Solution hints √ 1. Show that if a1 > b1 > 0, an+1 = an bn , and bn+1 = (an + bn )/2, then an and bn both converge to a common limit. Solu. By the AM-GM inequality bn ≤ an . Therefore, 0 ≤ an+1 ≤ an +a 2 n = an . Note that √ bn+1 ≥ bn bn = bn and bn ≤ bn+1 ≤ an+1 ≤ an . Both {an } and {bn } are bounded and {an } is monotonically decreasing and {bn } is monotonically increasing, so both sequences converge. For common limit: since limn→∞ bn+1 = limn→∞ an +b2 n and lim bn+1 = lim bn , we get lim an = lim bn .
2. Discuss the convergence of the following sequences:
1 (a) an = (an + bn ) n where 0 < a < b. (b) bn = (n + 1)α − nα where 0 < α < 1. √ √ (c) x1 = 2, xn+1 = 2xn , n ≥ 1. 4+3yn (d) y1 = 1, yn+1 = 3+2yn , n ≥ 1.
Solu. a n 1/n a n sn+1
(a) We have an = b 1 + b . Let sn = 1 + b . Then lim = 1. n→∞ sn
sn+1 Since lim = lim (sn )1/n , we get lim an = b. n→∞ sn n→∞ n→∞
1 α 1 1 (b) bn = nα − 1 ≤ nα 1 +
1+ n n −1 = n1−α . So lim bn = 0. n→∞ √ √ √ √ (c) By induction 0 < xn ≤ 2 and xn+1 − xn = 2xn − xn = xn ( 2 − xn ) ≥ 0. 1+yn (d) Note y2 > y1 and yn+1 = 1 + 3+2yn . Hence 1 ≤ yn ≤ 2 for all n ≥ 1. yn −yn−1 Since yn+1 − yn = (3+2yn )(3+2yn−1 ) , by induction we get {yn } is increasing. Hence it is convergent.
3. Suppose that a sequence {an } of real numbers satisfies 7an+1 = a3n + 6 for n ≥ 1. If a1 = 12 , prove that the sequence increases and find its limit. What happens if a1 = 32 or a1 = 52 ? Solu. Note that if a1 ≥ 0 then, an ≥ 0 ∀n ≥ 2. a3 −a3 (a2 +an an−1 +a2 )(an −an−1 ) Consider an+1 − an = n 7 n−1 = n 7 n−1 . If a1 < a2 , by induction {an } is increasing, otherwise {an } is decreasing. Hence the sequence {an } 3 is monotone. If 0 ≤ a1 ≤ 1, then an+1 = an7+6 ≤ 1 by induction. Therefore, for a1 = 21 , the sequence {an } is convergent (since it is monotone and bounded). Similarly you can discuss the convergence/divergence of {an } for other choices of a1 (try!).
4. If |an | < 2 and |an+2 − an+1 | ≤ 18 |a2n+1 − a2n | for n ≥ 1, prove that the sequences {an } converges.
Solu. Since |an | < 2, we have |an+2 − an+1 | ≤ 18 |an + an+1 | |an+1 − an | ≤ 12 |an+1 − an |. 1 Then we get |an+2 − an+1 | ≤ 2n−1 |a2 − a1 |. |a2 −a1 | For n > m, |an − am | ≤ |an − an−1 | + · · · + |am+1 − am | ≤ |a2 − a1 | n−1 1 P k=m 2k−2 ≤ 2m−3 . Now it is easy see that {an } is Cauchy, hence it is convergent.
5. Let (xn ) and (yn ) be sequences such that lim yn = 0. Suppose that for all k ∈ N and all m ≥ k n→∞ we have |xm − xk | ≤ |yk |. Show that the sequence (xn ) converges. Solu. Let > 0 be given. Since {yn } converges to 0, there exists a positive integer N such that |yn | < , ∀n ≥ N . For n > m ≥ N , we get |xn − xm | ≤ |ym | < . Hence, for n, m ≥ N , we have |xn − xm | ≤ |ym | < .
