Proof for a Sequence Convergence

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SUMMARY

The sequence \( a_{n} = \frac{n^{2}}{2^{n}} \) converges to 0 as \( n \) approaches infinity. The proof utilizes the inequality \( \frac{n}{2^{n}} \leq \frac{1}{n} \) for all \( n > 3 \), derived from the fact that \( n^{2} \leq 2^{n} \). To establish convergence, for any \( \epsilon > 0 \), one can choose \( N = \max\{3, \frac{1}{\epsilon}\} \). The discussion highlights a correction regarding the choice of \( N \), emphasizing that \( N \) must be greater than \( \max\{3, \frac{1}{\epsilon}\} \) to ensure the convergence condition holds.

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[itex]\text{We need to prove that the sequence} \ a_{n} = \{n^{2}/2^{n}\} \ \text{converges to 0} \\<br /> <br /> \text{Consider the sequence {n/ 2n} = { 0, 1/2, 1/2, 3/8, 1/4, 5/32, ...}. The terms get smaller and smaller.}\\<br /> \\<br /> \text{we can easily show that} \ n/2^{n}<=1/n \ \forall n>3 \\<br /> \text{from the fact that} \ n^{2}<=2^{n} \ \text{(insert proof by induction here)}\\<br /> <br /> then \ for \ \epsilon > 0 \ choose \ N = max\{3,1/\epsilon\} \\<br /> <br /> \text{The idea is that for all n>N, we will have} \ 1/n<1/N< \epsilon. \\<br /> \text{The problem is I think N needs to be greater than the max. i.e. } \ N> max\{3,1/\epsilon\} \ for \ this \ to \ work \\<br /> \\<br /> \text{otherwise we'll end up with a case where} \ 1/N= \epsilon[/itex]
 
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So use ##\epsilon/2## to begin with or let ##
N = \hbox{max}\{3,1/\epsilon\}+1##.
 
LCKurtz said:
So use ##\epsilon/2## to begin with or let ##
N = \hbox{max}\{3,1/\epsilon\}+1##.

OK. So my question is correct, putting [itex]N = \hbox{max}\{3,1/\epsilon\}[/itex] was incorrect.
I found this argument on a website and wasn't sure.
Thanks.
 

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