Tuesday, 19 March 2013

real analysis - Applying root test to sequence frac12+frac13+frac122+frac132+cdots

The following is an example from Principles of Mathematics, by Rudin. I've been trying to understand the example but haven't quite grasped it because it seems I can solve it differently.



Given the following sequence: 12+13+122+132+123+133+



Using the Ratio Test:




liminfnan+1an=limn(23)n=0



limsupnan+1an=limn12(32)n=+



Using the Root Test:



liminfn(an)1n=limn(13n)12n=13




limsupn(an)1n=limn(12n)12n=12



What I don't understand is how to find the limsup and liminf for the ratio test. I also don't understand why for the root test, we are looking at the 2nth root. Where does this 2 come from? Furthermore, are we looking at an as alternating between 12m and 13m or is an actually 12m+13m?



As a side note, I do know how to solve this question if asked whether or not this series converges. I simply don't understand the book went around solving it.

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