M361K (56225) Midterm 2 Solutions

P∞
1. (10 points) Show that n=0 1/((n + 1)(n + 2)) = 1.

Solution: Observe that

1 1 1
= − ,
(n + 1)(n + 2) n+1 n+2

so the partial sums telescope:

k k  
X 1 X 1 1 1
= − =1− .
n=0
(n + 1)(n + 2) n=0 n+1 n+2 k+2

Hence
∞ k  
X 1 X 1 1
= lim = lim 1 − = 1.
n=0
(n + 1)(n + 2) k→∞ n=0 (n + 1)(n + 2) k→∞ k+2

P∞
2. (10 points) Show that the series n=2 1/(n log n) diverges.

Solution:
P Recall the Cauchy test for convergence: P∞if ak1 ≥ a2 ≥ · · · ≥ 0, then the
series ∞ a
n=1 n converges if and only if the series k=0 2 a2k converges. Since x log x
is increasing and positive on (1, ∞), we have
1 1
> > · · · > 0.
2 log 2 3 log 3
Moreover, the sum
∞ ∞
X 2k X 1
=
k=1
2k log 2k k=1
k log 2
diverges (one can
P∞see this, for example, by another application of the Cauchy test).
Hence the sum n=2 1/(n log n) diverges.

p
3. Suppose that {an }n≥0 is a sequence in R. Let α = lim supn→∞ n
|an |. Assume that α <
∞.
P∞
(a) (8 points) Prove the Cauchy-Hadamard theorem: show the series n=0 an z n con-
verges if α|z| < 1 and diverges if α|z| > 1.
Midterm 2 Solutions 2

Solution: Recall the root test: if ξ = lim supn→∞ |xn |1/n , then the series ∞
P
n=1 xn
converges when
P ξ < 1 nand diverges when ξ > 1. When we apply this criterion
to the series ∞
n=0 an z , we find

lim sup |an z n |1/n = lim sup |an |1/n |z| = α|z|.
n→∞ n→∞
P∞
Hence n=0 an z n converges when α|z| < 1 and diverges when α|z| > 1.
P∞
(b) (2 points) Show that if α|z| < 1, then the series n=1 nan z n−1 converges.

Solution: The series ∞ n−1

converges if and only if ∞ n
P P
n=1 nan z n=1 nan z con-
verges (multiply the original series by z), and the latter converges when β|z| < 1,
where β = lim supn→∞ |nan |1/n < 1. Now, limn→∞ n1/n = 1 (the binomial the-
orem gives the bound 0 ≤ (n1/n − 1)2 ≤ 2/(n − 1) for n > 1). This implies
that β = lim supn→∞ |an |1/n = α. To see the first equality, note that if 0 < ε < 1,
there exists m > 0 so that 1 < n1/n < 1 + ε when n ≥ m. This implies
that α ≤ lim supn→∞ ≤ (1 + ε)α.

4. (10 points) Show that if f : R → R is continuous and f (R) ⊆ Q, then f is constant.

Solution: Suppose x, y ∈ R so that f (x) 6= f (y). Without loss of generality, as-

sume f (x) < f (y) and x < y (replace f by −f if necessary). Since R \ Q is dense
in R, there exists C ∈ (R \ Q) ∩ (f (x), f (y)). By the intermediate value theorem,
there exists t ∈ (x, y) so that f (t) = C. This contradicts the assumption f (R) ⊆ Q,
so f (x) = f (y). Hence f is constant.

5. (a) (8 points) Show that if f : X → Y is uniformly continuous and {xn }n∈N is a

Cauchy sequence in X, then {f (xn )}n∈N is a Cauchy sequence in Y .

Solution: Let ε > 0. Since f is uniformly continuous, there exists δ > 0

so that d(x, y) < δ implies d(f (x), f (y)) < ε. Since {xn } is Cauchy, there
exists N ≥ 0 so that for all n1 , n2 ≥ N , we have d(xn1 , xn2 ) < δ. This im-
plies d(f (xn1 ), f (xn2 )) < ε for all n1 , n2 ≥ N , so {f (xn )} is Cauchy.

(b) (2 points) Show that the function f (x) = x−1 is not uniformly continuous on (0, ∞).

Solution: The sequence defined by xn = 1/n is a Cauchy sequence, since it

converges to 0. However, f (xn ) = n. The sequence {n} is not Cauchy, since
there are no two terms xm and xn with m 6= n so that |xm − xn | < 1. Hence f
cannot be uniformly continuous on (0, ∞).