- #1
JThompson
- 95
- 0
Homework Statement
Prove that if [itex]\sum{|a_{n}|}[/itex] converges and [itex](b_{n})[/itex] is a bounded sequence, then [itex]\sum a_{n}b_{n}[/itex] converges.
Homework Equations
Comparison Test part (i): Let [itex]\sum a_{n}[/itex] be a series where [itex]a_{n}\geq 0[/itex] for all n. If [itex]\sum a_{n}[/itex] converges and [itex]|b_{n}|\leq a_{n}[/itex] for all n, then [itex]\sum b_{n}[/itex] converges.
or Cauchy criterion
The Attempt at a Solution
Upon seeing this problem, I immediately thought of a proof using the Comparison Test which seemed easier that using the Cauchy criterion.
Proof:
Since [itex](b_{n})[/itex] is bounded, [itex]\exists M\in\mathbb{R}[/itex] with [itex]|b_{n}|\leq M[/itex] for all n. Then [itex]|a_{n}b_{n}|\leq M|a_{n}|[/itex].
Since [itex]\sum |a_{n}|[/itex] converges, [itex]\sum M|a_{n}|[/itex] converges (we proved this previously).
Since [itex]|a_{n}b_{n}|\leq M|a_{n}|[/itex] and [itex]\sum M|a_{n}|[/itex] converges, [itex]\sum a_{n}b_{n}[/itex] converges by the Comparison Test.
There were no marks indicating which part was incorrect, but I received half credit for the problem and my professor's comment was, "[itex]\sum |a_{n}b_{n}|[/itex] converges, use Cauchy criterion." Where does this proof run afoul?