# Non-increasing sequence

1. Nov 4, 2007

### dobry_den

Hey! I'm struggling with the proof of the following theorem:

Sequence $$(1+\frac{1}{k})^{k+1}$$, where k=1,2,3,..., is non-increasing.

Is there any chance of proving it by mathematical induction? Please could you give me a hint?

2. Nov 4, 2007

### dobry_den

Well, the proof doesn't have to be done by induction... I read this post (https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=139672) and there might be some other solution, too.. Now i'm trying to express the sequence by the formula proposed by Werg22:

$$(1+1/n)^{n} = 1 + n\frac{1}{n} + \frac{1}{2!}(1-\frac{1}{n})+ ... + \frac{1}{n!}(1 - \frac{1}{n})(1 - \frac{2}{n})...(1 - \frac{n-1}{n})$$

I hope it's possible... I'd be grateful for any hints:)

3. Nov 5, 2007

### Gib Z

Non increasing means constant or decreasing. To show its not constant, just sub in 2 values of k, they wont be the same. To show its decreasing, find the derivative of the continuous version of the function and show that the derivative is always less than 0.

4. Nov 5, 2007

### sutupidmath

well, i managed to prove it using a completely diffrent approach, if you are interested.?

5. Nov 5, 2007

### sutupidmath

let us start from this: note this holds only for n>1
$$(1+\frac{1}{n^{2}-1})^{n} =(\frac{n^{2}-1+1}{(n-1)(n+1)})^{n} =(\frac{n}{n-1})^{n} (\frac{n}{n+1})^{n}$$ let us denote this by (1)

now using bernulis inequality we get

$$(1+\frac{1}{n^{2}-1})^{n}> 1+(\frac{n}{n^{2}-1}) > 1+(\frac{1}{n})$$---(2)

now we get

$$(\frac{n}{n-1})^{n} (\frac{n}{n+1})^{n} >1+(\frac{1}{n})$$
after we divide by $$(\frac{n}{n+1})^{n}$$ we get

$$(\frac{n}{n-1})^{n}> (1+ (\frac{1}{n}))^{n+1}$$
now let us do this little trick

$$(\frac{n-1+1}{n-1})^{n}=(1+ \frac{1}{n-1})^{n}>(1+ (\frac{1}{n}))^{n+1}$$

so now if we let $$b_(n-1)=(1+\frac{1}{n-1})^{n}$$ and $$b_n = (1+\frac{1}{n})^{n+1}$$ we see that b_(n-1)>b_n for every n>1

Last edited: Nov 5, 2007