Proof of that a limit -> 0 as n-> infinity

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around proving that a limit approaches zero as n approaches infinity, specifically focusing on sequences and their convergence properties. Participants are examining a proof related to the behavior of a sequence defined by terms z_n and their bounds.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the implications of a hint from a textbook regarding bounds on the sequence terms, questioning the validity of certain assumptions made in the proof. They explore the relationship between the terms of the sequence and their contributions to the overall limit.

Discussion Status

There is ongoing dialogue about the proof's completeness, with some participants providing guidance on how to approach the problem and questioning specific assumptions. Suggestions have been made to clarify the contributions of the initial terms and the implications of the sequence's convergence.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of a homework assignment, which may limit the information they can use or the methods they can apply. The discussion highlights the need for careful consideration of the terms involved in the proof.

Jesssa
Messages
50
Reaction score
0
Hey,

I've been trying to work out the following question,

This is it including what I hope is an ok, or on the way to an ok proof.

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/6156/proofxq.jpg

The book has a hint given that states there exists N in naturals such that |z_n|<ε/2 for all n>N so I kind of tried to use that to find a bound on w_n.

Does this look okay?

Thank you in advance,

Jess
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
Jesssa said:
Hey,

I've been trying to work out the following question,

This is it including what I hope is an ok, or on the way to an ok proof.

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/6156/proofxq.jpg

The book has a hint given that states there exists N in naturals such that |z_n|<ε/2 for all n>N so I kind of tried to use that to find a bound on w_n.

Does this look okay?

Thank you in advance,

Jess

Hi Jesssa! :smile:

That looks close...

But why would ##|z_1+z_2+...+z_N| < \frac ε 2##?
I think that will usually not be the case.Suppose ##z_i=\frac{10}{i}## and ##ε={1\over 10}##.
I don't think your condition will hold for any N... at all!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Jesssa said:
Hey,

I've been trying to work out the following question,

This is it including what I hope is an ok, or on the way to an ok proof.

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/6156/proofxq.jpg

The book has a hint given that states there exists N in naturals such that |z_n|<ε/2 for all n>N so I kind of tried to use that to find a bound on w_n.

Does this look okay?

Thank you in advance,

Jess

Close, but not complete. The point is: (1) you can find K so that the first K terms contribute < ε/2 to sum z/n; and (2) |z_i| ≤ ε/2 for i = K+1, ..., n. What does (2) imply? Hint: it does not imply anything like what you wrote.

RGV
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Jesssa said:
Hey,

I've been trying to work out the following question,

This is it including what I hope is an ok, or on the way to an ok proof.

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/6156/proofxq.jpg

The book has a hint given that states there exists N in naturals such that |z_n|<ε/2 for all n>N so I kind of tried to use that to find a bound on w_n.

Does this look okay?

Thank you in advance,

Jess
The book's hint plus your observation that
[itex]\displaystyle w_n=\frac{z_1+z_2+z_3+\dots+z_{K}}{n}+\frac{z_{K+1}+\dots+z_n}{n}[/itex]​
are both helpful in this proof. Beyond that it seems to me that you are not very close to completing the proof.



What is it that you know?

You know that:
[itex]\displaystyle z_n\ \to\ 0\ \text{ as }\ n\ \to\ \infty[/itex]

What does this tell you about finding some integer, K, such that |zk| < ε/2 for all k > K ?​

What is it that you need to show?

You need to show that:
[itex]\displaystyle w_n\ \to\ 0\ \text{ as }\ n\ \to\ \infty[/itex]

This is true, if given any ε>0, there exists some positive integer, N, such that |wn| < ε for all n>N.​
 
Thanks guys,

i think i got it down now,

the thing that mucked me up was considering the first set of terms,

i asked my teacher and he helped me out =]
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
5K
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
5K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
Replies
5
Views
3K