# Question on sequence and limits.

Gold Member
prove that the limit of the sequence an=1/n+1/(n+1)+...+1/2n
exists. show that the limit is less than 1 but not less than 1/2.

the first part of the question i did already, im not sure about the second part of the question if i did properly.

n(1/n+...+1/2n)>=an=1/n+...+1/2n>=1/n^2+...+1/2n^2
because the limit exists, for every n>N(e) (for every e>0) |a-an|<e
and thus, a-e<an<a+e
if we let e=1/2 then a+e<=1.5 and thus a<=1.
a-1/2>=1/n^2+...+1/2n^2-1/2>0
thus a>1/2.

is this correct?

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0rthodontist

You should do this by trying to find sequences whose limits are 1 or 1/2 but that are respectively greater than or less than this sequence. What if every term in the sum were 1/n? What if every term in the sum were 1/2n?

Gold Member
thanks for the help, i got it now.
i have another two questions about limits:
1)find: lim(1/(1*2*3)+1/(2*3*4)+...+1/n(n+1)(n+2)) as n appraoches infinity.
2)if a0+a1+...+ap=0, prove that $$lim(a_0\sqrt n+a_1\sqrt (n+1)+...a_p\sqrt (n+p))=0$$ as n appraoches infinity.
for the second question i have the hint to take out sqrt(n) out as a factor which i did, but i got this:
lim(sqrt(n))*lim(a0+a1sqrt(1+1/n)+...+ap(sqrt(1+p/n)) the first limit diverges to infinity, and the second converges to zero, but as i know infinity times 0 is intermediate. (if it were $$n^{1/n}$$ then it would converge to 1).
for the first question i tried to use this identity, 1/k(k+1)(k+2)=1/(k+2)[1/k-1/(k+1)] but didnt succeed here.

benorin
Homework Helper
Gold Member
Use the full partial fraction decomposition:

$$\frac{1}{k(k+1)(k+2)}=\frac{1}{2k}-\frac{1}{k+1}+\frac{1}{2(k+2)}$$

here is a tool for partial fractions: http://www.hostsrv.com/webmab/app1/MSP/quickmath/02/pageGenerate?site=quickmath&s1=algebra&s2=partial_fractions&s3=basic [Broken]

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0rthodontist
I don't know how you were supposed to do the second one, but one way that works:
The problem is equivalent to the problem of whether $$\sqrt{n}-\sqrt{n+1}$$ goes to 0. This is because the original sum can be written as a sum of p - 1 constant multiples of these simpler terms. Namely,
$$a_0\sqrt {n}+a_1\sqrt {n+1}+...a_p\sqrt {n+p}$$
=
$$\sum_{i=0}^{p-1} (\sum_{j=0}^{i}a_j) \cdot (\sqrt{n + i}-\sqrt{n + i+1})$$

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benorin
Homework Helper
Gold Member
Since $$a_0+a_1+\cdots +a_p=0,$$ we have $$a_0= -\left( a_1+\cdots +a_p\right) ,$$ and hence

$$\lim_{n \rightarrow\infty} \left( a_0\sqrt{n}+a_1\sqrt{n+1}+\cdots +a_p\sqrt{n+p}\right)$$
$$= \lim_{n \rightarrow\infty} \left[ -\left( a_1+\cdots +a_p\right) \sqrt{n}+a_1\sqrt{n+1}+\cdots +a_p\sqrt{n+p}\right]$$
$$=\lim_{n \rightarrow\infty} \left[ a_1\left( \sqrt{n+1} - \sqrt{n}\right)+ a_2\left( \sqrt{n+2} - \sqrt{n}\right) + \cdots + a_p\left( \sqrt{n+p} - \sqrt{n}\right) \right]$$
$$=\lim_{n \rightarrow\infty} \left( \frac{a_1}{\sqrt{n+1} + \sqrt{n}}+ \frac{2a_2}{\sqrt{n+2} + \sqrt{n}}+ \cdots + \frac{pa_p}{\sqrt{n+p} + \sqrt{n}} \right) =0$$

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Gold Member
****, i knew it was simple, anyway here are a couple of more questions:
1)without reference to binomial theorem show that an=(1+1/n)^n is monotone increasing and bn=(1+1/n)^(n+1) is monotone decreasing.
(hint: use bernouli inequality).
well i got these inequalities but i dont know how to infer from them that an+1>=an.
here are the inequalities (i know you can infer this also from the limit of the sequence):
(1+1/n)^n>=2
(1+1/(n+1))^(n+1)>=2
(1+1/(n+1))^n>=1+n/(n+1)
(1+1/n)^(n+1)>=2+1/n
(1+1/(n+1))^n<=(1+1/(n+1))^(n+1)<=(1+1/n)^(n+1)
what's missing here?
2) if an>0 and lim a_n+1/a_n=L as n appraoches infinity, then lim (a_n)^(1/n)=L
what i did is as follows:
for every n>N(e) (for every e>0) |an+1/an-L|<e, L-e<an+1/an<L+e
if an+1/an<=1 then the sequence decreasing abnd is bounded below by:
L-e, cause an+1>an(L-e)>=L-e thus |an^(1/n)-L|<=|an-L|<e.
if an+1/an>1 then the sequence is increasing and L>=1 thus
an<an+1/(L-e) is bounded above an+1>an(L-e)>L-e thus
|an^(1/n)-L|<=|an-L|<e
what do you think of my appraoch? is it valid?

StatusX
Homework Helper
lqg, for the love of god, please use spaces between lines and learn a little latex. It isn't hard, and makes things 100 times easier to read (as well as easier to write).

Anyway, for the first question, the http://planetmath.org/encyclopedia/BernoullisInequality.html" [Broken] can be applied if you divide successive terms. For example:

$$\frac{(1+\frac{1}{n})^{n}}{(1+\frac{1}{n-1})^{n-1}}=\left(\frac{ (\frac{n+1}{n}) }{ (\frac{n}{n-1}) }\right)^n (\frac{n}{n-1})=(1-\frac{1}{n^2})^n(\frac{n}{n-1})$$

Then apply the inequality.

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Gold Member
i know little bit latex, but it takes more time to type in latex.

You should practice making your proofs more readable, I have added modifications to what you wrote in bold to give you an example of how to clarify your statements.

loop quantum gravity said:
2) if an>0 and lim a_n+1/a_n=L as n appraoches infinity, then lim (a_n)^(1/n)=L
what i did is as follows:
If e>0, pick N(e) so that for every n>N(e) |an+1/an-L|<e. Then L-e<an+1/an<L+e for all n>N(e)
if an+1/an<=1 then the sequence decreasing abnd is bounded below by:
L-e, cause an+1>an(L-e)>=L-e
This is a false statement, in order for it to be true you must be certain that an >= 1 for all n>N(e) which is not hypothesized. .

Try this,
You have that for all n > N,

$$L-e < \left| \frac{a_{n+1}}{a_n} \right| < L + e \ \ \ \ \ \ (1)$$

for n>N we can write

$$|a_n| = \left| \frac{a_n}{a_{n-1}} \right| \cdot \left| \frac{a_{n-1}}{a_{n-2}} \right| \cdots \left| \frac{a_{N+1}}{a_N} \right| \cdot |a_N| \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ (2)$$

note that there are n-N fractions so use inequality (1) n-N times.

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Gold Member
i dont see how can i use this?

Using (1) and (2), we have that

$$|a_N|\cdot(L-e)^{n-N} < |a_n| < |a_N|\cdot(L+e)^{n-N} \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ (3)$$

define $c_1 = |a_N|\cdot(L-e)^{-N}$, and $c_2 = |a_N|\cdot(L+e)^{-N}$

Then (3) becomes:

$$c_1(L-e)^n < |a_n| < c_2(L+e)^n$$

take the n'th root of each side and then take the limit as n goes to infinity. Recall that if a>0 then $\lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} a^{\frac{1}{n}} = 1$

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0rthodontist
benorin said:
Since $$a_0+a_1+\cdots +a_p=0,$$ we have $$a_0= -\left( a_1+\cdots +a_p\right) ,$$ and hence

$$\lim_{n \rightarrow\infty} \left( a_0\sqrt{n}+a_1\sqrt{n+1}+\cdots +a_p\sqrt{n+p}\right)$$
$$= \lim_{n \rightarrow\infty} \left[ -\left( a_1+\cdots +a_p\right) \sqrt{n}+a_1\sqrt{n+1}+\cdots +a_p\sqrt{n+p}\right]$$
$$=\lim_{n \rightarrow\infty} \left[ a_1\left( \sqrt{n+1} - \sqrt{n}\right)+ a_2\left( \sqrt{n+2} - \sqrt{n}\right) + \cdots + a_p\left( \sqrt{n+p} - \sqrt{n}\right) \right]$$
$$=\lim_{n \rightarrow\infty} \left( \frac{a_1}{\sqrt{n+1} + \sqrt{n}}+ \frac{2a_2}{\sqrt{n+2} + \sqrt{n}}+ \cdots + \frac{pa_p}{\sqrt{n+p} + \sqrt{n}} \right) =0$$
Well, it's roughly the same idea as what I said--a sum of constant multiples of p-1 sequences of the form
$$\sqrt{n + k} - \sqrt{n}$$

Gold Member
StatusX said:
lqg, for the love of god, please use spaces between lines and learn a little latex. It isn't hard, and makes things 100 times easier to read (as well as easier to write).

Anyway, for the first question, the http://planetmath.org/encyclopedia/BernoullisInequality.html" [Broken] can be applied if you divide successive terms. For example:

$$\frac{(1+\frac{1}{n})^{n}}{(1+\frac{1}{n-1})^{n-1}}=\left(\frac{ (\frac{n+1}{n}) }{ (\frac{n}{n-1}) }\right)^n (\frac{n}{n-1})=(1-\frac{1}{n^2})^n(\frac{n}{n-1})$$

Then apply the inequality.
use the above to prove that:
(n/e)^n<n!<e(n+1)(n/e)^n
i tried to rearrange it this way:
(1/e)^n<n!/n^n<e(n+1)(1/e)^n
e= lim (1+n)^(1/n)
e(n+1)=(1+n)^(1/n+1)
but i didnt succeed in using the first question you helped me on status.
can someone hekp on here?

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StatusX
Homework Helper
Isn't this so much nicer:

loop quantum gravity said:
use the above to prove that:

$$\left(\frac{n}{e}\right)^n<n!< e (n+1)\left(\frac{n}{e}\right)^n$$

i tried to rearrange it this way:

$$\left(\frac{1}{e}\right)^n<\frac{n!}{n^n}<e(n+1)\left(\frac{1}{e}\right)^n$$

$$e= \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} (1+n)^{1/n}$$

$$e(n+1)=(1+n)^{1/n+1}$$

but i didnt succeed in using the first question you helped me on status.
can someone hekp on here?

That took me less than 5 minutes. Please start writing things this way. You'll get used to it in no time, and it makes our lives much easier. After all, we're helping you, so the least you can do is make it easier for us to do this.

As far as your question, the last equation above is wrong, and needs to be rewritten using limits. Be careful about mixing up n in the inequality and n in the limit defining e, and you should use two different variables for these.

The best way to solve this problem is probably to take the logs of each side, and then use an integral to approximate $\ln n! = \sum_k \ln k$.

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Gold Member
it's in a chapter before integral is being covered, so im guessing there's a solution without using integrals.

benorin
Homework Helper
Gold Member
exponential-factorial inequality proof

loop quantum gravity said:
use the above to prove that:

$$\left(\frac{n}{e}\right)^n< n! < e(n+1)\left(\frac{n}{e}\right)^n$$

$$\vdots$$​

but i didnt succeed in using the first question you helped me on status.
can someone hekp on here?

this follows from the previous problem: where it was proved that if

$$a_n=\left( 1+\frac{1}{n}\right) ^{n}, \, \, \, b_n=\left( 1+\frac{1}{n}\right) ^{n+1}$$​

then $$a_n$$ and $$b_n$$ are monotone increasing and decreasing sequences, respectfully. Also note that $$\lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}a_n=\lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}b_n=e$$ and so that for every $$n\in\mathbb{Z}^{+}$$ we have,

$$a_n\leq e \leq b_n$$​

that is

$$\left( 1+\frac{1}{n}\right) ^{n}\leq e \leq \left( 1+\frac{1}{n}\right) ^{n+1}$$​

now take the product of each term in this inequality from n=1 to k, i.e.

$$\prod_{n=1}^{k} \left( 1+\frac{1}{n}\right) ^{n}\leq e^{k} \leq \prod_{n=1}^{k}\left( 1+\frac{1}{n}\right) ^{n+1}$$​

rewrite this as

$$\prod_{n=1}^{k} \left( \frac{n+1}{n}\right) ^{n}\leq e^{k} \leq \prod_{n=1}^{k}\left( \frac{n+1}{n}\right) ^{n+1}$$​

expand it out

$$\frac{2^1\cdot 3^2\cdot 4^3 \cdots (k+1)^{k}}{1^1\cdot 2^2\cdot 3^3 \cdots k^{k}}\leq e^{k} \leq \frac{2^2\cdot 3^3\cdot 4^4 \cdots (k+1)^{k+1}}{1^2\cdot 2^3\cdot 3^4 \cdots k^{k+1}}$$​

notice the products telescope, and cancellation gives

$$\frac{(k+1)^{k}}{k!}\leq e^{k} \leq \frac{(k+1)^{k+1}}{k!}$$​

you can get it from here...

Gold Member
after rearranging the last equation, i get:
$$\frac{(k+1)^k}{e^k}<=k!<=\frac{(k+1)^{k+1}}{e^k}$$
if i put k=n-1 i still dont get the desired inequality.

benorin
Homework Helper
Gold Member
this gives tighter bounds...

loop quantum gravity said:
after rearranging the last equation, i get:

$$\frac{(k+1)^k}{e^k}\leq k!\leq \frac{(k+1)^{k+1}}{e^k}$$​

if i put k=n-1 i still dont get the desired inequality.
It's there: no worries... in fact, this gives tighter bounds. Here, put k=n-1 to get

$$\frac{n^{n-1}}{e^{n-1}}\leq (n-1)!\leq\frac{n^{n}}{e^{n-1}}$$​

now multiply by n to get

$$\frac{n^{n}}{e^{n-1}}\leq n!\leq\frac{n^{n+1}}{e^{n-1}}$$​

rewrite this as

$$e\left( \frac{n}{e}\right) ^{n}\leq n!\leq en\left( \frac{n}{e}\right) ^{n}$$​

now since $$1<e$$ and since $$n<n+1$$ we have

$$\left( \frac{n}{e}\right) ^{n} < e\left( \frac{n}{e}\right) ^{n}\leq n!\leq en\left( \frac{n}{e}\right) ^{n}< e(n+1)\left( \frac{n}{e}\right) ^{n}$$​

-Ben

Gold Member
yes, i figured it out already.
thanks for help ben.