Prove: Sum ai bi Converges if Sum ai & Sum bi Non-negative

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the convergence of the series formed by the product of two sequences, specifically whether the series sum ai bi converges given that both sum ai and sum bi are convergent series with non-negative terms. Participants explore the implications of non-negativity on convergence and the necessity of this condition for the validity of the statement.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the need for non-negativity in the terms of the series and question whether counterexamples exist if this condition is relaxed. Some suggest using the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality as a potential approach, while others propose a comparison test based on the behavior of convergent series.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing exploration of different mathematical approaches to the problem, including the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality and comparison tests. Some participants have provided hints and suggestions for proving the convergence, while others express uncertainty about the application of these concepts.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the definitions of the series and their properties are crucial to the discussion, and there is a recognition of the need to clarify assumptions regarding the terms of the series. The conversation reflects a mix of attempts to prove the statement and to understand the implications of the conditions given.

math25
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Hi

Can someone please help me to
prove or give a counter example is sum ai and sum bi are convergent series with non-negative terms then sum aibi converges


I believe that if it doesn't say "non-negative terms" then this wouldn't be true. Am I correct?

Since each of two non-negative series converges then the series sum ai bi converges also. However I am not sure how to prove this.

thanks
 
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math25 said:
Hi

Can someone please help me to
prove or give a counter example is sum ai and sum bi are convergent series with non-negative terms then sum aibi convergesI believe that if it doesn't say "non-negative terms" then this wouldn't be true. Am I correct?

Correct. Can you find a counterexample? (Hint: you can find one with [itex]a_i = b_i[/itex].)

Since each of two non-negative series converges then the series sum ai bi converges also. However I am not sure how to prove this.
Do you know any inequalities that involve [itex]\sum a_i b_i[/itex]?
 


jbunniii said:
Correct. Can you find a counterexample? (Hint: you can find one with [itex]a_i = b_i[/itex].)ai= (cos n pie)/squareroot (n)= bi this would work right?Do you know any inequalities that involve [itex]\sum a_i b_i[/itex]?
ai= (cos n pie)/squareroot (n)= bi this would work right?

I'm sorry I am not sure what you mean...i feel like this problem its very simple but for some reason I have such a hard time with it
 


math25 said:
ai= (cos n pie)/squareroot (n)= bi this would work right?

Yes, that's the example I had in mind. Of course [itex]\cos(n\pi) = (-1)^n[/itex].

I'm sorry I am not sure what you mean...i feel like this problem its very simple but for some reason I have such a hard time with it

Do you know the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality?
 


the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality:


sum ai bi is less then or equal to sum (ai^2)^1/2 sum (bi^2)^1/2
 


math25 said:
the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality:


sum ai bi is less then or equal to sum (ai^2)^1/2 sum (bi^2)^1/2

OK, good. Now, given that all the [itex]a_i[/itex] are nonnegative, what can you say about

[tex]\sum a_i^2[/tex]

if you know that

[tex]\sum a_i[/tex]

is finite?
 


if ai converges (finite) then (ai)2 converges also.
 


math25 said:
if ai converges (finite) then (ai)2 converges also.

Correct, but do you know how to prove it?

And can you see how to use this fact along with the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality to solve the problem?
 


Since I am not sure how to use the Cauchy ineq. , how about something like this :

Let
Ai=Sum[i=0 to inf] ai
Bi=Sum[i= 0 to inf] bi
Ci=Sum[i=0 to inf] ai* bi
Ai, Bi, Ci are obviously strictly increasing (1) , because
Ai=A_(i-1)+a_n, similary Bi and Ci.
Let lim(n->inf)Ai=X, lim(n->inf)Bi=Y (because they converge).
Because they are strictly increasing,
=>Ai=X and Bi=Y for every i.
Ci=Ai*Bi, because
a1*b1+a2*b2+...an*bn<(a1+a2+..+an)*
*(b1+b2+..+bn)
From this, Ci=Ai*Bi=X*Y (2)
From (1) and (2) (monotonous and limited) Ci is convergent
 
  • #10


math25 said:
Since I am not sure how to use the Cauchy ineq. , how about something like this :

Let
Ai=Sum[i=0 to inf] ai
Bi=Sum[i= 0 to inf] bi
Ci=Sum[i=0 to inf] ai* bi

These definitions don't make any sense. On the right hand side, you have summed over i = 0 to infinity. The result therefore does not depend on i.

Ai, Bi, Ci are obviously strictly increasing (1) ,
Since your definition of Ai, Bi, Ci above doesn't actually depend on i, this statement also makes no sense. A constant can't be strictly increasing.

Let's look at the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality again, which looks like the following assuming that [itex]a_i[/itex] and [itex]b_i[/itex] are non-negative:

[tex]\sum a_i b_i \leq \sqrt{\sum a_i^2} \sqrt{\sum b_i^2}[/tex]

Therefore, if [itex]\sum a_i^2[/itex] and [itex]\sum b_i^2[/itex] are finite, then so is [itex]\sum a_i b_i[/itex].

We know that [itex]\sum a_i[/itex] and [itex]\sum b_i[/itex] are finite. If you can show that this implies that [itex]\sum a_i^2[/itex] and [itex]\sum b_i^2[/itex] are finite, then you're done. So focus on this step.

Here's a hint: if [itex]x[/itex] is a nonnegative real number, what has to be true of [itex]x[/itex] in order to have [itex]x^2 \leq x[/itex]?
 
  • #11


Actually you don't really need Cauchy-Schwarz do you? If the series ai converges then ai approaches 0. So ai<1 for i large enough, doesn't it? Use a comparison test.
 
  • #12


Dick said:
Actually you don't really need Cauchy-Schwarz do you? If the series ai converges then ai approaches 0. So ai<1 for i large enough, doesn't it? Use a comparison test.

Yes, that's much better. When I see an inner product I always think "Cauchy-Schwarz" but in this case it meant that I didn't notice the more direct proof.
 

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