A sequence (xn) is defined as follows x1=1 and xn+1=xn+3xn+xnn for all positive integers n.
a) Prove that limn→+∞xnn=0.
b) Find the limit limn→+∞xnn2.
Solution
a. We will prove xn≥n2 for all positive integers by induction. The statement is obvious in case n=1. Assume that xn≥n2, hence xn+1>xn+3xn≥xn+3n≥(n+1)2. Therefore, the statement is proved. Thus 0<xnn≥n1. By the Squeeze theorem, one can get limn→+∞xnn=0.
b. Let xn=yn2 and the given formula can be rewritten as (yn+1−yn)(yn+1+yn)=3yn+ynn then combine with the formula of yn+1 calculated by yn, the above equality obtains that yn+1−yn=yn2+3yn+ynn+yn3yn+ynn=1+yn3+yn3n+13+yn2n From part a), one could deduce that n→+∞limyn1=n→+∞limyn3n=0 hence n→+∞lim(yn+1−yn)=23. By Cesàro mean theorem, n→+∞limnyn=23⇒n→+∞limxnn2=94 and it is the result.
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