Exercises 10.

1
Finding Terms of a Sequence 3 1 1 3 5
18. - , - , , , , c Integers differing by 2
Each of Exercises 1–6 gives a formula for the nth term an of a 2 6 12 20 30
sequence 5an 6. Find the values of a1, a2, a3, and a4.
divided by products of
consecutive integers
1 - n 1 19. The sequence 0, 3, 8, 15, 24, c Squares of the positive
1. an = 2. an =
n2 n! integers diminished by 1
(-1)n + 1 20. The sequence - 3, -2, -1, 0, 1, c Integers, beginning with - 3
3. an = 4. an = 2 + (-1)n
2n - 1 21. The sequence 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, c Every other odd positive
2n 2n - 1 integer
5. an = n + 1 6. an =
2 2n 22. The sequence 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, c Every other even positive
integer
Each of Exercises 7–12 gives the first term or two of a sequence along
with a recursion formula for the remaining terms. Write out the first 5 8 11 14 17
ten terms of the sequence. 23. , , , , ,c Integers differing by 3
1 2 6 24 120
divided by factorials
n
7. a1 = 1, an + 1 = an + (1>2 )
8. a1 = 1, an + 1 = an >(n + 1) 24.
1 8 27 64
, , , ,
125
,c Cubes of positive integers
an >2
25 125 625 3125 15,625
9. a1 = 2, an + 1 = (- 1) n+1 divided by powers of 5

10. a1 = -2, an + 1 = nan >(n + 1) 25. The sequence 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, c Alternating 1’s and 0’s
11. a1 = a2 = 1, an + 2 = an + 1 + an 26. The sequence 0, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, c Each positive integer
12. a1 = 2, a2 = -1, an + 2 = an + 1 >an repeated

Finding a Sequence’s Formula

Convergence and Divergence
Which of the sequences 5an 6 in Exercises 27–90 converge, and
In Exercises 13–26, find a formula for the nth term of the sequence.
13. The sequence 1, -1, 1, -1, 1, c 1’s with alternating signs which diverge? Find the limit of each convergent sequence.
14. The sequence - 1, 1, -1, 1, - 1, c 1’s with alternating signs
n + (-1)n
15. The sequence 1, -4, 9, -16, 25, c Squares of the positive inte- 27. an = 2 + (0.1)n 28. an = n
gers, with alternating signs
1 - 2n 2n + 1
1 - 3 2n
1 1 1 1 29. an = 30. an =
16. The sequence 1, - , , - , , c Reciprocals of squares of 1 + 2n
4 9 16 25
the positive integers, with
1 - 5n4 n + 3
alternating signs 31. an = 32. an = 2
n4 + 8n3 n + 5n + 6
1 2 22 23 24 n2 - 2n + 1 1 - n3
17. , , , , ,c Powers of 2 divided by 33. an = 34. an =
9 12 15 18 21 n - 1
multiples of 3 70 - 4n2
 84. an = 2n2 + n
(ln n)200
36. an = (-1)n a1 - n b
1 n
35. an = 1 + (-1)n 85. an = n

87. an = n - 2n2 - n
(ln n)5
37. an = a b a1 - n b 38. an = a2 - b a3 + n b
n + 1 1 1 1
2n
86. an =
2n 2n 2
(- 1)n + 1
40. an = a- b
1 n 1
2n - 1 - 2n2 + n
39. an = 88. an =
2n - 1 2 2

An + 1
2n 1 n n

L1 L1 x
41. an = 42. an = 1 1 1
(0.9)n 89. an = n x dx 90. an =
p dx, p 7 1

43. an = sin a + nb
p 1
44. an = np cos (np) Recursively Defined Sequences
2
In Exercises 91–98, assume that each sequence converges and find its
sin n sin2 n limit.
45. an = n 46. an =
2n 72
91. a1 = 2, an + 1 =
n 3n 1 + an
47. an = 48. an =
2n n3 an + 6
92. a1 = -1, an + 1 =
ln (n + 1) ln n an + 2
2n 93. a1 = - 4, an + 1 = 28 + 2an
49. an = 50. an =
ln 2n
51. an = 81>n 52. an = (0.03)1>n 94. a1 = 0, an + 1 = 28 + 2an
95. a1 = 5, an + 1 = 25an
53. an = a1 + n b 54. an = a1 - n b 96. a1 = 3, an + 1 = 12 - 2an
n n
7 1

55. an = 210n 56. an = 2n2

1 1 1
n n 97. 2, 2 + , 2 + ,2 + ,c
2 1 1
2 + 2 +
2 1
2 +
57. an = a n b
3 1>n 2
58. an = (n + 4)1>(n + 4)
98. 21, 31 + 21, 41 + 31 + 21,
ln n
51 + 41 + 31 + 21, c
59. an = 60. an = ln n - ln (n + 1)
n1>n

61. an = 24 n 62. an = 23
n n n 2n + 1
Theory and Examples
99. The first term of a sequence is x1 = 1. Each succeeding term is
(Hint: Compare with 1 > n.)
n! the sum of all those that come before it:
63. an =
nn
xn + 1 = x1 + x2 + g + xn.
(- 4)n n!
64. an = 65. an =
n! 106n Write out enough early terms of the sequence to deduce a gen-
eral formula for xn that holds for n Ú 2.
67. an = a n b
1>(ln n)
n! 1
66. an =
2n # 3n 100. A sequence of rational numbers is described as follows:

68. an = lna1 + n b 69. an = a b

n n 1 3 7 17 a a + 2b
1 3n + 1 , , , , c, , , c.
3n - 1 1 2 5 12 b a + b
Here the numerators form one sequence, the denominators form
70. an = a b 71. an = a b , x 7 0
n 1>n
n xn
n + 1 2n + 1 a second sequence, and their ratios form a third sequence. Let xn
and yn be, respectively, the numerator and the denominator of
3n # 6n the nth fraction rn = xn >yn.
72. an = a1 - b
1 n
73. an =
n2 2-n # n!
a. Verify that x1 2 - 2y1 2 = -1, x2 2 - 2y2 2 = + 1 and, more
(10>11)n
74. an = 75. an = tanh n generally, that if a2 - 2b2 = -1 or + 1, then
(9/10)n + (11/12)n
(a + 2b)2 - 2(a + b)2 = +1 or -1,
n2 1
76. an = sinh (ln n) 77. an = sin n
2n - 1 respectively.
b. The fractions rn = xn >yn approach a limit as n increases.
78. an = na1 - cos n b 79. an = 2n sin
1 1
2n What is that limit? (Hint: Use part (a) to show that
rn 2 - 2 = {(1>yn)2 and that yn is not less than n.)
80. an = (3n + 5n)1>n 81. an = tan-1 n
101. Newton’s method The following sequences come from the
recursion formula for Newton’s method,
83. an = a b +
1 1 n 1
2n 22n
82. an = tan-1 n
3 ƒ(xn)
xn + 1 = xn - .
ƒ′(xn)
 10.1  Sequences 583

Do the sequences converge? If so, to what value? In each case, b. Prove that limn Sq (1>nc) = 0 if c is any positive constant.
begin by identifying the function ƒ that generates the sequence. (Hint: If P = 0.001 and c = 0.04, how large should N be to
xn2 - 2 xn 1 ensure that " 1>nc - 0 " 6 P if n 7 N?)
a. x0 = 1, xn + 1 = xn - = + x
2xn 2 n 106. The zipper theorem Prove the “zipper theorem” for sequences:
tan xn - 1 If 5an 6 and 5bn 6 both converge to L, then the sequence
b. x0 = 1, xn + 1 = xn -
sec2 xn a1, b1, a2, b2, c , an, bn, c
c. x0 = 1, xn + 1 = xn - 1
102. a. Suppose that ƒ(x) is differentiable for all x in 30, 14 and that converges to L.
ƒ(0) = 0. Define sequence 5an 6 by the rule an = nƒ(1>n). 107. Prove that limn Sq 2n = 1.
n

Show that limn Sq an = ƒ′(0). Use the result in part (a) to find 108. Prove that limn Sq x1>n = 1, (x 7 0).
the limits of the following sequences 5an 6.
109. Prove Theorem 2. 110. Prove Theorem 3.
1
b. an = n tan-1 n c. an = n(e1>n - 1)
In Exercises 111–114, determine if the sequence is monotonic and if it

d. an = n lna1 + n b
2 is bounded.
3n + 1 (2n + 3)!
111. an = 112. an =
n + 1 (n + 1)!
103. Pythagorean triples A triple of positive integers a, b, and c is
called a Pythagorean triple if a2 + b2 = c2. Let a be an odd 2n3n 2 1
113. an = 114. an = 2 - n - n
positive integer and let n! 2

b = j k and c = l m
a2 a2 Which of the sequences in Exercises 115–124 converge, and which
2 2 diverge? Give reasons for your answers.
be, respectively, the integer floor and ceiling for a2 >2.
1 1
115. an = 1 - n 116. an = n - n

2n - 1 2n - 1
117. an = 118. an =
2n 3n

119. an = ((-1)n + 1) a n b
n + 1
la m
2

ja k
2
2
2
120. The first term of a sequence is x1 = cos (1). The next terms are
x2 = x1 or cos (2), whichever is larger; and x3 = x2 or cos (3),
whichever is larger (farther to the right). In general,
u xn + 1 = max 5xn, cos (n + 1)6.

1 + 22n
a
n + 1
2n
a. Show that a2 + b2 = c2. (Hint: Let a = 2n + 1 and express 121. an = 122. an = n
b and c in terms of n.)
b. By direct calculation, or by appealing to the accompanying 4n + 1 + 3n
123. an =
figure, find 4n
124. a1 = 1, an + 1 = 2an - 3
j k
a2
2
lim . In Exercises 125–126, use the definition of convergence to prove the
l m
a Sq a2 given limit.
2
126. lim a1 - b = 1
sin n 1
104. The nth root of n! 125. lim n = 0
n Sq n Sq n2
a. Show that limn Sq (2np)1>(2n) = 1 and hence, using Stirling’s
approximation (Chapter 8, Additional Exercise 52a), that 127. The sequence {n , (n + 1)} has a least upper bound of 1

2n! ≈ e
Show that if M is a number less than 1, then the terms of
5n>(n + 1)6 eventually exceed M. That is, if M 6 1 there is
n n
for large values of n.
an integer N such that n>(n + 1) 7 M whenever n 7 N. Since
T b. Test the approximation in part (a) for n = 40, 50, 60, c, as n>(n + 1) 6 1 for every n, this proves that 1 is a least upper
far as your calculator will allow. bound for 5n>(n + 1)6.
105. a. Assuming that limn Sq (1>nc) = 0 if c is any positive con- 128. Uniqueness of least upper bounds Show that if M1 and M2
stant, show that are least upper bounds for the sequence 5an 6 , then M1 = M2.
ln n That is, a sequence cannot have two different least upper bounds.
lim = 0
n Sq nc 129. Is it true that a sequence 5an 6 of positive numbers must con-
if c is any positive constant. verge if it is bounded from above? Give reasons for your answer.
 584 Chapter 10: Infinite Sequences and Series

130. Prove that if 5an 6 is a convergent sequence, then to every posi- rapidly to p >2. (a) Try it. (b) Use the accompanying figure to
tive number P there corresponds an integer N such that for all m explain why the convergence is so rapid.
and n, y
m 7 N and n 7 N 1 " am - an " 6 P.

131. Uniqueness of limits Prove that limits of sequences are cos xn − 1

1
unique. That is, show that if L 1 and L 2 are numbers such that
an S L 1 and an S L 2, then L 1 = L 2. xn − 1
132. Limits and subsequences If the terms of one sequence appear
in another sequence in their given order, we call the first xn − 1
x
sequence a subsequence of the second. Prove that if two sub- 0 1
sequences of a sequence 5an 6 have different limits L 1 ≠ L 2,
then 5an 6 diverges.
133. For a sequence 5an 6 the terms of even index are denoted by a2k
COMPUTER EXPLORATIONS
Use a CAS to perform the following steps for the sequences in Exer-
and the terms of odd index by a2k + 1. Prove that if a2k S L and
cises 137–148.
a2k + 1 S L, then an S L.
134. Prove that a sequence 5an 6 converges to 0 if and only if the
a. Calculate and then plot the first 25 terms of the sequence.
sequence of absolute values 5 " an " 6 converges to 0.
Does the sequence appear to be bounded from above or
below? Does it appear to converge or diverge? If it does
135. Sequences generated by Newton’s method Newton’s method, converge, what is the limit L?
applied to a differentiable function ƒ(x), begins with a starting
value x0 and constructs from it a sequence of numbers 5xn 6 that
b. If the sequence converges, find an integer N such that
" an - L " … 0.01 for n Ú N. How far in the sequence do
under favorable circumstances converges to a zero of ƒ. The
you have to get for the terms to lie within 0.0001 of L?
recursion formula for the sequence is
137. an = 2n 138. an = a1 + n b
n 0.5 n
ƒ(xn)
xn + 1 = xn - .
ƒ′(xn) 1
139. a1 = 1, an + 1 = an +
5n
2
a. Show that the recursion formula for ƒ(x) = x - a, a 7 0,
can be written as xn + 1 = (xn + a>xn)>2. 140. a1 = 1, an + 1 = an + (-2)n

b. Starting with x0 = 1 and a = 3, calculate successive terms 1

T 141. an = sin n 142. an = n sin n
of the sequence until the display begins to repeat. What
sin n ln n
number is being approximated? Explain. 143. an = n 144. an = n
T 136. A recursive definition of P , 2 If you start with x1 = 1 and 145. an = (0.9999)n 146. an = (123456)1>n
define the subsequent terms of 5xn 6 by the rule n
xn = xn - 1 + cos xn - 1, you generate a sequence that converges 8 n41
147. an = 148. an =
n! 19n