Convergence of $sum_{n=1}^inftyleft(frac{1}{a_n^2}-frac{1}{a_{n+1}^2}right)$ where $a_1=1$ and $a_n=2-frac...
$begingroup$
Let $a_1=1 $ and $ a_n=2-frac 1n$ for $ngeq 2$. Then $$sum_{n=1}^inftybigg(frac{1}{a_n^2}-frac{1}{a_{n+1}^2}bigg)$$
converges to?
I started by expanding the sum:
$sum_{n=1}^inftybigg(frac{1}{a_n^2}-frac{1}{a_{n+1}^2}bigg)=bigg(frac{1}{a_1^2}-frac{1}{a_2^2}bigg)+bigg(frac{1}{a_2^2}-frac{1}{a_3^2}bigg)+bigg(frac{1}{a_3^2}-frac{1}{a_4^2}bigg)+ldots$
$=frac{1}{a_1^2}+bigg(-frac{1}{a_2^2}+frac{1}{a_2^2}bigg)+bigg(-frac{1}{a_3^2}+frac{1}{a_3^2}bigg)+bigg(-frac{1}{a_4^2}+frac{1}{a_4^2}bigg)+ldots$
$=frac{1}{a_1^2}$
$=1$
Now, the strange part is that the answer to this question is known to me as $0.75$. Is there something wrong with what I did? How does one arrive at $0.75$ as a solution?
PS: I am aware that infinite sums can behave in strange ways, and sometimes more than one solution may follow logically. Is this one such case?
sequences-and-series convergence
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Let $a_1=1 $ and $ a_n=2-frac 1n$ for $ngeq 2$. Then $$sum_{n=1}^inftybigg(frac{1}{a_n^2}-frac{1}{a_{n+1}^2}bigg)$$
converges to?
I started by expanding the sum:
$sum_{n=1}^inftybigg(frac{1}{a_n^2}-frac{1}{a_{n+1}^2}bigg)=bigg(frac{1}{a_1^2}-frac{1}{a_2^2}bigg)+bigg(frac{1}{a_2^2}-frac{1}{a_3^2}bigg)+bigg(frac{1}{a_3^2}-frac{1}{a_4^2}bigg)+ldots$
$=frac{1}{a_1^2}+bigg(-frac{1}{a_2^2}+frac{1}{a_2^2}bigg)+bigg(-frac{1}{a_3^2}+frac{1}{a_3^2}bigg)+bigg(-frac{1}{a_4^2}+frac{1}{a_4^2}bigg)+ldots$
$=frac{1}{a_1^2}$
$=1$
Now, the strange part is that the answer to this question is known to me as $0.75$. Is there something wrong with what I did? How does one arrive at $0.75$ as a solution?
PS: I am aware that infinite sums can behave in strange ways, and sometimes more than one solution may follow logically. Is this one such case?
sequences-and-series convergence
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Let $a_1=1 $ and $ a_n=2-frac 1n$ for $ngeq 2$. Then $$sum_{n=1}^inftybigg(frac{1}{a_n^2}-frac{1}{a_{n+1}^2}bigg)$$
converges to?
I started by expanding the sum:
$sum_{n=1}^inftybigg(frac{1}{a_n^2}-frac{1}{a_{n+1}^2}bigg)=bigg(frac{1}{a_1^2}-frac{1}{a_2^2}bigg)+bigg(frac{1}{a_2^2}-frac{1}{a_3^2}bigg)+bigg(frac{1}{a_3^2}-frac{1}{a_4^2}bigg)+ldots$
$=frac{1}{a_1^2}+bigg(-frac{1}{a_2^2}+frac{1}{a_2^2}bigg)+bigg(-frac{1}{a_3^2}+frac{1}{a_3^2}bigg)+bigg(-frac{1}{a_4^2}+frac{1}{a_4^2}bigg)+ldots$
$=frac{1}{a_1^2}$
$=1$
Now, the strange part is that the answer to this question is known to me as $0.75$. Is there something wrong with what I did? How does one arrive at $0.75$ as a solution?
PS: I am aware that infinite sums can behave in strange ways, and sometimes more than one solution may follow logically. Is this one such case?
sequences-and-series convergence
$endgroup$
Let $a_1=1 $ and $ a_n=2-frac 1n$ for $ngeq 2$. Then $$sum_{n=1}^inftybigg(frac{1}{a_n^2}-frac{1}{a_{n+1}^2}bigg)$$
converges to?
I started by expanding the sum:
$sum_{n=1}^inftybigg(frac{1}{a_n^2}-frac{1}{a_{n+1}^2}bigg)=bigg(frac{1}{a_1^2}-frac{1}{a_2^2}bigg)+bigg(frac{1}{a_2^2}-frac{1}{a_3^2}bigg)+bigg(frac{1}{a_3^2}-frac{1}{a_4^2}bigg)+ldots$
$=frac{1}{a_1^2}+bigg(-frac{1}{a_2^2}+frac{1}{a_2^2}bigg)+bigg(-frac{1}{a_3^2}+frac{1}{a_3^2}bigg)+bigg(-frac{1}{a_4^2}+frac{1}{a_4^2}bigg)+ldots$
$=frac{1}{a_1^2}$
$=1$
Now, the strange part is that the answer to this question is known to me as $0.75$. Is there something wrong with what I did? How does one arrive at $0.75$ as a solution?
PS: I am aware that infinite sums can behave in strange ways, and sometimes more than one solution may follow logically. Is this one such case?
sequences-and-series convergence
sequences-and-series convergence
edited 22 hours ago
Asaf Karagila♦
303k32429761
303k32429761
asked yesterday
s0ulr3aper07s0ulr3aper07
3119
3119
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add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Let $$S_N=sum_{n=1}^Nleft(frac{1}{a_n^2}-frac{1}{a_{n+1}^2}right)=frac{1}{a_1^2}-frac{1}{a_{N+1}^2}.$$
Since $a_1=1$ and $a_nto 2$, we have
$$lim_{Ntoinfty}S_N=1-frac{1}{2^2}=frac{3}{4}.$$
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Infinite sums can behave in strange ways
True!
Sometimes more than one solution may follow logically
Definitely not true. There is one answer in every case (as long as you allow "the sum diverges" as an answer). Sure, there are subtle errors which may make it appear that a sum has more than one value, but that's exactly what they are - errors.
To avoid these errors, don't manipulate infinite sums unless you have a conclusive proof that the manipulation is justified. If you don't, go back to the definition. In your case this says
$$eqalign{sum_{n=1}^inftybigg(frac{1}{a_n^2}-frac{1}{a_{n+1}^2}bigg)
&=lim_{Ntoinfty}sum_{n=1}^Nbigg(frac{1}{a_n^2}-frac{1}{a_{n+1}^2}bigg)cr
&=lim_{Ntoinfty}biggl(frac{1}{a_1^2}-frac{1}{a_{N+1}^2}biggr) .cr}$$
See if you can finish the job from here.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
I stated that more than one solution may follow logically because of Grandi's series where 0, 1, and half are possible answers. Although, I suppose you could simply call the series divergent and completely avoid the controversy altogether.
$endgroup$
– s0ulr3aper07
yesterday
2
$begingroup$
Using standard definitions, Grandi's series is divergent and that's that. Using Cesàro summation you get $frac12$, but this does not mean the series actually converges to $frac12$. As far as I am aware, there has been absolutely no serious controversy on this question for well over a century. Well stated in Wikipedia: "the above manipulations [giving various 'sums'] do not consider what the sum of a series actually means".
$endgroup$
– David
yesterday
add a comment |
$begingroup$
$a_n$ does not approach zero,
so the end term can not
be disregarded.
In other words,
the sum up to $n$ is
$frac1{a_1^2}
-frac1{a_n^2}
to 1-frac14
=frac34
$.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
Your Answer
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3 Answers
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active
oldest
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Let $$S_N=sum_{n=1}^Nleft(frac{1}{a_n^2}-frac{1}{a_{n+1}^2}right)=frac{1}{a_1^2}-frac{1}{a_{N+1}^2}.$$
Since $a_1=1$ and $a_nto 2$, we have
$$lim_{Ntoinfty}S_N=1-frac{1}{2^2}=frac{3}{4}.$$
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Let $$S_N=sum_{n=1}^Nleft(frac{1}{a_n^2}-frac{1}{a_{n+1}^2}right)=frac{1}{a_1^2}-frac{1}{a_{N+1}^2}.$$
Since $a_1=1$ and $a_nto 2$, we have
$$lim_{Ntoinfty}S_N=1-frac{1}{2^2}=frac{3}{4}.$$
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Let $$S_N=sum_{n=1}^Nleft(frac{1}{a_n^2}-frac{1}{a_{n+1}^2}right)=frac{1}{a_1^2}-frac{1}{a_{N+1}^2}.$$
Since $a_1=1$ and $a_nto 2$, we have
$$lim_{Ntoinfty}S_N=1-frac{1}{2^2}=frac{3}{4}.$$
$endgroup$
Let $$S_N=sum_{n=1}^Nleft(frac{1}{a_n^2}-frac{1}{a_{n+1}^2}right)=frac{1}{a_1^2}-frac{1}{a_{N+1}^2}.$$
Since $a_1=1$ and $a_nto 2$, we have
$$lim_{Ntoinfty}S_N=1-frac{1}{2^2}=frac{3}{4}.$$
answered yesterday
Eclipse SunEclipse Sun
7,4591437
7,4591437
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Infinite sums can behave in strange ways
True!
Sometimes more than one solution may follow logically
Definitely not true. There is one answer in every case (as long as you allow "the sum diverges" as an answer). Sure, there are subtle errors which may make it appear that a sum has more than one value, but that's exactly what they are - errors.
To avoid these errors, don't manipulate infinite sums unless you have a conclusive proof that the manipulation is justified. If you don't, go back to the definition. In your case this says
$$eqalign{sum_{n=1}^inftybigg(frac{1}{a_n^2}-frac{1}{a_{n+1}^2}bigg)
&=lim_{Ntoinfty}sum_{n=1}^Nbigg(frac{1}{a_n^2}-frac{1}{a_{n+1}^2}bigg)cr
&=lim_{Ntoinfty}biggl(frac{1}{a_1^2}-frac{1}{a_{N+1}^2}biggr) .cr}$$
See if you can finish the job from here.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
I stated that more than one solution may follow logically because of Grandi's series where 0, 1, and half are possible answers. Although, I suppose you could simply call the series divergent and completely avoid the controversy altogether.
$endgroup$
– s0ulr3aper07
yesterday
2
$begingroup$
Using standard definitions, Grandi's series is divergent and that's that. Using Cesàro summation you get $frac12$, but this does not mean the series actually converges to $frac12$. As far as I am aware, there has been absolutely no serious controversy on this question for well over a century. Well stated in Wikipedia: "the above manipulations [giving various 'sums'] do not consider what the sum of a series actually means".
$endgroup$
– David
yesterday
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Infinite sums can behave in strange ways
True!
Sometimes more than one solution may follow logically
Definitely not true. There is one answer in every case (as long as you allow "the sum diverges" as an answer). Sure, there are subtle errors which may make it appear that a sum has more than one value, but that's exactly what they are - errors.
To avoid these errors, don't manipulate infinite sums unless you have a conclusive proof that the manipulation is justified. If you don't, go back to the definition. In your case this says
$$eqalign{sum_{n=1}^inftybigg(frac{1}{a_n^2}-frac{1}{a_{n+1}^2}bigg)
&=lim_{Ntoinfty}sum_{n=1}^Nbigg(frac{1}{a_n^2}-frac{1}{a_{n+1}^2}bigg)cr
&=lim_{Ntoinfty}biggl(frac{1}{a_1^2}-frac{1}{a_{N+1}^2}biggr) .cr}$$
See if you can finish the job from here.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
I stated that more than one solution may follow logically because of Grandi's series where 0, 1, and half are possible answers. Although, I suppose you could simply call the series divergent and completely avoid the controversy altogether.
$endgroup$
– s0ulr3aper07
yesterday
2
$begingroup$
Using standard definitions, Grandi's series is divergent and that's that. Using Cesàro summation you get $frac12$, but this does not mean the series actually converges to $frac12$. As far as I am aware, there has been absolutely no serious controversy on this question for well over a century. Well stated in Wikipedia: "the above manipulations [giving various 'sums'] do not consider what the sum of a series actually means".
$endgroup$
– David
yesterday
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Infinite sums can behave in strange ways
True!
Sometimes more than one solution may follow logically
Definitely not true. There is one answer in every case (as long as you allow "the sum diverges" as an answer). Sure, there are subtle errors which may make it appear that a sum has more than one value, but that's exactly what they are - errors.
To avoid these errors, don't manipulate infinite sums unless you have a conclusive proof that the manipulation is justified. If you don't, go back to the definition. In your case this says
$$eqalign{sum_{n=1}^inftybigg(frac{1}{a_n^2}-frac{1}{a_{n+1}^2}bigg)
&=lim_{Ntoinfty}sum_{n=1}^Nbigg(frac{1}{a_n^2}-frac{1}{a_{n+1}^2}bigg)cr
&=lim_{Ntoinfty}biggl(frac{1}{a_1^2}-frac{1}{a_{N+1}^2}biggr) .cr}$$
See if you can finish the job from here.
$endgroup$
Infinite sums can behave in strange ways
True!
Sometimes more than one solution may follow logically
Definitely not true. There is one answer in every case (as long as you allow "the sum diverges" as an answer). Sure, there are subtle errors which may make it appear that a sum has more than one value, but that's exactly what they are - errors.
To avoid these errors, don't manipulate infinite sums unless you have a conclusive proof that the manipulation is justified. If you don't, go back to the definition. In your case this says
$$eqalign{sum_{n=1}^inftybigg(frac{1}{a_n^2}-frac{1}{a_{n+1}^2}bigg)
&=lim_{Ntoinfty}sum_{n=1}^Nbigg(frac{1}{a_n^2}-frac{1}{a_{n+1}^2}bigg)cr
&=lim_{Ntoinfty}biggl(frac{1}{a_1^2}-frac{1}{a_{N+1}^2}biggr) .cr}$$
See if you can finish the job from here.
answered yesterday
DavidDavid
68.2k664126
68.2k664126
$begingroup$
I stated that more than one solution may follow logically because of Grandi's series where 0, 1, and half are possible answers. Although, I suppose you could simply call the series divergent and completely avoid the controversy altogether.
$endgroup$
– s0ulr3aper07
yesterday
2
$begingroup$
Using standard definitions, Grandi's series is divergent and that's that. Using Cesàro summation you get $frac12$, but this does not mean the series actually converges to $frac12$. As far as I am aware, there has been absolutely no serious controversy on this question for well over a century. Well stated in Wikipedia: "the above manipulations [giving various 'sums'] do not consider what the sum of a series actually means".
$endgroup$
– David
yesterday
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I stated that more than one solution may follow logically because of Grandi's series where 0, 1, and half are possible answers. Although, I suppose you could simply call the series divergent and completely avoid the controversy altogether.
$endgroup$
– s0ulr3aper07
yesterday
2
$begingroup$
Using standard definitions, Grandi's series is divergent and that's that. Using Cesàro summation you get $frac12$, but this does not mean the series actually converges to $frac12$. As far as I am aware, there has been absolutely no serious controversy on this question for well over a century. Well stated in Wikipedia: "the above manipulations [giving various 'sums'] do not consider what the sum of a series actually means".
$endgroup$
– David
yesterday
$begingroup$
I stated that more than one solution may follow logically because of Grandi's series where 0, 1, and half are possible answers. Although, I suppose you could simply call the series divergent and completely avoid the controversy altogether.
$endgroup$
– s0ulr3aper07
yesterday
$begingroup$
I stated that more than one solution may follow logically because of Grandi's series where 0, 1, and half are possible answers. Although, I suppose you could simply call the series divergent and completely avoid the controversy altogether.
$endgroup$
– s0ulr3aper07
yesterday
2
2
$begingroup$
Using standard definitions, Grandi's series is divergent and that's that. Using Cesàro summation you get $frac12$, but this does not mean the series actually converges to $frac12$. As far as I am aware, there has been absolutely no serious controversy on this question for well over a century. Well stated in Wikipedia: "the above manipulations [giving various 'sums'] do not consider what the sum of a series actually means".
$endgroup$
– David
yesterday
$begingroup$
Using standard definitions, Grandi's series is divergent and that's that. Using Cesàro summation you get $frac12$, but this does not mean the series actually converges to $frac12$. As far as I am aware, there has been absolutely no serious controversy on this question for well over a century. Well stated in Wikipedia: "the above manipulations [giving various 'sums'] do not consider what the sum of a series actually means".
$endgroup$
– David
yesterday
add a comment |
$begingroup$
$a_n$ does not approach zero,
so the end term can not
be disregarded.
In other words,
the sum up to $n$ is
$frac1{a_1^2}
-frac1{a_n^2}
to 1-frac14
=frac34
$.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
$a_n$ does not approach zero,
so the end term can not
be disregarded.
In other words,
the sum up to $n$ is
$frac1{a_1^2}
-frac1{a_n^2}
to 1-frac14
=frac34
$.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
$a_n$ does not approach zero,
so the end term can not
be disregarded.
In other words,
the sum up to $n$ is
$frac1{a_1^2}
-frac1{a_n^2}
to 1-frac14
=frac34
$.
$endgroup$
$a_n$ does not approach zero,
so the end term can not
be disregarded.
In other words,
the sum up to $n$ is
$frac1{a_1^2}
-frac1{a_n^2}
to 1-frac14
=frac34
$.
answered yesterday
marty cohenmarty cohen
73.4k549128
73.4k549128
add a comment |
add a comment |
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