Calculating the limit $lim_{ntoinfty}[sum_{k=0}^{n-1}(-1)^kfrac{1}{n-k}]$












1












$begingroup$


So, I have got the series: $$I_n = int_0^1frac{x^n}{1+x}dx$$ and my task is to find the limit
$$lim_{ntoinfty}(I_n)$$
I have added 1 and subtracted 1 from the numerator and factorised $x^n - 1$ as $(x+1)(x^{n-1}-x^{n-2}+x^{n-3} - ...+(-1)^n)$. Then i did the reduction, and I'm left with calculating the limit:
$$lim_{ntoinfty}[frac{1}{n}-frac{1}{n-1}+frac{1}{n-2} -...+(-1)^{n-1}frac{1}{2} + (-1)^n] = lim_{ntoinfty}[sum_{k=0}^{n-1}(-1)^kfrac{1}{n-k}]$$
I know I can calculate the fraction as a Riemann Sum using the integral of the function $frac{1}{1-x}$, however I don't know how to deal with the changing signs. How should i approach this? Is there some sort of rule or common practice to deal with alternating signs?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$

















    1












    $begingroup$


    So, I have got the series: $$I_n = int_0^1frac{x^n}{1+x}dx$$ and my task is to find the limit
    $$lim_{ntoinfty}(I_n)$$
    I have added 1 and subtracted 1 from the numerator and factorised $x^n - 1$ as $(x+1)(x^{n-1}-x^{n-2}+x^{n-3} - ...+(-1)^n)$. Then i did the reduction, and I'm left with calculating the limit:
    $$lim_{ntoinfty}[frac{1}{n}-frac{1}{n-1}+frac{1}{n-2} -...+(-1)^{n-1}frac{1}{2} + (-1)^n] = lim_{ntoinfty}[sum_{k=0}^{n-1}(-1)^kfrac{1}{n-k}]$$
    I know I can calculate the fraction as a Riemann Sum using the integral of the function $frac{1}{1-x}$, however I don't know how to deal with the changing signs. How should i approach this? Is there some sort of rule or common practice to deal with alternating signs?










    share|cite|improve this question











    $endgroup$















      1












      1








      1





      $begingroup$


      So, I have got the series: $$I_n = int_0^1frac{x^n}{1+x}dx$$ and my task is to find the limit
      $$lim_{ntoinfty}(I_n)$$
      I have added 1 and subtracted 1 from the numerator and factorised $x^n - 1$ as $(x+1)(x^{n-1}-x^{n-2}+x^{n-3} - ...+(-1)^n)$. Then i did the reduction, and I'm left with calculating the limit:
      $$lim_{ntoinfty}[frac{1}{n}-frac{1}{n-1}+frac{1}{n-2} -...+(-1)^{n-1}frac{1}{2} + (-1)^n] = lim_{ntoinfty}[sum_{k=0}^{n-1}(-1)^kfrac{1}{n-k}]$$
      I know I can calculate the fraction as a Riemann Sum using the integral of the function $frac{1}{1-x}$, however I don't know how to deal with the changing signs. How should i approach this? Is there some sort of rule or common practice to deal with alternating signs?










      share|cite|improve this question











      $endgroup$




      So, I have got the series: $$I_n = int_0^1frac{x^n}{1+x}dx$$ and my task is to find the limit
      $$lim_{ntoinfty}(I_n)$$
      I have added 1 and subtracted 1 from the numerator and factorised $x^n - 1$ as $(x+1)(x^{n-1}-x^{n-2}+x^{n-3} - ...+(-1)^n)$. Then i did the reduction, and I'm left with calculating the limit:
      $$lim_{ntoinfty}[frac{1}{n}-frac{1}{n-1}+frac{1}{n-2} -...+(-1)^{n-1}frac{1}{2} + (-1)^n] = lim_{ntoinfty}[sum_{k=0}^{n-1}(-1)^kfrac{1}{n-k}]$$
      I know I can calculate the fraction as a Riemann Sum using the integral of the function $frac{1}{1-x}$, however I don't know how to deal with the changing signs. How should i approach this? Is there some sort of rule or common practice to deal with alternating signs?







      sequences-and-series limits






      share|cite|improve this question















      share|cite|improve this question













      share|cite|improve this question




      share|cite|improve this question








      edited Jan 25 at 8:36







      Constantin

















      asked Jan 24 at 21:20









      ConstantinConstantin

      335




      335






















          3 Answers
          3






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          4












          $begingroup$

          $$I_nleqint_0^1x^ndx=frac 1{n+1}$$ so $$lim_{nrightarrow +infty}I_n=0$$






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$













          • $begingroup$
            Just to make sure: you are basing this on the squeeze theorem? 0 <= In <= 1/(n+1) therefore 0 <= lim(In) <= 0 when n goes to infinity?
            $endgroup$
            – Constantin
            Jan 25 at 15:27










          • $begingroup$
            That's right. You got it.
            $endgroup$
            – Stefan Lafon
            Jan 25 at 15:34



















          2












          $begingroup$

          Note that for all $n$ we have :



          $$forall xin [0,1], frac{x^n}{1+x} leq 1$$



          A constant function is clearly integrable, hence we can apply the dominated convergence theorem to get :



          $$lim_{n to infty}int_0^1 frac{x^n}{1+x} mathrm{d}x = int_0^1, lim_{n to infty} frac{x^n}{1+x} mathrm{d}x = 0$$






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$





















            1












            $begingroup$

            Proceeding as in the OP, note that we have two cases



            $$frac{1+x^n}{1+x}=begin{cases}sum_{k=1}^{n} (-1)^{k-1}x^{k-1}&,n,,text{odd}\\
            frac2{1+x}-sum_{k=1}^{n}(-1)^{k-1}x^{k-1}&,n,,text{even}end{cases}$$



            Integrating over $[0,1]$, letting $nto infty$, and using the Taylor series representation for $log(1+x)$ for $x=1$ reveals



            $$lim_{ntoinfty}int_0^1 frac{1+x^n}{1+x},dx=log(2) $$



            Hence, we have



            $$lim_{ntoinfty}int_0^1 frac{x^n}{1+x},dx=log(2)-log(2)=0$$





            Rather than proceed as in the OP, we write $frac1{1+x}=sum_{m=0}^{infty}(-x)^m$. Then, we see that



            $$begin{align}
            int_0^1 frac{x^n}{1+x} ,dx&=sum_{m=0}^{infty} (-1)^m int_0^1 x^{n+m},dx\\
            &=sum_{m=n+1}^{infty}(-1)^{m-n-1} frac1{m}tag1
            end{align}$$



            As the series $sum_{m=1}^{infty}frac{(-1)^{m-n-1}}{m}$ converges, the series on the right hand side of $(1)$ approaches $0$ as $nto infty$.






            share|cite|improve this answer











            $endgroup$













            • $begingroup$
              Please let me know how I can improve my answer. I really want to give you the best answer I can. And Happy New Year! ;-)
              $endgroup$
              – Mark Viola
              Jan 30 at 5:04













            Your Answer





            StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
            return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
            StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
            StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
            });
            });
            }, "mathjax-editing");

            StackExchange.ready(function() {
            var channelOptions = {
            tags: "".split(" "),
            id: "69"
            };
            initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

            StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
            // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
            if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
            StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
            createEditor();
            });
            }
            else {
            createEditor();
            }
            });

            function createEditor() {
            StackExchange.prepareEditor({
            heartbeatType: 'answer',
            autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
            convertImagesToLinks: true,
            noModals: true,
            showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
            reputationToPostImages: 10,
            bindNavPrevention: true,
            postfix: "",
            imageUploader: {
            brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
            contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
            allowUrls: true
            },
            noCode: true, onDemand: true,
            discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
            ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
            });


            }
            });














            draft saved

            draft discarded


















            StackExchange.ready(
            function () {
            StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f3086368%2fcalculating-the-limit-lim-n-to-infty-sum-k-0n-1-1k-frac1n-k%23new-answer', 'question_page');
            }
            );

            Post as a guest















            Required, but never shown

























            3 Answers
            3






            active

            oldest

            votes








            3 Answers
            3






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes









            4












            $begingroup$

            $$I_nleqint_0^1x^ndx=frac 1{n+1}$$ so $$lim_{nrightarrow +infty}I_n=0$$






            share|cite|improve this answer









            $endgroup$













            • $begingroup$
              Just to make sure: you are basing this on the squeeze theorem? 0 <= In <= 1/(n+1) therefore 0 <= lim(In) <= 0 when n goes to infinity?
              $endgroup$
              – Constantin
              Jan 25 at 15:27










            • $begingroup$
              That's right. You got it.
              $endgroup$
              – Stefan Lafon
              Jan 25 at 15:34
















            4












            $begingroup$

            $$I_nleqint_0^1x^ndx=frac 1{n+1}$$ so $$lim_{nrightarrow +infty}I_n=0$$






            share|cite|improve this answer









            $endgroup$













            • $begingroup$
              Just to make sure: you are basing this on the squeeze theorem? 0 <= In <= 1/(n+1) therefore 0 <= lim(In) <= 0 when n goes to infinity?
              $endgroup$
              – Constantin
              Jan 25 at 15:27










            • $begingroup$
              That's right. You got it.
              $endgroup$
              – Stefan Lafon
              Jan 25 at 15:34














            4












            4








            4





            $begingroup$

            $$I_nleqint_0^1x^ndx=frac 1{n+1}$$ so $$lim_{nrightarrow +infty}I_n=0$$






            share|cite|improve this answer









            $endgroup$



            $$I_nleqint_0^1x^ndx=frac 1{n+1}$$ so $$lim_{nrightarrow +infty}I_n=0$$







            share|cite|improve this answer












            share|cite|improve this answer



            share|cite|improve this answer










            answered Jan 24 at 21:29









            Stefan LafonStefan Lafon

            2,83519




            2,83519












            • $begingroup$
              Just to make sure: you are basing this on the squeeze theorem? 0 <= In <= 1/(n+1) therefore 0 <= lim(In) <= 0 when n goes to infinity?
              $endgroup$
              – Constantin
              Jan 25 at 15:27










            • $begingroup$
              That's right. You got it.
              $endgroup$
              – Stefan Lafon
              Jan 25 at 15:34


















            • $begingroup$
              Just to make sure: you are basing this on the squeeze theorem? 0 <= In <= 1/(n+1) therefore 0 <= lim(In) <= 0 when n goes to infinity?
              $endgroup$
              – Constantin
              Jan 25 at 15:27










            • $begingroup$
              That's right. You got it.
              $endgroup$
              – Stefan Lafon
              Jan 25 at 15:34
















            $begingroup$
            Just to make sure: you are basing this on the squeeze theorem? 0 <= In <= 1/(n+1) therefore 0 <= lim(In) <= 0 when n goes to infinity?
            $endgroup$
            – Constantin
            Jan 25 at 15:27




            $begingroup$
            Just to make sure: you are basing this on the squeeze theorem? 0 <= In <= 1/(n+1) therefore 0 <= lim(In) <= 0 when n goes to infinity?
            $endgroup$
            – Constantin
            Jan 25 at 15:27












            $begingroup$
            That's right. You got it.
            $endgroup$
            – Stefan Lafon
            Jan 25 at 15:34




            $begingroup$
            That's right. You got it.
            $endgroup$
            – Stefan Lafon
            Jan 25 at 15:34











            2












            $begingroup$

            Note that for all $n$ we have :



            $$forall xin [0,1], frac{x^n}{1+x} leq 1$$



            A constant function is clearly integrable, hence we can apply the dominated convergence theorem to get :



            $$lim_{n to infty}int_0^1 frac{x^n}{1+x} mathrm{d}x = int_0^1, lim_{n to infty} frac{x^n}{1+x} mathrm{d}x = 0$$






            share|cite|improve this answer









            $endgroup$


















              2












              $begingroup$

              Note that for all $n$ we have :



              $$forall xin [0,1], frac{x^n}{1+x} leq 1$$



              A constant function is clearly integrable, hence we can apply the dominated convergence theorem to get :



              $$lim_{n to infty}int_0^1 frac{x^n}{1+x} mathrm{d}x = int_0^1, lim_{n to infty} frac{x^n}{1+x} mathrm{d}x = 0$$






              share|cite|improve this answer









              $endgroup$
















                2












                2








                2





                $begingroup$

                Note that for all $n$ we have :



                $$forall xin [0,1], frac{x^n}{1+x} leq 1$$



                A constant function is clearly integrable, hence we can apply the dominated convergence theorem to get :



                $$lim_{n to infty}int_0^1 frac{x^n}{1+x} mathrm{d}x = int_0^1, lim_{n to infty} frac{x^n}{1+x} mathrm{d}x = 0$$






                share|cite|improve this answer









                $endgroup$



                Note that for all $n$ we have :



                $$forall xin [0,1], frac{x^n}{1+x} leq 1$$



                A constant function is clearly integrable, hence we can apply the dominated convergence theorem to get :



                $$lim_{n to infty}int_0^1 frac{x^n}{1+x} mathrm{d}x = int_0^1, lim_{n to infty} frac{x^n}{1+x} mathrm{d}x = 0$$







                share|cite|improve this answer












                share|cite|improve this answer



                share|cite|improve this answer










                answered Jan 24 at 21:49









                ThinkingThinking

                1,13916




                1,13916























                    1












                    $begingroup$

                    Proceeding as in the OP, note that we have two cases



                    $$frac{1+x^n}{1+x}=begin{cases}sum_{k=1}^{n} (-1)^{k-1}x^{k-1}&,n,,text{odd}\\
                    frac2{1+x}-sum_{k=1}^{n}(-1)^{k-1}x^{k-1}&,n,,text{even}end{cases}$$



                    Integrating over $[0,1]$, letting $nto infty$, and using the Taylor series representation for $log(1+x)$ for $x=1$ reveals



                    $$lim_{ntoinfty}int_0^1 frac{1+x^n}{1+x},dx=log(2) $$



                    Hence, we have



                    $$lim_{ntoinfty}int_0^1 frac{x^n}{1+x},dx=log(2)-log(2)=0$$





                    Rather than proceed as in the OP, we write $frac1{1+x}=sum_{m=0}^{infty}(-x)^m$. Then, we see that



                    $$begin{align}
                    int_0^1 frac{x^n}{1+x} ,dx&=sum_{m=0}^{infty} (-1)^m int_0^1 x^{n+m},dx\\
                    &=sum_{m=n+1}^{infty}(-1)^{m-n-1} frac1{m}tag1
                    end{align}$$



                    As the series $sum_{m=1}^{infty}frac{(-1)^{m-n-1}}{m}$ converges, the series on the right hand side of $(1)$ approaches $0$ as $nto infty$.






                    share|cite|improve this answer











                    $endgroup$













                    • $begingroup$
                      Please let me know how I can improve my answer. I really want to give you the best answer I can. And Happy New Year! ;-)
                      $endgroup$
                      – Mark Viola
                      Jan 30 at 5:04


















                    1












                    $begingroup$

                    Proceeding as in the OP, note that we have two cases



                    $$frac{1+x^n}{1+x}=begin{cases}sum_{k=1}^{n} (-1)^{k-1}x^{k-1}&,n,,text{odd}\\
                    frac2{1+x}-sum_{k=1}^{n}(-1)^{k-1}x^{k-1}&,n,,text{even}end{cases}$$



                    Integrating over $[0,1]$, letting $nto infty$, and using the Taylor series representation for $log(1+x)$ for $x=1$ reveals



                    $$lim_{ntoinfty}int_0^1 frac{1+x^n}{1+x},dx=log(2) $$



                    Hence, we have



                    $$lim_{ntoinfty}int_0^1 frac{x^n}{1+x},dx=log(2)-log(2)=0$$





                    Rather than proceed as in the OP, we write $frac1{1+x}=sum_{m=0}^{infty}(-x)^m$. Then, we see that



                    $$begin{align}
                    int_0^1 frac{x^n}{1+x} ,dx&=sum_{m=0}^{infty} (-1)^m int_0^1 x^{n+m},dx\\
                    &=sum_{m=n+1}^{infty}(-1)^{m-n-1} frac1{m}tag1
                    end{align}$$



                    As the series $sum_{m=1}^{infty}frac{(-1)^{m-n-1}}{m}$ converges, the series on the right hand side of $(1)$ approaches $0$ as $nto infty$.






                    share|cite|improve this answer











                    $endgroup$













                    • $begingroup$
                      Please let me know how I can improve my answer. I really want to give you the best answer I can. And Happy New Year! ;-)
                      $endgroup$
                      – Mark Viola
                      Jan 30 at 5:04
















                    1












                    1








                    1





                    $begingroup$

                    Proceeding as in the OP, note that we have two cases



                    $$frac{1+x^n}{1+x}=begin{cases}sum_{k=1}^{n} (-1)^{k-1}x^{k-1}&,n,,text{odd}\\
                    frac2{1+x}-sum_{k=1}^{n}(-1)^{k-1}x^{k-1}&,n,,text{even}end{cases}$$



                    Integrating over $[0,1]$, letting $nto infty$, and using the Taylor series representation for $log(1+x)$ for $x=1$ reveals



                    $$lim_{ntoinfty}int_0^1 frac{1+x^n}{1+x},dx=log(2) $$



                    Hence, we have



                    $$lim_{ntoinfty}int_0^1 frac{x^n}{1+x},dx=log(2)-log(2)=0$$





                    Rather than proceed as in the OP, we write $frac1{1+x}=sum_{m=0}^{infty}(-x)^m$. Then, we see that



                    $$begin{align}
                    int_0^1 frac{x^n}{1+x} ,dx&=sum_{m=0}^{infty} (-1)^m int_0^1 x^{n+m},dx\\
                    &=sum_{m=n+1}^{infty}(-1)^{m-n-1} frac1{m}tag1
                    end{align}$$



                    As the series $sum_{m=1}^{infty}frac{(-1)^{m-n-1}}{m}$ converges, the series on the right hand side of $(1)$ approaches $0$ as $nto infty$.






                    share|cite|improve this answer











                    $endgroup$



                    Proceeding as in the OP, note that we have two cases



                    $$frac{1+x^n}{1+x}=begin{cases}sum_{k=1}^{n} (-1)^{k-1}x^{k-1}&,n,,text{odd}\\
                    frac2{1+x}-sum_{k=1}^{n}(-1)^{k-1}x^{k-1}&,n,,text{even}end{cases}$$



                    Integrating over $[0,1]$, letting $nto infty$, and using the Taylor series representation for $log(1+x)$ for $x=1$ reveals



                    $$lim_{ntoinfty}int_0^1 frac{1+x^n}{1+x},dx=log(2) $$



                    Hence, we have



                    $$lim_{ntoinfty}int_0^1 frac{x^n}{1+x},dx=log(2)-log(2)=0$$





                    Rather than proceed as in the OP, we write $frac1{1+x}=sum_{m=0}^{infty}(-x)^m$. Then, we see that



                    $$begin{align}
                    int_0^1 frac{x^n}{1+x} ,dx&=sum_{m=0}^{infty} (-1)^m int_0^1 x^{n+m},dx\\
                    &=sum_{m=n+1}^{infty}(-1)^{m-n-1} frac1{m}tag1
                    end{align}$$



                    As the series $sum_{m=1}^{infty}frac{(-1)^{m-n-1}}{m}$ converges, the series on the right hand side of $(1)$ approaches $0$ as $nto infty$.







                    share|cite|improve this answer














                    share|cite|improve this answer



                    share|cite|improve this answer








                    edited Jan 25 at 1:01

























                    answered Jan 24 at 22:03









                    Mark ViolaMark Viola

                    133k1277176




                    133k1277176












                    • $begingroup$
                      Please let me know how I can improve my answer. I really want to give you the best answer I can. And Happy New Year! ;-)
                      $endgroup$
                      – Mark Viola
                      Jan 30 at 5:04




















                    • $begingroup$
                      Please let me know how I can improve my answer. I really want to give you the best answer I can. And Happy New Year! ;-)
                      $endgroup$
                      – Mark Viola
                      Jan 30 at 5:04


















                    $begingroup$
                    Please let me know how I can improve my answer. I really want to give you the best answer I can. And Happy New Year! ;-)
                    $endgroup$
                    – Mark Viola
                    Jan 30 at 5:04






                    $begingroup$
                    Please let me know how I can improve my answer. I really want to give you the best answer I can. And Happy New Year! ;-)
                    $endgroup$
                    – Mark Viola
                    Jan 30 at 5:04




















                    draft saved

                    draft discarded




















































                    Thanks for contributing an answer to Mathematics Stack Exchange!


                    • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

                    But avoid



                    • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

                    • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


                    Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.


                    To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




                    draft saved


                    draft discarded














                    StackExchange.ready(
                    function () {
                    StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f3086368%2fcalculating-the-limit-lim-n-to-infty-sum-k-0n-1-1k-frac1n-k%23new-answer', 'question_page');
                    }
                    );

                    Post as a guest















                    Required, but never shown





















































                    Required, but never shown














                    Required, but never shown












                    Required, but never shown







                    Required, but never shown

































                    Required, but never shown














                    Required, but never shown












                    Required, but never shown







                    Required, but never shown







                    Popular posts from this blog

                    Mario Kart Wii

                    What does “Dominus providebit” mean?

                    Antonio Litta Visconti Arese