrightarrow \frac{1}{L +epsilon} <\frac{1}{An} < \frac{1}{L}

and M<AnBn<M+ε

then i get \frac{M}{L+epsilon} <Bn< \frac{M+epsilon}{L}

now what do i do?
 
Last edited:
eibon said:
L<An<L +\epsilon \leftrightarrow \frac{1}{L +epsilon} <\frac{1}{An} < \frac{1}{L}

and M<AnBn<M+ε

then i get \frac{M}{L+epsilon} <Bn< \frac{M+epsilon}{L}

now what do i do?

You could stop being so sloppy for one thing. What you actually want to say is for every e>0 there is an N such that for all n>N, L-e<=An<=L+e. Now if you pick e small enough so that L-e>0 (assuming L>0) then you can say 1/(L+e)<=1/An<=1/(L-e). Same sort of thing for An*Bn. Finally you want to show that you can make |Bn-M/L| as small as you want by picking e small enough. You could skip all of this epsilon-delta business if you have a theorem that says if an->A and bn->B and B is nonzero then an/bn->A/B.
 
wait how do you get to |Bn-M/L|<e?
 
eibon said:
wait how do you get to |Bn-M/L|<e?

You write down an expression like ...<Bn<... and subtract M/L. Then take the absolute value and show you can make the upper and lower bounds as small as you want. Are you sure you don't have a theorem about the quotient of limits?
 
  • #10
so some thing like this?
and for the quotient of limits you need both An and Bn to converge to use that, but Bn does not converge so i can't use that
IMG_0002.jpg
 
Last edited:
  • #11
No. For one thing |an-L|<e becomes L-e<an<L+e. It doesn't imply L<an. And choosing your epsilons to be L and M doesn't help at all. One more time with the question, you don't have a theorem about lim an/bn when lim bn is not zero?
 
  • #12
for the quotient of limits you need both An and Bn to converge to use that, but Bn does not converge so i can't use that. and i don't understand how to get the upper and lower bounds, can you please explain it?
 
  • #13
eibon said:
for the quotient of limits you need both An and Bn to converge to use that, but Bn does not converge so i can't use that. and i don't understand how to get the upper and lower bounds, can you please explain it?

|An-L|<e means -e<An-L<e. And if you have the limit of quotients theorem, apply it to an*bn/an. The numerator and denominator of that both converge if you are assuming an*bn->M. Applying the theorem will save you from all this epsilon monkey business, which you don't seem to have a very good handle on. No offense.
 
  • #14
then is this right ?
and that says DNE not one in the picture

IMG4.jpg
 
  • #15
That's basically it. You should maybe mention you can apply the theorem because lim (an)=L and L is not zero.
 
  • #16
ok thanks , just out of curiosity how would you prove it with epsilons
 
  • #17
is this right using epsilons?

Untitled.jpg
 
  • #18
Use reductio ad absurdum.
 
  • #19
please explain how you would do the contradiction
 
  • #20
1. If \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty}{\{a_{n}\}} = L, \; L \neq 0 show that, starting from some n_{0}, |a_{n}| &gt; 0, \forall n \ge n_{0};

2. Assume the opposite is true, namely c_{n} \equiv a_{b} \, b_{n} converges;

3. Because of 1, it makes sense to define the sequence c_{n}/a_{n}, \; \forall n \ge n_{0}. Because both \{a_{n}\} and \{c_{n}\} are convergent, what can we say about their quotient?
 
  • #21
that the quotient converges
 
  • #22
And what's their quotient by the way \{c_{n}\} was originally defined? Is this in accordance with the conditions originally given in the problem?
 
  • #23
the original question was if An converges to L and L does not equal zero and Bn diverges, then does {An*Bn} diverge, so i think Cn was defined
 
  • #24
You don't seem to know the way of proving something by reductio ad absurdum. I can't give you any more help since it would violate the rules of this website.
 
  • #25
o wait i miss understood what your last post meant(im very bad at english ) so just ignore my last post, so there quotient is {Bn} and lim{Cn) /lim{An} which is a contradiction?

because {bn} diverges
 
  • #26
eibon said:
ok thanks , just out of curiosity how would you prove it with epsilons

Try to find a proof that if lim an=L and L is nonzero, and lim bn=M then lim bn/an=M/L. (The theorem you just used). The proof is pretty much what you were trying to do.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K