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SOME TECHNIQUES OF USING THE STOLZ –CESÀRO’S

THEOREM

NGUYEN VIET DUONG, LUU GIANG NAM, NGUYEN NGOC GIANG

Abstract. The article refers to the techniques of using Stolz Cesro theorem.

The Stolz –Cesàro theorem is named according to the mathematcians Ernesto

Cesàro (Italia) and Otto Stolz (Austrian) who stated and proved it for the first time.
This theorem plays an important role for solving the convergence of a class of se-
quences. Stolz –Cesàro theorem is stated and understood easily. However, it is
quite difficult to use in solving problems. This article will provide some techniques
through exercises.
We use problems which were discussed in Vietnam Mathematical Forum [4] and
Math Stackexchange [5] for our exercises.
Introduction
The Stolz –Cesàro theorem: General situation
Let {an }n≥1 be an any sequence of real numbers and suppose that {bn }n≥1 is a
sequence of positive numbers such that bn is strictly monotone increasing to ∞.
Then
an an+1 − an
lim inf ≥ lim inf
n→∞ bn n→∞ bn+1 − bn

an an+1 − an
lim sup ≥ lim sup
n→∞ bn n→∞ bn+1 − bn

Proof:
Readers can read the proof of this theorem in [2].

Corollary: Let {an }n≥1 and {bn }n≥1 be two sequences of real numbers. Assume
that {(bn )n≥1 } is strictly monotone and is a divergent consequence and the following
limit exists:
an+1 − an
lim =l
n→+∞ bn+1 − bn
an
Then, the limit lim also exists and it is equal to l. This corollary is an im-
n→+∞ bn
portant result and we often use it for solving problems.

L’Hospital’s rule: Given functions f and g which are differential on an open

interval I. They except possibly at a point c contained in I, if
lim f (x) = lim g(x) = 0 or ∞, g 0 (x) 6= 0
x→c x→c
1
2 N. V. DUONG, L. G. NAM, N. N. GIANG

for all x in I with x 6= c and

f 0 (x)
lim
x→c g 0 (x)

exists, then:
f (x) f 0 (x)
lim = lim 0
x→c g(x) x→c g (x)

It is an important rule to calculate the limit of fractions, we can find a lot of

websites, books or articles to prove it, we provide you a website [3].

These are all of knowledge that you need to know and read this article. Now we
are going to go some applications of the Stolz –Cesàro theorem.

Some Applications of the the Stolz –Cesàro theorem

Example 1
xn
If {xn }n≥1 , n ≥ 0, lim = +∞ . Then
n→∞ n

n
1 X 1
lim √ √ =0
n→∞ n xn
k=1

√ n
P1
Proof. bn = n, an = √
k=1 xn
⇒ bn is strictly increasing, unbounded and
1
√ √ √
an+1 − an xn + 1 n+1+ n
L = lim = lim √ √ = lim √
n→∞ bn+1 − bn n→∞ n + 1 − n n→∞ xn + 1
r r 
n+1 n
= lim +
n→∞ xn + 1 xn + 1
 n
 lim =0
xn n→∞
x
n
However, we have: lim = +∞ ⇒ n+1 1

n→∞ n
 lim
 − = 0.
n→∞ xn n
⇒L=0  
1 P n 1 xn
So we have lim √ √ = 0 if lim = +∞ 
n→∞ n k=1 n n→∞ n

Example 2
Let p ∈ R, p 6= 1, we have.
1p + 2p + 3p + ... + np 1
lim = .
n→∞ np+1 p+1
n
ip , bn = np+1 . Then, we have :
P
Proof. Choose an =
i=1

an+1 − an (n + 1)p
lim = lim
n→∞ bn+1 − bn n→∞ (n + 1)p+1 − np+1
 SOME TECHNIQUES OF USING THE STOLZ–CESÀRO 3

We invert the fraction and compute as follows:

1 p+1
(n + 1)p+1 − np+1 1−( )
= n+1 (∗)
(n + 1)p 1
n+1
1
Let q = (0 < q < 1) and
n+1
1 − (1 − x)p+1
f (x) =
x
We can calculate the limit of f when x tends to 0.
1 − (1 − x)p+1
lim f (x) = lim
x→0 x→0 x
(p + 1)(1 − x)p
= lim (L0 Hopital rule)
x→0 1
=p+1
1
Then, replacing x by we have:
n+1
n p+1
1−( ) (n + 1)p+1 − np+1
lim n+1 = p + 1 or lim =p+1
n→∞ 1 n→∞ (n + 1)p+1
n+1
It implies:
an+1 − an 1
lim =
n→∞ bn+1 − bn p+1
then
1p + 2p + 3p + ... + np 1
lim =
n→∞ np+1 p+1


Example 3
Calculate:
n+1
lim √ √ √
1+ 2 + 3 + ... + n
Proof: 
an = n + 1
Letting n √
P , we have
 bn = i
n=1
an+1 − an 1
lim = lim √ = 0.
n→∞ bn+1 − bn n→∞ n+1
an n+1
So we have: lim = lim √ √ √ √ = 0.
n→∞ bn n→∞ 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + ... + n
Remarks: A different solution for this problem is as follows. It may be quite
difficult to know how we can think like this !
Note that
n r
√ √ √ √ X k
1 + 2 + ... + n = n
n
k=1
4 N. V. DUONG, L. G. NAM, N. N. GIANG

Using the definition of the Riemann integral we have:

n r Z 1
1X k √ 2
lim = xdx =
n→+∞ n n 0 3
k=1
Then
n+1 n+1 1
lim √ √ = lim √ r =0
n→+∞ 1+ 2 + ... + n n→+∞ n n 1 Pn k
n k=1 n
Example 4
un+1
If {un }n≥1 is a sequence of positive real numbers and if lim = u then
n→∞ un
√
lim n un = u.
n→∞

Proof:

Letting lim an = ln un , bn = n, we get:

n→∞
un+1
ln
an+1 − an un un+1
lim = lim = lim (ln ) = ln u.
n→∞ bn+1 − bn n→∞ 1 n→∞ un
an ln un √
⇒ lim = lim = lim lim n un = lim u
n→∞ bn n→∞ n n→∞
√
⇒ n un = u. QED

Example 5
(
x1 = 1 xn
Let (xn )n≥1 , √ . Find lim .
xn+1 = x1 + x2 + ... + xn n→∞ n

Proof:

We note that x2n+1 = x2n + xn and all of terms of {xn }n≥1 are positive.
Moreover, we can prove that {xn }n≥1 is strictly increasing. If it is bounded then
limit {xn }n≥1 exists and denotes by it L.
Then, L2 = L2 + L ⇔ L = 0. It is contradictious.
So limn→+∞ xn = +∞.
Then we have: r
xn+1 1
lim = lim 1+ =1
n→+∞ xn n→+∞ xn

an = xn ,
Putting then we have:
bn = n
xn xn+1 − xn
lim = lim = lim (xn+1 − xn )
n→+∞ n n→+∞ n + 1 − n n→+∞
2 2
xn+1 − xn xn
= lim = lim
n→+∞ xn+1 + xn n→+∞ xn+1 + xn
1 1
= lim x n+1
=
n→+∞
1+ 2
xn
 SOME TECHNIQUES OF USING THE STOLZ–CESÀRO 5

Example 6
Let {xn }n≥1 be a sequence of real numbers with x1 = 1 and
x2n + 2
xn+1 =
n+1
for any n ≥ 1. Find: Pn
xk
lim Pk=1
n 1
n→+∞
k=1 k
Proof:
By induction we have 0 < xn ≤ 2 for any n ≥ 2.
Then we have:
22 + 2
0 < xn+1 ≤ → 0 when n → +∞
n+1
Applying Stolz–Cesàro we have:
Pn
xk xn x2n−1 + 2
lim Pk=1 n = lim = lim n
n→+∞ 1 n→ 1 n→+∞ n
k=1 k
n
= lim x2n−1 + 2 = 2
n→+∞

So we have the limit: Pn

xk
lim Pk=1
n 1 =2
n→+∞
k=1 k

Example 7
n √
x2k = 1. Prove that lim 3
P
Let {xn } ∈ R with lim xn 3nxn = 1.
n→∞ k=1 n→∞

Proof:
n
x2k then xn Sn → 1.
P
Let Sn =
k=1
We can prove easily that Sn is strictly increasing.
1
If Sn is convergent to L then xn → > 0.
L
Then we have
1
x2n → 2
L
Xn
Sn = x2k → +∞ (Because terms of x2k are finite)
k=1
It is contradictious.
Then we have lim Sn = +∞ ⇒ lim xn = 0.
n→∞ n→∞

Sn3 − Sn−1
3
= x2n (Sn2 + Sn Sn−1 + Sn−1
2
)→3
(
xn Sn → 1
Because , using Stolz - Cesàro we have
xn Sn−1 → 1
Sn3 S 3 − Sn−1
3
lim = lim n =3
n→∞ n n→∞ n − (n − 1)
6 N. V. DUONG, L. G. NAM, N. N. GIANG

We deduce that √
3
Sn 3n
lim √ = lim xn Sn = 1.
n→∞ 3 3n n→∞ Sn

References
[1] StolzCesàro theorem - Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StolzCesro theorem
[2] Stolz-Cesro Theorem - Math Stackexchange
http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/109069/stolz-cesro-theorem
[3] Proof of L’Hospital’s rule.
https://www.math.hmc.edu/calculus/tutorials/lhopital/sketch-proof.html
[4] Vietnam Mathematical Forum.
https://www.diendantoanhoc.net
[5] Math Stackexchange
http://math.stackexchange.com

Nguyen Viet Duong

Math teacher in Ho Chi Minh City, 71, C18 street, ward 12, Tan Binh district, Ho Chi
Minh city, Viet Nam
E-mail address: nvduongnd9.6@gmail.com

Luu Giang Nam

Ho Chi Minh University of Science, Math & Computer Science Faculty
E-mail address: lgnam.khtn@gmail.com

Nguyen Ngoc Giang

Department of economic mathematics, Banking University Ho Chi Minh, 36, Ton That
Dam, Nguyen Thai Binh ward, district 1, Ho Chi Minh city, Viet Nam
E-mail address: nguyenngocgiang.net@gmail.com