Define a sequence xn:n=1,2,3,… by x1=1 and xn=xn−1+n for n≥2. Show that: n=1∑2018xn1<3.
Solution
xn≥6(n+1)(n+2)
This is true for n=1. Now suppose n≥2 and suppose that, inductively: xn−1≥6n(n+1) Now as n≥2, we have: nn+1=1+n1≤23 Multiplying each side by 9n(n+1): 9(n+1)2≤6n(n+1) As both sides are positive, we can take the square root of each side, which gives: 3n+1≤6n(n+1) This allows us to complete the inductive step: xn=xn−1+xn−1≥6n(n+1)+6n(n+1)≥6n(n+1)+3n+1=6(n+1)(n+2).
This is the inductive step we had to prove. Now we can apply this to the sum, which is: n=1∑2018xn1≤n=1∑2018(n+1)(n+2)6=n=1∑2018(n+16−n+26)=3−20206<3.
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Source: MathNet,
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