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Example:
List the rst four terms of the sequence
an =
n+1
,
2n 1
n Z,
n1
Solution:
2 2+1
3+1
4+1
,
,
,
,
1 2(2) 1 2(3) 1 2(4) 1
4 5
= 2,1, , ,
5 7
a1 , a2 , a3 , a4 , =
Example:
List the rst four terms of the sequence
b0 = 1 ,
bn+1 =
1
1
,
bn + 1
n0
Solution:
b0 = 1
1
1
=
=
b0 + 1
1+1
1
1
=
=
= 1
b1 + 1
+1
2
1
1
=
=
= 2
b2 + 1
+1
3
1 2 3
1, , , ,
2 3 5
b1 =
b2
b3
1
2
2
3
3
5
1
1 1 1
(i)
= 1, , , ,
n 1
2 3 4
1
n
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
n
0
1
n
10
0 as n .
1
We say that 0 is the limit of the above sequence as n tends to innity. If a sequence has
a limit, we say the sequence is convergent, and that the sequence converges to the limit.
(ii) n
= 1,2,3,4,
n
5
4
3
2
1
n
0
0
The terms in the sequence {n} increases without bound, the limit does not exist or
1
innite. The sequence does not converge to a limit, we say that the sequence is divergent.
Denition:
For a given sequence converges to a limit
an
n=1
L as n
where L is some number, we mean that we can make an as close to L as we want for
all suciently large n. If the limit of the sequence exists and nite, we say that the
sequence is convergent. When
an
n=1
as n
we mean that we can make an as large as we want for all suciently large n. The value
of an get larger and larger without bound as n approaches innity, we say that the
sequence is divergent. To nd the limit of the sequence, we must calculate
lim an .
n
Example 1:
Find the limit of the sequence
an =
n2 + 1
n2
Solution:
To nd the limit,
n2 + 1
n
n2
1
1 + n2
= lim
n
1
1+0
=
=1
1
lim an =
n
lim
n2 + 2
n1
Solution:
To nd the limit,
n2 + 2
n n 1
2
n+ n
= lim
n 1 1
n
+0
=
=
10
lim an =
n
lim
3. lim c an = c lim an
n
4. lim c = c
n
6. lim
n
an
bn
lim an
=
lim bn
if
lim bn = 0
n
n
p
7. lim (an )p =
n
lim an
provided
an 0
Theorem 1:
Let an be a sequence, let f (n) = an and suppose that f (x) exists for every real number
x 1.
i) If lim f (x) = L, then lim f (n) = L
x
Example:
1
If an = 1 + n , determine whether {an } converges/diverges.
Solution:
1
Let f (n) = 1 + n , then f (x) = 1 +
1
x
1+
1
= 1+0 =1
x
Example:
Determine whether the sequence below
i.) an = 1 n2 1
4
ii.) an =
n1
2n + 1
(1)n
iii.) an =
n
5
iv.) an = (1)n1
v.) an =
ln n
n
1 2
n
4
1 n=1 = 3 , 0 , 5 , 3 ,
4
4
To determine whether the sequence converges or diverges, we check the term at
limit n ,
1
1 2
lim
n 1 = lim n2 lim (1) =
n
n 4
4 n
Limit does not exist and the sequence diverges.
n1
1 2 3
= 0, , , ,
2n + 1 n=1
5 7 9
The limit of the sequence at n is
n1
= lim
n 2n + 1
n
lim
n
1
n
n
1
2n
+n
n
1
n 2 +
= lim
1
n
1
n
1
2
(1)n
1
1 1
= 1 , , , ,
n
2
3 4
n=1
The limit of the sequence at n
lim
n
(1)n
1
= lim = 0
n n
n
By Theorem 2,
(1)n
=0
n
n
lim
n=1
= 1 , 1 , 1 , 1 ,
Thus, lim (1)n1 does not exist and the sequence diverges.
n
Note: In this case, it is wrong to use Theorem 2 to show that
lim |(1)n1 | = lim |1| = 1
n
n=1
where we have used the LHopital rule to evaluate the limit of the sequence.
The sequence converges to 0.
Theorem 3:
The sequence {r n } is convergent if |r| <
r = 1, i.e.,
1
n
lim r =
n
undened
Example:
The limit
2 n
n
3
2
is convergent because r = 3 , and thus |r| = | 2 | =
3
2 n
limit lim
= 0.
n
3
The sequence converges to 0.
lim
2
3
Example:
The sequence {an } = {(1.01)n } is divergent because r = 1.01 > 1, then by Theorem 3
that the limit lim (1.01)n = .
n
converges/diverges.
Solution:
Since 1 < cos n < 1 and thus 0 < cos2 n < 1 for all positive n, then
0<
cos2 n
1
< n.
n
3
3
1
3
= 0,
< 1. Hence,
cos2 n
1
< lim n
lim 0 < lim
n
n
n
n 3
3
cos2 n
0 < lim
<0
n
3n
By Squeeze Theorem, the sequence an converges to 0.
Example:
If RM1000 is invested at a rate of 6% interest, compounded annually, then after n years
the investment is worth an = 1000(1.06)n RM.
a) Find the rst 3 terms of the sequence {an }.
b) Is the sequence convergent or divergent? Explain.
Solution:
a) The rst 3 terms are
a1 = 1000(1.06)1 = 1060
a2 = 1000(1.06)2 = 1123.60
a3 = 1000(1.06)3 = 1190.01
b) The sequence is divergent because the limit
lim (1.06)n =
n
Denition:
A sequence {an } is called monotonic increasing if an < an+1 for all n 1, i.e.,
a1 < a2 < a3 < < an <
It is called monotonic decreasing if an > an+1 for all a 1, i.e.,
a1 > a2 > a3 > > an >
Example:
Determine whether the sequence below is monotonic increasing/decreasing or not monotonic.
i) an =
1
5n
ii) an = n +
1
n
Solution:
i) The sequence
1 1 1
, , ,
5 52 53
for all n 1. It is monotonic decreasing.
{an } =
an > an+1
1
1
,3+ ,
2
3
for all n 1. It is monotonic increasing.
{an } = 1 + 1 , 2 +
an < an+1
Exercise:
Determine whether the sequence converges or diverges. If it converges nd the limit.
i) an =
ln n
ln 2n
ii) an =
2
1+
n
iii) an =
3
1+
n
1
n