Prove Squeezing Theorem for n Natural Numbers

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on proving the Squeeze Theorem for natural numbers, specifically the inequality involving square roots: 2√(n+1) - 2√n < 1/√n < 2√n - 2√(n-1). Participants suggest using mathematical induction and the Mean Value Theorem (MVT) for proof. They also explore related problems, including evaluating the integer part of a sum involving square roots and proving that the integer part of (√n + √(n+1))^2 is odd. Various approaches, including Taylor series and inequalities, are discussed to establish the validity of these mathematical statements. The conversation highlights the collaborative effort to find elegant solutions to these problems.
hypermonkey2
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Any nice proofs for this?

2\sqrt{n+1}-2\sqrt{n}&lt;\frac{1}{\sqrt{n}}&lt;2\sqrt{n}-2\sqrt{n-1}<br />




I hope the tex came out alright. have fun!

ps. n is any natural number.
 
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ill post solution in the morning.
 
I doesn't look that hard if you prove each half by induction, and if first you multiply everything by sqrt(n)/sqrt(n). But then again there could be a catch somewere. If I have time I'll try it.
 
<br /> \begin{align*}<br /> 2\sqrt{n+1} - 2\sqrt{n} &amp;= 2(\sqrt{n+1} - \sqrt{n}) \cdot \frac{\sqrt{n+1} + \sqrt{n}}{\sqrt{n+1} + \sqrt{n}} \\<br /> &amp;= \frac{2}{\sqrt{n+1} + \sqrt{n}} \\<br /> &amp;&lt; \frac{2}{\sqrt{n} + \sqrt{n}} \\<br /> &amp;= \frac{1}{\sqrt{n}}<br /> \end{align*}<br />


Alternatively, let f(x) = \sqrt{x}, then by the MVT on [n, n+1]:

<br /> \begin{align*}<br /> \frac{\sqrt{n+1} - \sqrt{n}}{1} &amp;= f&#039;(x) \\<br /> &amp;= \frac{1}{2\sqrt{x}}, \text{ with x} \in (n, n+1) \\<br /> &amp;&lt; \frac{1}{2\sqrt{n}}<br /> \end{align*}<br />

Second one should be similar.
 
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Yes, my solution ressembled the first one. Although, i was very amused at seeing the MVT making such short work of it. nice job. here's the pickle. i forgot the solution to this, ill think about it over the next few days, but have a try:
Using this inequality, evaluate to the \pm 1 the integer part of the sum
1+\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}+\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}+...+\frac{1}{\sqrt{1000000}}
any progress, you let me know.
 
hehe, alright, it came back to me, but take a try at it anyways.
 
Finally, here's the cherry on top. Prove that the integer part of the following expression is odd.

(\sqrt{n}+\sqrt{n+1})^2

have fun! I am interested in seeing some original solutions as i think there are better ones than the ones i have seen.
 
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no takers? i post solutions tomorrow.
 
hypermonkey2 said:
Yes, my solution ressembled the first one. Although, i was very amused at seeing the MVT making such short work of it. nice job. here's the pickle. i forgot the solution to this, ill think about it over the next few days, but have a try:
Using this inequality, evaluate to the \pm 1 the integer part of the sum
1+\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}+\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}+...+\frac{1}{\sqrt{1000000}}
any progress, you let me know.
I think some appropriate definite integration of 1/sqrt(x) will give the desired approximation.
 
  • #10
hypermonkey2 said:
Finally, here's the cherry on top. Prove that the integer part of the following expression is odd.
(\sqrt{n}+\sqrt{n+1})^2
have fun! I am interested in seeing some original solutions as i think there are better ones than the ones i have seen.
This follows from the following 2 observations:
1.
(\sqrt{n}+\sqrt{n+1})^2 + (\sqrt{n}-\sqrt{n+1})^2 = 4n+2
2.
(\sqrt{n}-\sqrt{n+1})^2 is really small.
 
  • #11
hypermonkey2 said:
Using this inequality, evaluate to the \pm 1 the integer part of the sum
1+\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}+\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}+...+\frac{1}{\sqrt{1000000}}
any progress, you let me know.

2\sum_{k=a}^b\left(\sqrt{k+1}-\sqrt{k}\right)&lt;\sum_{k=a}^b\frac{1}{\sqrt k}&lt;2\sum_{k=a}^b\left(\sqrt{k}-\sqrt{k-1}\right)

2\left(\sqrt{b+1}-\sqrt{a}\right)&lt;\sum_{k=a}^b\frac{1}{\sqrt k}&lt;2\left(\sqrt{b}-\sqrt{a-1}\right)

2\left(\sqrt{1000001}-\sqrt{1}\right)&lt;\sum_{k=1}^{1000000}\frac{1}{\sqrt k}&lt;2\left(\sqrt{1000000}-\sqrt{0}\right)

1998&lt;\sum_{k=1}^{1000000}\frac{1}{\sqrt k}&lt;2000

By direct calculation
1998.5401&lt;\sum_{k=1}^{1000000}\frac{1}{\sqrt k}&lt;1998.5402
 
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  • #12
well done, youve saved me a bit of typing! yes that's the solution i have as well.
 
  • #13
redkimchi said:
This follows from the following 2 observations:
1.
(\sqrt{n}+\sqrt{n+1})^2 + (\sqrt{n}-\sqrt{n+1})^2 = 4n+2
2.
(\sqrt{n}-\sqrt{n+1})^2 is really small.

interesting, but i find your second premise a little weak, as in... not justified. it definitely is true though. i could be wrong though, its just what if n is very large?
 
  • #14
hypermonkey2 said:
interesting, but i find your second premise a little weak, as in... not justified. it definitely is true though. i could be wrong though, its just what if n is very large?

It decreases strictly as n increases. In particular, if n>0, -1&lt;\sqrt n-\sqrt{n+1}&lt;0. This gives the desired result.
 
  • #15
CRGreathouse said:
It decreases strictly as n increases. In particular, if n>0, -1&lt;\sqrt n-\sqrt{n+1}&lt;0. This gives the desired result.

interesting! I am curious, is there a nice proof of this inequality?
 
  • #16
The original problem looks like an easy application of Taylor series! The 0-th order approximation is:

<br /> f(x + e) = f(x) + f&#039;(x^*) e<br />

for some x^* between x and x+e inclusive.

Letting f be the square root function and e be 1, we have:

<br /> \sqrt{x + 1} - \sqrt{x} = \frac{1}{2 \sqrt{x^*}} \leq \frac{1}{2 \sqrt{x}}<br />

because the rightmost term is an upper bound for the middle term. Letting e = -1, we have:

<br /> \sqrt{x - 1} - \sqrt{x} = - \frac{1}{2 \sqrt{x^*}} \geq -\frac{1}{2 \sqrt{x}}<br />

because the rightmost term is a lower bound for the middle term. (Note the signs!)

Therefore,

\sqrt{x+1} - \sqrt{x} \leq \frac{1}{2 \sqrt{x}} \leq \sqrt{x} - \sqrt{x - 1}

or

2\sqrt{x+1} - 2\sqrt{x} \leq \frac{1}{\sqrt{x}} \leq 2\sqrt{x} - 2\sqrt{x - 1}
 
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  • #17
hypermonkey2 said:
interesting! I am curious, is there a nice proof of this inequality?
Yes. It's actually quite easy to see why this is true, since the terms in the middle are consecutive square roots. A formal proof goes something like this:

\sqrt{n+1} - \sqrt{n} &gt; 0 \text{ is obviously true for } n \in \mathbb{N}

It remains to show that:

\sqrt{n+1} - \sqrt{n} &lt; 1

Squaring both sides and playing around, we see that this follows from n &lt; n+1.

<br /> n &lt; n+1<br /> \Rightarrow n^2 &lt; n(n+1)<br /> \Rightarrow n &lt; \sqrt{n(n+1)}<br /> \Rightarrow 2n - 2\sqrt{n(n+1)} &lt; 0<br /> \Rightarrow n + 1 - 2\sqrt{n(n+1)} + n &lt; 1<br /> \Rightarrow (\sqrt{n+1} + \sqrt{n})^2 &lt; 1<br />

So we have:

<br /> 0 &lt; \sqrt{n+1} - \sqrt{n} &lt; 1<br /> \Rightarrow -1 &lt; \sqrt{n} - \sqrt{n+1} &lt; 0<br />
 
  • #18
Hurkyl said:
The original problem looks like an easy application of Taylor series! The 0-th order approximation is:
<br /> f(x + e) = f(x) + f&#039;(x^*) e<br />
for some x^* between x and x+e inclusive.
Letting f be the square root function and e be 1, we have:
<br /> \sqrt{x + 1} - \sqrt{x} = \frac{1}{2 \sqrt{x^*}} \leq \frac{1}{2 \sqrt{x}}<br />
because the rightmost term is an upper bound for the middle term. Letting e = -1, we have:
<br /> \sqrt{x - 1} - \sqrt{x} = - \frac{1}{2 \sqrt{x^*}} \geq -\frac{1}{2 \sqrt{x}}<br />
because the rightmost term is a lower bound for the middle term. (Note the signs!)
Therefore,
\sqrt{x+1} - \sqrt{x} \leq \frac{1}{2 \sqrt{x}} \leq \sqrt{x} - \sqrt{x - 1}
or
2\sqrt{x+1} - 2\sqrt{x} \leq \frac{1}{\sqrt{x}} \leq 2\sqrt{x} - 2\sqrt{x - 1}

If you say so, i haven't finished my cal 2 yet unfortunately, hehe. but ill keep it in mind!
 
  • #19
devious_ said:
Yes. It's actually quite easy to see why this is true, since the terms in the middle are consecutive square roots. A formal proof goes something like this:
\sqrt{n+1} - \sqrt{n} &gt; 0 \text{ is obviously true for } n \in \mathbb{N}
It remains to show that:
\sqrt{n+1} - \sqrt{n} &lt; 1
Squaring both sides and playing around, we see that this follows from n &lt; n+1.
<br /> n &lt; n+1<br /> \Rightarrow n^2 &lt; n(n+1)<br /> \Rightarrow n &lt; \sqrt{n(n+1)}<br /> \Rightarrow 2n - 2\sqrt{n(n+1)} &lt; 0<br /> \Rightarrow n + 1 - 2\sqrt{n(n+1)} + n &lt; 1<br /> \Rightarrow (\sqrt{n+1} + \sqrt{n})^2 &lt; 1<br />
So we have:
<br /> 0 &lt; \sqrt{n+1} - \sqrt{n} &lt; 1<br /> \Rightarrow -1 &lt; \sqrt{n} - \sqrt{n+1} &lt; 0<br />
oustanding, thanks for that.
 

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