More Problems on Sequences and Series

Aditya Ghosh
September, 2020

1. Suppose xn is a sequence that converges to x. Show that sin xn converges to sin x and
cos xn converges to cos x. Does it imply that tan xn converges to tan x? (You may use
the result that | sin t| ≤ |t| holds for every t ∈ R.)
√
√ √ √2 √ √2 2
2. Define x1 = 2, x2 = 2 , x3 = 2 and so on. We want to find lim xn . We
√ x n→∞
set the limit to be x and arrive at x = 2 . Now, x = 2 and x = 4 both satisfy the
last equation. Which one of these is the correct value of the limit?

3. Use trigonometry to find the perimeter and the area of a regular n-gon inscribed in a
circle of unit radius. If this perimeter be Pn and this area be An , find the limit of Pn
and An as n → ∞. Does the result seem intuitive?

4. Start with an equilateral triangle with unit side length. Subdivide it into four smaller
congruent equilateral triangles and remove the central triangle. Repeat last step with
each of the remaining smaller triangles.

Denote by P (n) and A(n) the perimeter and area of the existing portion of the triangle
√
at the n-th step, e.g. P (2) = 9/2 unit and A(2) = 3 3/16 sq.unit. Find lim P (n)
n→∞
and lim A(n). Are you surprised?
n→∞

5. Suppose {xn }n≥1 is a sequence such that 0 < xn < 1 holds for each n ≥ 1. Furthermore,
suppose we have 4xn (1 − xn+1 ) > 1 for every n ≥ 1. Show that xn converges and also
find the limit.

6. Suppose {xn }n≥1 is a sequence such that

x 2 ≤ x4 ≤ x6 ≤ · · · ≤ x5 ≤ x 3 ≤ x1 .

Define yn = x2n−1 − x2n for all n ≥ 1. Assume further that lim yn = 0. Show that
n→∞
{xn }n≥1 must converge. (You are neither asked, nor able, to find the limit of xn .)
∞
X cos3 (3n x)
7. Calculate the series (−1)n . (Hint: cos 3θ = 4 cos3 θ − 3 cos θ.)
n=0
3n

1
 1599
X 1
8. (a) Find the largest positive integer not exceeding the value of √ .
k=1
k
n
1 X 1 
(b) Determine, with proof, the value of lim √ √ .
n→∞ n k=1 k
n  −1
X n
9. (a) Show that lim exists and also evaluate this limit.
n→∞
k=0
k
n  −1
X n
(b) Show that lim k = +∞ (in the sense that it diverges to +∞).
n→∞
k=0
k

10. For m ∈ N, define fm (n) = 1m + 2m + · · · + nm . Show that fm is a polynomial in n

and find its degree and leading coefficient. Hence evaluate the limit

1m + 2m + · · · + nm
lim .
n→∞ nm+1

Hint: Use (k + 1)m+1 − k m+1 = (m + 1)k m + m+1 m+1

m−1

2
k +···+ m+1
. Sum it up for
k = 1, 2, . . . , n. And use induction on m.

11. Let {xn }n≥1 be a sequence of real numbers. Define another sequence {an }n≥1 as

1
an = (x1 + x2 + · · · + xn ), n ≥ 1.
n

(a) If xn is bounded, show that an must be bounded too. Is the converse true?
(b) If xn converges to `, show that an must also converge to `. Is the converse true?
(c) Suppose that an converges to `. Does this imply that xn is at least bounded?

Comment: This is really an important result. We often use part (b) to calculate limits.
n
n n n 1/n 1X n
12. Define an = (2 + 3 + 6 ) , n ≥ 1. Calculate lim ak , and lim Pn .
n→∞ n n→∞ 1/ak
k=1 k=1

13. Suppose that {an }n≥0 is a sequence of positive reals which is bounded. Show that

a1 + a2 + · · · + an a2 + a22 + · · · + a2n
lim = 0 ⇐⇒ lim 1 = 0.
n→∞ n n→∞ n

∞
X
14. If {an }n≥1 be a positive sequence such that the series an converges, is it necessary
n=1
that lim nan = 0?
n→∞

Hint: We have seen this to hold if an is a decreasing sequence. Try to tweak a convergent
1/n2 , to see if you can get any counter-example.
P
series, such as

2
 ∞ ∞
X X an
15. Let {an }n≥1 be a positive sequence such that an diverges. Show that
n=1 n=1
1 + an
converges.
Hint: Consider two cases: whether an is bounded or unbounded. Treat them separately.

16. Let an be a decreasing sequence of positive real numbers. Show that

∞
X ∞
X
an converges if and only if 2n a2n converges.
n=1 n=1

Hint: Since both are series of positive numbers, it is enough to show that they are
bounded. Using the decreasing nature of an ’s to compare n≥1 an and n≥1 2n a2n .
P P

∞ ∞
X 1 X 1
17. Determine whether converges. What about ?
n=2
n log n n=2
n(log n)2

18. Let xn be a sequence of integers such that xk+1 6= xk holds for every k ≥ 1. Show that
xn can not be a Cauchy sequence. Is it possible that xn has a convergent subsequence?

19. A Physics problem demands you to evaluate the following continued fraction

b
a+ b
.
a+ a+ b
...

The usual way of doing this is to assume it equals x and then solving the equation
x = a + xb . But, after learning about some fallacies in series, we are now skeptical of
”assuming it equals x”. So we aim to show formally that the above continued fraction
”converges”, only then assume it equals x.

(a) Fix any a, b > 0. Define xn+1 = a + xbn for every n ≥ 0. Take any value of x0 > 0.
Show that lim xn exists. Also, find the limit.
n→∞
Hint: First, xn ≥ a for all n ≥ 1. Now show that |xn+1 − xn | ≤ λ|xn − xn−1 |
holds for every n ≥ 1, where λ ∈ (0, 1) is a constant. (Find a suitable λ here!)
(b) Check whether the limit does not exist for some a < 0 or b < 0. (In Physics you
usually have a, b > 0.)