EXERCISES FOR CHAPTER 1: Sequences and Limits

1. (a)
1
2






n
(b)
2
3






n
(c)
1 + n
1 2n


Solution
(a) lim
n~

1
2

_
,

n
= lim
n~
(1)
n
2
n
= 0
(b) lim
n
2
3

n
= lim
n
2
n
3
n
= 0
(c) lim
n
1+ n
1 2n
= lim
n
1
2
=
1
2

2. (a)
1 + (1)
n
2
(b)
1 + n
2
1+ n
(c)
n + 2
n
2
+ 3


Solution
(a) Limit does not exist.
(b) lim
n
1+ n
2
1+ n
= lim
n
2n
1
=
(c) lim
n
n + 2
n
2
+ 3
= lim
n
1
2n
= 0

3. (a)
6n
5
+ n
3n
5
+ 1
(b)
sin2n
n
(c)
ln2n
lnn


Solution
(a) lim
n
6n
5
+ n
3n
5
+1
= lim
n
6n
5
(1+
1
6n
4
)
3n
5
(1+
1
3n
5
)
= 2
(b)

1
n

sin2n
n

1
n
lim
n
sin2n
n
= 0
since lim
n
1
n
= 0
(c) lim
n
ln2n
lnn
= lim
n
ln2
lnn
+ lim
n
lnn
lnn
= 1
4. (a) 7
3 / n
(b) 5n
3 n
(c)
2
n
n
2


Solution
K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E.

2
(a) y = lim
n
7
3/ n
ln y =
3
n
lim
n
ln7 = 0 y = 1
(b) lim
n
5n
3 n
= lim
n
5
1/ n
lim
n
n
3/ n
= 1
(c) lim
n
2
n
n
2
= lim
n
2
n
ln2
2n
= lim
n
2
n
(ln2)
2
2
=
5. (a)
n
3
3
n
(b)
n!+ n
2
2n!+ n
(c)
n!+ 3
n
1+ n


Solution
(a) lim
n
n
3
e
n
= lim
n
3n
2
3
n
ln3
= lim
n
6n
3
n
(ln3)
2
= lim
n
6
3
n
(ln3)
3
= 0
(b) lim
n
n!+ n
2
2n!+ n
= lim
n
n!(1+
n
2
n!
)
2n!(1+
n
2n!
)
=
1
2

(c) lim
n
n!+ 3
n
1+ n
= lim
n
n!(1+
3
n
n!
)
n(1+
1
n
)
=
6. (a)
e
n
1+ 2e
n
(b)
e
2n
(1+ 2e
n
)
2
(c) nsin

2n


Solution
(a) lim
n
e
n
1+ 2e
n
= lim
n
e
n
2e
n
=
1
2

(b) lim
n
e
2n
(1+ 2e
n
)
2
= lim
n
e
2n
4e
2n
(1+
1
2e
n
)
2
=
1
4

(c) lim
n
nsin

2n
= lim
n
sin

2n
1
n
= lim
n

2n
2
cos

2n

1
n
2
=

2
lim
n
cos

2n
=

2

7. (a) ln
e
n
+1
e
n
1








(b)
2n +1
n
(c)
3
2

n

Solution
(a) lim
n~
ln
e
n
+1
e
n
1

_
,

= lnlim
n~
e
n
+1
e
n
1
= lnlim
n~
e
n
e
n
= ln1 = 0
(b) lim
n
2n +1
n
= lim
n
n( 2 +
1
n
)
n
= 2
(c) lim
n
3
2

n
= since
3
2
>1
K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E.

3
8. Show that (a) lim
n
1+
x
n






n
= e
x
, (b) lim
n~
1+
x
n



_
,

n+o
= e
x
and (c) lim
n~
1+
x
n +o



_
,

n
= e
x

where is a constant.
Solution
(a) Let y =lim
n
1+
x
n

n
. Call
x
n
=
1
m
so that m as n . Then n = mx and so
y = lim
m
1+
1
m

mx
= lim
m
1+
1
m

x
= e
x

(b)

lim
n~
1+
x
n

_
,

n+o
= lim
n~
1+
x
n

_
,

o
lim
n~
1+
x
n

_
,

n
= 1 lim
n~
1+
x
n

_
,

n
= 1 e
x
= e
x

(c) Call m = n + . Then as n , m. So

lim
n~
1+
x
n +o

_
,

n
= lim
m~
1+
x
m

_
,

mo
= lim
m~
1+
x
m

_
,

o
lim
m~
1+
x
m

_
,

m
= 1 e
x
= e
x



9. (a) 1
1
n
2






n
(b) 1 +

n






n
(c)
n 1
n






n

Solution
(a)

lim
n~
1
1
n
2

_
,

n
= lim
n~
1
1
n

_
,

1+
1
n

_
,

_
,

n
= lim
n~
1
1
n

_
,

n
lim
n~
1+
1
n

_
,

n
= e
1
e
1
= 1

(b)
K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E.

4

lim
n~
1+
r
n

_
,

rn
= lim
n~
1+
r
n

_
,

_
,

r
= e
r
( )
r
= e
r
2

(c)
lim
n~
n 1
n

_
,

n
= lim
n~
1
1
n

_
,

n
= e
1


10. (a)
n + 3
n + 2

n
(b)
n
n + 3






n
(c) 1
2
n






2n

Solution
(a)
lim
n
n + 3
n + 2

n
= lim
n
n + 2 +1
n + 2

n
= lim
n
1+
1
n + 2

n
= e

(b)
lim
n~
n
n + 3

_
,

n
= lim
n~
n + 3 3
n + 3

_
,

n
= lim
n~
1
3
n + 3

_
,

n
= e
3

(c) lim
n~
1
2
n

_
,

2n
= lim
n~
1
2
n

_
,

_
,

2
= (e
2
)
2
= e
4


11. (a)
ln n ( )
7
n
2
(b) n3
n n
(c) n
1+
1
n


Solution
(a)

lim
n
lnn ( )
7
n
2
= lim
n
7 lnn ( )
6
2n
2
= lim
n
42 lnn ( )
5
4n
2
== 0
(b) lim
n
n3
n n
= lim
n
n
n
lim
n
3
n n
= 1 3 = 3
(c) lim
n
n
1+
1
n
= lim
n
n lim
n
n
1
n
= 1 =
12. (a) n7
n n
(b)
1
n






1/ lnn
(c) arctan n
Solution
K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E.

5
(a) lim
n
n7
n n
= lim
n
n
n
lim
n
7
n n
= 1 7 = 7 .
(b) Let y =
1
n

1/ ln n
. Then lim
n
ln y = lim
n
ln(
1
n
)
lnn
= lim
n
lnn
lnn
= 1.
Thus lim
n~
1
n

_
,

1/ ln n
= e
1
.
(c) lim
n
arctann =

2
.
13. Show that lim
n
1+ x
n
( )
1/ n
= 1 if x <1. Hence find lim
n
5
n
+ 7
n
( )
1/ n
.
Solution
y = lim
n
1+ x
n
( )
1/ n
ln y = lim
n
ln(1+ x
n
)
n
= 0
y = 1

lim
n~
5
n
+ 7
n
( )
1/ n
= lim
n~
7 1+
5
7

_
,

_
,

1/ n
= 7 lim
n~
1+
5
7

_
,

_
,

1/ n
= 7


14. Find the limit (a) lim
n
2
n
+ 4
n
( )
1/ n
.
Solution
lim
n~
2
n
+ 4
n
( )
1/ n
= lim
n~
1
2
n
+ 4
n
( )
1/ n
= lim
n~
1
4
2
4

_
,

n
+1

_
,

1/ n
=
1
4


15. (a)
2
n
+ 4
n
3
n
+ 6
n
(b)
2
n
+ 4
n
5
n
+ 6
n

1/ n

Solution
(a) lim
n
2
n
+ 4
n
3
n
+ 6
n
= lim
n
4
n
6
n
1
2

n
+1
1
2

n
+1
= lim
n
4
n
6
n
= 0

(b) lim
n
2
n
+ 4
n
5
n
+ 6
n

1/ n
=
4
6
lim
n
2
4

n
+1
5
6

n
+1

1/ n
=
2
3

K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E.

6
16. (a)
n
137
137
n
(b)
n
17
e
n
(c)
3
2n+1
5n
2

Solution
(a) lim
n
n
137
137
n
= 0 , standard result.
(b) lim
n
n
17
e
n
= 0 , standard result.
(c) lim
n
3
2n+1
5n
2
= lim
n
3
2n+1
2ln3
10n
= lim
n
3
2n+1
(2ln3)
2
10
=

17. (a)

arctann
(b) ln(n + 1) ln n (c) ln(n
2
+ n) lnn
2

Solution
(a) lim
n

arctann
=

2
= 2
(b) lim
n
ln(n + 1) lnn ( ) = lim
n
ln(
n + 1
n
) = ln lim
n
(
n + 1
n
) = ln1 = 0
(c) lim
n
ln(n
2
+ n) lnn
2
( )
= lim
n
ln(
n
2
+ n
n
2
) = lnlim
n
(
n
2
+ n
n
2
) = ln1 = 0

18. (a)
8n!
5n
n
(b)
n!
10n!+(n 1)!
(c)
ln9n
n
3

Solution
(a) lim
n
8n!
5n
n
= 0 , standard result.
(b) lim
n
n!
10n!+ (n 1)!
= lim
n
n!
10n!(1+
1
10n
)
=
1
10

(c) lim
n
ln9n
n
3
= lim
n
ln9
n
3
+ lim
n
lnn
n
3
= 0 + lim
n
1
n
1
3
n
2/ 3
= 3lim
n
1
n
1/ 3
= 0
19. (a)
n
2
+1
n
(b)
sin n
n
(c)
n!
5n
2

Solution
(a) lim
n
n
2
+1
n
= lim
n
n 1+
1
n
n
=
(b)
1
n

sin n
n

1
n
lim
n
sin n
n
= 0 since lim
n
1
n
= 0
(c) lim
n
n!
5n
2
= , standard result.
K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E.

7
20. (a)
n
3
n
(b) n
3
e
2n
(c)
n!+(n 1)!
(n 1)!+(n 2)!

Solution
(a) lim
n
n
3
n
= lim
n
1
3
n
ln3
= 0
(b) lim
n
n
3
e
2n
= lim
n
n
3
e
2n
= lim
n
3n
2
2e
2n
= lim
n
6n
4e
2n
= lim
n
6
8e
2n
= 0
(c) lim
n
n!+ (n 1)!
(n 1)!+ (n 2)!
= lim
n
n!(1+
1
n
)
(n 1)!(1+
2
n 1
)
=
21. (a)
lnn
n
(b) nln(1+
2
n
) (c)
3
2n
7n

Solution
(a) lim
n
lnn
2n
= lim
n
1
n
2
1
2 n
= lim
n
2
n
= 0
(b) lim
n
nln(1+
2
n
) = ln lim
n
1+
2
n

n
= lne
2
= 2
(c) lim
n
3
2n
7n
= lim
n
9
n
7n
= lim
n
9
n
ln9
7
=
22. (a)
n!
1+ 5n!
(b)
2n
n
n
n
+ 3n
n1

Solution
(a) lim
n
n!
1+ 5n!
= lim
n
n!
5n!(1+
1
5n!
)
=
1
5

(b) lim
n
2n
n
n
n
+ 3n
n1
= lim
n
2n
n
n
n
(1+
3
n
)
= 2
23. (a)
2n
n
n
n
+ n!
(b)
n!
e
2n
+ 3n!
(c)
ln2n
2n

Solution
(a) lim
n
2n
n
n
n
+ n!
= lim
n
2n
n
n
n
(1+
n!
n
n
)
= 2
(b) lim
n
n!
e
2n
+ 3n!
= lim
n
n!
3n!(1+
e
2n
3n!
)
=
1
3

(c) lim
n
ln2n
2n
= lim
n
ln2
2n
+ lim
n
lnn
2n
= 0 + lim
n
1
n
2
1
2 n
= lim
n
2
n
= 0
K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E.

8
24. James Stirling (1692-1770) showed that for large values of n, n!
n
e






n
2n . Use
this approximation for the factorial of n to show that lim
n
n!
n
n
= 0 .
Solution
lim
n
n!
n
n
= lim
n
(n / e)
n
2n
n
n
= lim
n
2n
e
n
= 0 .
(Notice that Stirlings result leads to the elegant limit lim
n
n!e
n
n
n
n
= 2 .)

25. (a) Show that lim
n
n
2
n
2
+1
=1. (b) Establish this limit by an N proof.
Solution
(a) lim
n
n
2
n
2
+1
= lim
n
n
2
n
2
(1+
1
n
2
)
=1
(b)
n
2
n
2
+1
1 < <
n
2
n
2
+1
1< <
1
n
2
+1
< . Hence we have that
n
2
+1<
1

n >
1

1 . Thus
n
2
n
2
+1
1 < for all n > N where N =
1

1 .


26. (a) Show that lim
n
1
2
n
= 0 . (b) Establish this limit by an N proof.

Solution
(a) Let y =
1
2
n
. Then lim
n~
ln y = lim
n~
ln
1
2
n

_
,

= lim
n~
nln2 = ~. Hence y e

= 0 .
(b)
1
2
n
< <
1
2
n
< . Hence
1
2
n
< 2
n
>
1

n >
ln
ln2
. Thus
1
2
n
<
for all n > N where N =
ln
ln2
.
27. (a) Show that lim
n
n!
1+ 2n!
=
1
2
. (b) Establish this limit by an N proof.

Solution
(a) lim
n
n!
1+ 2n!
= lim
n
n!
2n!(1+
1
2n!
)
=
1
2
.
(b)
n!
1+ 2n!

1
2
< <
n!
1+ 2n!

1
2
< . I.e. <
2n!1 2n!
2(1+ 2n!)
< i.e.
<
1
2(1+ 2n!)
< . We must then ensure that
K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E.

9
1
2(1+ 2n!)
>
1
2(1+ 2n!)
<
2n! >
2

1
n! >
1

1
2

Now n! > n and so we if we demand n >
1

1
2
we automatically ensure n! >
1

1
2
.
Thus
n!
1+ 2n!

1
2
< for all n > N where N >
1

1
2
. As a check take
=10
1
N >10
1
2
. With N =10 we have that
10!
1+ 2 10!

1
2
< 6.89 10
8
<10
1
.
This shows that the choice of N is very loose. This is so because the inequality n! > n is
very easily satisfied so a much lower value of N than N >
1

1
2
could have done.

28. A sequence of positive numbers is defined recursively through u
n+1
= 1 u
n
, with
u
1
=
1
2
. Given that the sequence is convergent, find the limit of the sequence,
lim
n
u
n
.
Solution
Let the limit be L. Then lim
n
u
n
= L , lim
n
u
n+1
= L and so L = 1 L L
2
+ L 1 = 0 .
The positive root is L =
1+ 5
2
.
29. Find lim
x0
1 cos x
x
2
.
Solution
Limit is of the 0/0 type. Hence lim
x0
1 cos x
x
2
= lim
x0
sin x
2x
= lim
x0
cos x
2
=
1
2
.
30. Find the limit lim
x0
ln(1 2x)
x
.
Solution
Limit is of the 0/0 type. Hence lim
x0
ln(1 2x)
x
= lim
x0
2
1 2x
1
= 2 .
31. Evaluate the limit lim
x0
tan x
x
.
Solution
Limit is of the 0/0 type. Hence lim
x0
tan x
x
= lim
x0
sec
2
x
1
= 1.

K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E.

10
32. Find lim
x0
tan3x
x
.
Solution
Limit is of the 0/0 type. Hence lim
x0
tan3x
x
= lim
x0
3sec
2
3x
1
= 3.

33. Find lim
x0
arcsin(3x) 3x
x
3
.
Solution
Limit is of the 0/0 type. Hence
lim
x0
arcsin(3x) 3x
x
3
= lim
x0
3
1 9x
2
3
3x
2
= lim
x0
3 (18x)(
1
2
)(1 9x
2
)
3/ 2
6x
= lim
x0
27(1 9x
2
)
3/ 2
+ 27x(
3
2
)(1 9x
2
)
3/ 2
(18x)
6
=
9
2


34. Evaluate lim
x0
(
1
x

1
sin x
) .
Solution
lim
x0
(
1
x

1
sin x
) = lim
x0
(
sin x x
xsin x
)
= lim
x0
(
cos x 1
sin x + x cos x
)
= lim
x0
(
sin x
cos x + cos x xsin x
)
= 0

35. Find the limit lim
x0
sin(x + 2sin x)
sin x
.
Solution
lim
x0
sin(x + 2sin x)
sin x
= lim
x0
cos(x + 2sin x)(1+ 2cos x)
cos x
= 3

36. Find lim
x0
(
1
x

1
tan x
) .
Solution
We may write
1
x

1
tan x
=
x tan x
x tan x
which is a 0/0 limit. Using L Hpitals rule we
have
lim
x0
(
1
x

1
tan x
) = lim
x0
x tan x
x tan x
= lim
x0
1 sec
2
x
tan x + xsec
2
x
= lim
x0
2sec x(sec x tan x)
sec
2
x + sec
2
x + x2sec x(sec x tan x)
= 0


K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E.

11
37. Find lim
x1
(
1
ln x

1
x 1
) .
Solution
1
ln x

1
x 1
=
x 1 ln x
(x 1)ln x
which results in a 0/0 limit. Using L Hpitals rule we have
lim
x1
x 1 ln x
(x 1)ln x
= lim
x1
1
1
x
ln x +
x 1
x
= lim
x1
1
x
2
1
x
+
1
x
2
=
1
2
, using L Hpitals rule again.

38. Find lim
x0
1+ x 1 x
x
.
Solution
The limit is of the 0/0 type. Using L Hpitals rule we have that

lim
x0
1+ x 1 x
x
= lim
x0
1
2 1+ x
+
1
2 1 x
1
= 1.
39. Consider the function

f (x) = 1+ e
x
+ e
2x
++ e
nx
. (a) Show that f (x) =
e
(n+1)x
1
e
x
1
.
(b) Show that

df
dx
= 1e
x
+ 2e
2x
++ ne
nx
. (c) Hence show that

1+ 2 ++ n =
df
dx
x=0
. (d) Hence evaluate

1+ 2 ++ n . (e) Using this method find
an expression for (but do not attempt to evaluate)

1
k
+ 2
k
++ n
k
where k is a
positive integer.
Solution
(a)

1+ e
x
+ e
2x
++ e
nx
=
e
(n+1)x
1
e
x
1
, by summing a geometric progression.
(b)

df
dx
= 1e
x
+ 2e
2x
++ ne
nx

(c) Setting x=0 in the result above gives the answer.
(d)
df (x)
dx
=
(n +1)e
(n+1)x
(e
x
1) (e
(n+1)x
1)e
x
(e
x
1)
2
=
e
x
e
(n+1)x
ne
(n+1)x
+ ne
(n+2)x
(e
x
1)
2

This gives a 0/0 limit if we put x=0. So by L Hpitals rule

K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E.

12
df (0)
dx
= lim
x0
e
x
(n +1)e
(n+1)x
n(n +1)e
(n+1)x
+ n(n + 2)e
(n+2)x
2(e
x
1)e
x
= lim
x0
e
x
(n +1)
2
e
(n+1)x
n(n +1)
2
e
(n+1)x
+ n(n + 2)
2
e
(n+2)x
4e
2x
2e
x
=
1 (n +1)
2
n(n +1)
2
+ n(n + 2)
2
2
=
1 n
2
2n 1 n
3
2n
2
n + n
3
+ 4n
2
+ 4n
2
=
n
2
+ n
2
=
n(n +1)
2


(e) We saw that

df
dx
= 1e
x
+ 2e
2x
++ ne
nx
. Differentiating again gives

d
2
f
dx
2
= 1
2
e
x
+ 2
2
e
2x
++ n
2
e
nx

and so differentiating k times gives

d
k
f
dx
k
= 1
k
e
x
+ 2
k
e
2x
++ n
k
e
nx
.
Thus at x = 0 we have that

1
k
+ 2
k
++ n
k
=
d
k
f
dx
k
x=0
=
d
k
dx
k
e
(n+1)x
1
e
x
1

x=0
.

Applying L Hpitals rule to this expression is hopeless. To make progress requires
more advanced work.