Pure Mathematics – Limit of Sequence p.

Limit of Sequence
Assignment
n n +1
1 1
1. For every positive integer n, define x n = ∑ and y n = ∑ .
k =1 n + k k =1 n + k

(a) Prove that the sequence {x n } is strictly increasing and that the sequence
{y n } is strictly decreasing.
(b) Prove that the sequence {x n } and {y n } converge to the same limit.

2. Let {a n } be a sequence of positive real numbers, where

12a n −1 + 12
a1 = 1 and a n = , n = 2, 3, 4, ….
a n −1 + 13
(a) Prove that a n ≤ 3 for all positive integers n.
(b) Prove that {a n } is convergent and find its limit.

3. Let a1 and b1 be real numbers satisfying a1b1 > 0.

For each n = 1, 2, 3, …, define

a n + bn
2 2
2 a n bn
a n +1 = and bn +1 = .
a n + bn a n + bn

(a) Suppose a1 ≥ b1 > 0 .

(i) Prove that a n ≥ bn for all n = 1, 2, 3, ….
(ii) Prove that the sequence {a n } is monotonic decreasing and that the
sequence {bn } is monotonic increasing.

(iii) Prove that lim a n and lim bn both exist.

n →∞ n →∞

(iv) Prove that lim a n = lim bn .

n →∞ n →∞

(v) Find lim(a n + bn ) and lim an in terms of a1 and b1.

n→∞ n →∞

(b) Suppose a1 ≤ b1 < 0 .

Do the limits of the sequences {a n } and {bn } exist? Explain your answer.
Pure Mathematics – Limit of Sequence p.2

4. Let {x n } be a sequence of real numbers such that x1 > x2 and

3xn+2 – xn+1 – 2xn = 0 for n = 1, 2, 3, ….
2 n −1
Show that for n ≥ 1 , x n + 2 − x n = (− 1) ⋅ (x1 − x2 ) .
n
(a) (i)
3n
(ii) Show that sequence {x1 , x3 , x5 , K} is strictly decreasing and that the
sequence {x 2 , x 4 , x6 ,K} strictly increasing.
(b) (i) For any positive integers n, show that x2n < x2n-1.
(ii) Show that the sequences {x1 , x3 , x5 ,K} and {x 2 , x 4 , x6 ,K} converge
to the same limit.
p
(c) By considering ∑ (x
n =1
n+2 − x n ) or otherwise, find lim x n in terms of x1
n →∞

and x2.
[You may use the fact, without proof, that from (b)(ii), lim x n exists.]
n →∞