Let a>0 and the sequence (xn) is defined by x1=a, xn+1=xn+n2xn,∀n≥1. Prove that (xn) has a finite limit when n tends to infinity.
Solution
We have xn+1<xn+1+4n41=xn+22n2xn+4n41=(xn+2n21)2. Therefore xn+1<xn+2n21, n=1,2,3,… thus xn+1<a+i=1∑n2i21<a+21+i=2∑n2i(i−1)1<a+21+21i=2∑n(i−11−i1)==a+21+21(1−n1)<a+1 So xn+1<(a+1)2 for all n. The given sequence is bounded above, strictly increasing and so has a finite limit. (Q.E.D).
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