Limit Proof Confusion: How does sN+2 cancel with sn-1 in this limit proof?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a limit proof involving sequences, specifically addressing the cancellation of terms in the expression for the limit of a sequence. Participants are exploring the conditions under which certain terms cancel and the implications of those cancellations for the limit behavior of the sequence.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion about how the term sN+2 cancels with sn-1 in the limit proof, indicating a lack of clarity on the derivation related to n≥N.
  • Another participant notes that the cancellation occurs specifically when n = N + 3, suggesting that different values of n lead to different cancellation dynamics.
  • A third participant proposes an alternative perspective by expressing the sequence in terms of n = N + k, which illustrates the relationship between the terms in the sequence and their cancellations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not appear to reach a consensus on the cancellation process, with ongoing confusion and multiple interpretations of the sequence behavior under different conditions.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the dependence on specific values of n and N, as well as the assumptions regarding the non-zero nature of the terms in the sequence. There are unresolved steps in the mathematical reasoning that participants are attempting to clarify.

MstrGnrl
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Hello Folks,

I am solving a limit proof that has the following attached solution.

Question: Assume all sn ≠ 0. and that the limit L = lim abs(sn+1/sn) exists. Show that if L<1. the lim sn=0

I Understand the solution except for one part which is also attached..

sn = sN*sN+1/sN*** sn/sn-1

Can someone please explain this portion of the problem? I don't understand how sN+2 cancels with sn-1.. It definitely has something to do with n≥N but how they derived it I am not sure

Thanks
 

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MstrGnrl said:
Can someone please explain this portion of the problem? I don't understand how sN+2 cancels with sn-1.

It only cancels when n = N + 3. When n = N + 4 there is another term in the ... which cancels with the n-1 term, and so on.
 
Thank you for the response, but I still don't quite understand..
 
Try writing out the terms for N = 0, n = 3.
 
MstrGnrl said:
Thank you for the response, but I still don't quite understand..

Another way to look at it for n > N is to think of n = N + k, then
s_n = s_{N+k} = s_N \cdot \frac{s_{N+1}}{s_N} \cdot \frac{s_{N+2}}{s_{N+1}} \dots \frac{s_{N+k-1}}{s_{N+k-2}} \cdot \frac{s_{N+k}}{s_{N+k-1}}
 
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