Tuesday, 7 October 2014

`a_n = (3n)/(n+2)` Determine whether the sequence with the given n'th term is monotonic and whether it is bounded.

Let write the first few terms of the sequence:


`a_1=3/3=1`


`a_2=6/4=3/2`


`a_3=9/5`


`a_4=12/6=2`


We can see that the first four terms are increasing so it is possible that the whole sequence is monotonically increasing. To prove that, we need to check that


`a_n <a_(n+1)`


`(3n)/(n+2)<(3(n+1))/(n+1+2)`


` ` `(3n)/(n+2)<(3n+3)/(n+3)`


Now we multiply the whole inequality by `(n+2)(n+3).` We can do that because `n>0` and thus `(n+2)(n+3)>0.`


`3n^2+9n<3n^2+6n+3n+6`


` ` `3n^2-3n^2+9n-9n<6`


`0<6`


Since zero is indeed less than six we can...

Let write the first few terms of the sequence:


`a_1=3/3=1`


`a_2=6/4=3/2`


`a_3=9/5`


`a_4=12/6=2`


We can see that the first four terms are increasing so it is possible that the whole sequence is monotonically increasing. To prove that, we need to check that


`a_n <a_(n+1)`


`(3n)/(n+2)<(3(n+1))/(n+1+2)`


` ` `(3n)/(n+2)<(3n+3)/(n+3)`


Now we multiply the whole inequality by `(n+2)(n+3).` We can do that because `n>0` and thus `(n+2)(n+3)>0.`


`3n^2+9n<3n^2+6n+3n+6`


` ` `3n^2-3n^2+9n-9n<6`


`0<6`


Since zero is indeed less than six we can conclude that `a_n<a_(n+1),` `forall n in NN.`Therefore, the sequence is monotonically increasing.


Because the sequence is monotonically increasing it is bounded from below i.e. `1<=a_n,` `forall n in NN.`


Let us now prove that the sequence is bounded from above by 3 i.e.


`a_n<3`


`(3n)/(n+2)<3`


Now we multiply by `n+2.` We can do that because `n>0` and thus `n+2>0.`


`3n<3n+6`


`0<6`


Since zero is indeed less than six we can conclude that `a_n<3,` `forall n in NN.` Therefore, the sequence is bounded from both below and above i.e.


`1leq a_n<3`


The image below shows first 50 terms of the sequence. Both monotonicity and boundedness can clearly be seen on the image. ` `                                                                                                                                        

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