Let f:[−1,1]→R be a continuous function having finite derivative at 0, and I(h)=∫−hhf(x)dx,h∈[0,1]. Prove that
a) There exists M>0, such that ∣I(h)−2f(0)h∣≤Mh2, for any h∈[0,1].
b) The sequence (an)n≥1, defined by an=∑k=1nk∣I(1/k)∣, is convergent if and only if f(0)=0.
Solution
a) The continuous function φ:(0,1]→R, φ(h)=h2I(h)−2f(0)h, may be prolonged by continuity at 0, since h→0limφ(h)=h→0lim2h(I(h)−2f(0)h)′=h→0lim2hf(h)+f(−h)−2f(0)==21h→0lim(hf(h)−f(0)−−hf(−h)−f(0))=21(f′(0)−f′(0))=0. Therefore φ is bounded on (0,1]. Let M=sup{∣φ(h)∣:0<h≤1}. Then ∣I(h)−2f(0)h∣≤Mh2, whatever h∈(0,1]; the inequality obviously also holds for h=0.
b) Since ∣∣I(h)∣−2∣f(0)∣h∣≤∣I(h)−2f(0)h∣≤Mh2,0<h≤1, it follows that 2∣f(0)∣h−Mh2≤∣I(h)∣≤2∣f(0)∣h+Mh2,0<h≤1, whence k2∣f(0)∣−kkM≤k∣I(1/k)∣≤k2∣f(0)∣+kkM,k∈N∗. But k=1∑nk1≥k=1∑nn1=n,n∈N∗. and k=1∑nkk1=1+k=2∑nkk1≤1+2k=2∑n(k−11−k1)==1+2(1−n1)<3,n∈N∗. According with these inequalities, it follows that
(1) If f(0)=0, then an≤3M, whatever n∈N∗; since the sequence (an)n≥1 is increasing, it is therefore convergent.
(2) If f(0)=0, then an≥2∣f(0)∣n−3M, whatever n∈N∗, so the sequence (an)n≥1 is unbounded.
Want a route through all this instead of an archive? The track
puts 2,000 problems in a working order, from AMC 10 level to the IMO shortlist.
Source: MathNet,
licensed CC-BY-4.0.
Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.