Examples and Solutions

The sequence (xn ) with x ∈ < is convergent iff −1 < x ≤ 1

(i) Let x > 1 and write x = 1 + h, where h > 0. Then,

xn = (1 + h)n = 1 + nh + n C2 h2 + n C3 h3 + . . . + hn
⇒ xn > 1 + nh

Let R be a positive number , however large. 1 + nh > R if

n > (R − 1)/h. Thus ∀ n > m = [(R − 1)/h] + 1
xn > 1 + nh > R ⇒ (xn ) → ∞.

(ii) Let x=1. Clearly in this case xn = 1 for all n so (xn ) → 1

(iii) Let x=-1. Again clearly (xn ) = ±1 according to whether n is even or

odd. So the sequence oscillates finitely.

IISER
IISER Kolkata
Kolkata J  I
– p.
 Examples and Solutions
(iv) Let 0 < x < 1, so we write x = 1/(1 + h) h > 0. then
0 < xn = 1/(1 + h)n < 1/(1 + nh). Now given  > 0 however small,
1/(1 + nh) <  if n > (1/ − 1)/h. If we now take m = [(1/ − 1)/h] + 1,
then
∀ n > m, 0 < xn <  ⇒ |xn | < 
This means lim(xn ) = 0

(iv) Let x = 0. Here xn = 0 for all n so lim xn = 0.

(v) Let −1 < x < 0. Write x = −y so 0 < y < 1. Since

|xn | = y n <  ∀n > m lim xn = 0

(vi) Let x < −1. Then take x = −y y > 1. Then xn = (−y)n so the
sequence oscillates infinitely.

IISER
IISER Kolkata
Kolkata J  I
– p.
 Examples and Solutions

lim n1/n = 1
Let an = n1/n , so for n > 1, a n = 1 + hn hn > 0. Then,

n(n − 1) 2 n(n − 1) 2
n = an = (1 + hn )2 = 1 + nh + hn + . . . + h n
n > hn
2 2

So,
p
h2n
< 2/(n − 1) ⇒ 0 < hn < 2/(n − 1) <  ∀ n > m = [1 + 2/2 ] + 1
This implies hn → 0 so an → 1

IISER
IISER Kolkata
Kolkata J  I
– p.
 Examples and Solutions
If (an ) is a sequence such that lim {an+1 /an } = ` where |`| < 1, then
lim an = 0 Since |`| < 1 we can always choose a  > 0 such that
|`| +  < 1. Now ,
˛ ˛ ˛ ˛ ˛ ˛
˛ an+1 ˛ ˛ an+1 ˛ ˛ an+1 ˛
˛ an − `˛ <  ⇒ ˛ an ˛ − |`| ≤ ˛ an − `˛ < 
˛ ˛ ˛ ˛ ˛ ˛

or ˛ ˛
˛ an+1 ˛
˛ an ˛ < |`| +  = k < 1
˛ ˛

Changing n to m, m + 1, m + 2 . . . n − 1 ⇒ |an /am | < k n−m Or

|an | < k n · (|am |k −m ) → 0

IISER
IISER Kolkata
Kolkata J  I
– p.
 Examples and Solutions
If the sequences (an ) and (bn ) both tend to 0 and if (bn ) is strictly
monotonically decreasing and positive, then
an an − an+1
lim = lim
bn bn − bn+1

Provided the limit on the right exists

an −an+1
Since lim bn −bn+1
= ` for a given  > 0 there exists a m > 0 such that :

an − an+1
`−< <`+ ∀n>m
bn − bn+1
(` − )(bn − bn+1 ) < (an − an+1 ) < (` + )(bn − bn+1 ) ∀n>m

IISER
IISER Kolkata
Kolkata J  I
– p.
 Examples and Solutions
Changing n to n + 1, n + 2, . . . n + p − 1 and adding them,

(` − )(bn − bn+p ) < an − an+p < (` + )(bn − bn+p )

Now let us keep n fixed and let p → ∞, then since (an ) and (bn ) both
tend to 0, we get

(` − )bn ≤ an ≤ (` + )bn or −  ≤ (an /bn ) − ` ≤  ∀ n > m

This proves the problem

IISER
IISER Kolkata
Kolkata J  I
– p.
 Examples and Solutions
If lim an = ` then lim {
Pn
k=1 an }/n = `

Define bn = an − `, so that lim bn = 0. Also :

Pn Pn
k=1 an k=1 bn
= ` −
n n
Since (bn ) → 0, given  > 0 ∃m > 0 such that |bn | < /2 ∀ n > m. Also
since (bn ) → 0 it must be bounded, so ∃ k : |bn | < k ∀n. Thus :
˛ ˛ ˛ ˛
˛ b1 + b2 + . . . + b n ˛ ˛ b1 + b2 + . . . + b m b m+1 + b m+2 + . . . + b n˛
˛ ˛=˛ + ˛
˛ n ˛ ˛ n n ˛
|b1 | + |b2 | + . . . + |bm | |bm+1 | + |bm+2 | + . . . |bn |
≤ +
n n
kp 
≤ + <  if kp/2 < /2 ⇒ n > [2kp/] + 1
n 2
This proves the problem.

IISER
IISER Kolkata
Kolkata J  I
– p.
 Examples and Solutions

If lim an > 0 = ` then lim {

Qn
k=1 an }1/n = `

Letbn = log an then lim bn = log `. By the previous problem, we have :

b1 + b2 + . . . + b n
lim = lim bn = `
n
that is,

lim log (a1 · a2 · · · an )1/n = log ` ⇒ lim (a1 · a2 · · · an )1/n = `

This proves the problem

IISER
IISER Kolkata
Kolkata J  I
– p.