EXERCISES FOR CHAPTER 1: Sequences and Limits

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

Solution
n
 1 (
1)n
(a) lim 
 = lim n = 0
n  2 n 2

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

1+ n 1 1
(c) lim = lim =

n 1
2n n
2 2
1 + (
1) n
1 + n2 n+2
2. (a) (b) (c)
n +3
2
2 1+ n

Solution
(a) Limit does not exist.
1 + n2 2n
(b) lim = lim =

n
1 + n n
1

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

6n 5 + n sin 2n ln2n
3. (a) (b) (c)
3n + 1
5
n ln n

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

3n
(b)
1 sin 2n 1

 
n n n 1
since lim =0
sin 2n n
n
 lim =0
n n
ln 2n ln 2 ln n
(c) lim = lim + lim =1
n
ln n n
ln n n
ln n

3 /n 2n
4. (a) 7 (b) n 5n 3 (c)
n2

Solution
 K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E. 2

3
(a) y = lim 7 3/n  ln y = lim ln 7 = 0  y = 1
n
n n

(b) lim n 5n 3 = lim 51/n  lim n 3/n = 1
n
n
n

n n
2 2 ln 2 2 n (ln 2)2
(c) lim 2 = lim = lim =

n
n n
2n n
2
n3 n!+ n 2 n!+ 3n
5. (a) n (b) (c)
3 2n!+ n 1+ n

Solution
n3 3n 2 6n 6
(a) lim n = lim n = lim n 2
= lim n =0
n
e n
3 ln 3 n
3 (ln 3) n
3 (ln 3)3

n2
n!+ n 2 n!(1 + )
(b) lim = lim n! = 1
n
2n!+ n n
) 2
n

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

n
1 + n n
1
n(1 + )
n
e n
e 2n

6. (a) n
(b) n 2
(c) nsin
1+ 2e (1+ 2e ) 2n

Solution
en en 1
(a) lim = lim =
n
1 + 2e n n
2e n
2
2n
e e2n 1
(b) lim = lim =
n
(1 + 2e ) n 2 1
4e2n (1 + n )2 4
n

2e
  
 sin
2 cos
(c) lim n sin = lim 2n = lim 2n 2n =  lim cos  = 
n 2n n 1 n 1

2 2 n 2n 2
n n
 en + 1 2n + 1
3
n

7. (a) ln  n  (b) (c)  

 e
1 n  2
Solution
 en + 1  en + 1 en
(a) lim ln  n = ln lim = ln lim = ln1 = 0
n  e
1  n e n
1 n e n

1
n( 2 + )
2n + 1 n = 2
(b) lim = lim
n
n n
n
n
 3 3
(c) lim   =
since > 1
n
 2  2
3 K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E.

n +

 x
n
 x  x 
n

8. Show that (a) lim  1+  = e , (b) lim  1+  = e and (c) lim  1+

x x
 =e
x
n 
 n n   n n   n +

where
is a constant.
Solution
n
 x x 1
(a) Let y = lim  1 +  . Call = so that m 
as n 
. Then n = mx and so
n
 n n m
mx
 1
y = lim  1 + 
m
 m
x
  1 
m

=  lim  1 +  
 m
 m 
= ex
(b)

n +

n
 x  x  x
lim  1 + = lim  1 +  lim  1 +
n  n
n  n
n  n

n
 x
= 1  lim  1 +
n  n

= 1  ex = ex
(c) Call m = n +
. Then as n 
, m 
. So

n m

 x  x
lim  1 +
= lim  1 +

n  n + m  m

 m
 x  x
= lim  1 +
 lim  1 +

m  m m  m
= 1  ex = ex

 1
n


n  n
1 n
9. (a) 1
2  (b)  1 +  (c)  
 n   n  n 
Solution
(a)
n n
 1  1  1
lim  1
2  = lim   1
  1 +  
n  n n   n  n
n n
 1  1
= lim  1
lim  1 +
 n 
n  n  n
= e
1e1
=1
(b)
 K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E. 4




n
 
 
n

lim  1 +  =  lim  1 +  
n  n  n  n

( )


= e

= e

2

(c)
 n
1
n n
 1
lim   = lim  1

n  n n  n
= e
1

n + 3
n

n n  2  2n
10. (a)    (c) 1

 n + 2 
(b)
 n + 3  n
Solution
(a)
 n + 3  n + 2 + 1
n n

lim   = n

n
 n + 2 
lim 
 n + 2 
n
 1 
= lim  1 + 
n
 n + 2
=e
(b)
 n + 3
3
n n
 n 
lim   = lim  
n  n + 3 n  n+3
n
 3 
= lim  1

n  n + 3
= e
3
2
 2
2n
  2 
n

(c) lim  1
 =  lim  1
  = (e
2 )2 = e
4

n  n  n  n

(ln n) 7 n n
1+
1
11. (a) (b) n3 (c) n n
n2

Solution

(a) lim
( ln n )
7

= lim
7 ( ln n )
6

= lim
42 ( ln n )
5

=
= 0
n
n2 n
2n 2 n
4n 2
(b) lim n n3n = lim n n  lim n 3n = 1  3 = 3
n
n
n

1 1
1+
(c) lim n n
= lim n  lim n =
 1 =

n
n
n
n


1  1/ ln n
12. (a) n7 n n
(b)   (c) arctan n
 n
Solution
5 K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E.

(a) lim n n7 n = lim n n  lim n 7 n = 1  7 = 7 .

n
n
n

1
1/ln n ln( )

1 ln n
(b) Let y =   . Then lim ln y = lim n =
lim =
1 .
 n n n ln n n ln n

1/ln n
 1
Thus lim   = e
1 .
n  n

(c) lim arctan n = .
n 2
( ) ( )
1/n 1/n
13. Show that lim 1 + x n = 1 if x < 1 . Hence find lim 5 n + 7 n .
n
n

Solution
1/n
  5n
(
lim 5 + 7 n
)
n 1/n
= lim 7  1 +   
( )   7
1/n
y = lim 1 + x n n
n

n

1/n
ln(1 + x n )   5n
ln y = lim =0 = 7  lim  1 +   
n
n n

  7
 y =1 =7

( )

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

1/n
lim 2 n + 4 n = lim
(2 )
1/n
n n n
+ 4n
1
= lim 1/n
n
 2n 
4    + 1
 4
1
=
4
1/n
2n + 4 n
2n + 4 n 
15. (a) n (b)  n
3 + 6n  5 + 6 n 
Solution
n
 1
n   +1
2 +4
n n
4  2 4n
(a) lim n = lim n = lim n = 0
n
3 + 6 n
n
n
6
 1 n
6
  + 1
2

1/n
  2n 
1/n
   + 1
 2n + 4 n  4  4 2
(b) lim  n = lim   =
n
 5 + 6 n  6 n
  5  n  3
  6  + 1 
 K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E. 6

n1 3 7 n1 7 32n +1
16. (a) (b) (c)
137n en 5n 2
Solution
n137
(a) lim = 0 , standard result.
n
137 n

n17
(b) lim n = 0 , standard result.
n
e

32n +1 32n +12 ln 3 32n +1 (2 ln 3)2

(c) lim = lim = lim =

n
5n 2 n
10n n
10

17. (a) (b) ln(n + 1)
ln n (c) ln(n 2 + n)
ln n 2
arctan n
Solution



(a) lim = =2
n arctan n

2
n +1 n +1
(b) lim ( ln(n + 1)
ln n ) = lim ln( ) = ln lim ( ) = ln1 = 0
n n n n n
n2 + n n2 + n
n
(
(c) lim ln(n 2 + n)
ln n 2 ) = lim ln( 2 ) = ln lim ( 2 ) = ln1 = 0
n n n n

8n! n! ln9n
18. (a) (b) (c) 3
5n n
10n!+(n
1)! n
Solution
8n!
(a) lim n = 0 , standard result.
n
5n

n! n! 1
(b) lim = lim =
n 10n!+ (n
1)! 1
) 10
n
10n!(1 +
10n
1
ln 9n ln 9 ln n 1
(c) lim 3 = lim 3 + lim 3 = 0 + lim n = 3lim 1/ 3 = 0
n n n n n n n 1 n n
n
2 / 3
3
n +1
2
sin n n!
19. (a) (b) (c)
n n 5n 2
Solution
1
n 1+
n2 + 1 n =

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

n 3
2n n!+(n
1)!

20. (a) (b) n e (c)
3
n
(n
1)!+(n
2)!
Solution
n 1
(a) lim n = lim n =0
n
3 n
3 ln 3

n3 3n 2 6n 6
(b) lim n 3e
2n = lim 2n = lim 2n = lim 2n = lim 2n = 0
n n e n 2e n 4e n 8e

1
n!+ (n
1)! n!(1 + )
(c) lim = lim n =
n (n
1)!+ (n
2)! n 2
(n
1)!(1 + )
n
1
ln n 2 32n
21. (a) (b) n ln(1 + ) (c)
n n 7n
Solution
1
ln n n 2
(a) lim = lim = lim =0
n
2n n
1 n
n
2
2 n
n
2  2
(b) lim n ln(1 + ) = ln lim  1 +  = ln e2 = 2
n
n n
 n
32n 9n 9 n ln 9
(c) lim = lim = lim =

n
7n n
7n n
7
n! 2n n
22. (a) (b) n
1+ 5n! n + 3n n
1
Solution
n! n! 1
(a) lim = lim =
n
1 + 5n! 1
) 5
n

5n!(1 +
5n!
n
2n 2n n
(b) lim = lim =2
n n n + 3n n
1 n n 3
n (1 + )
n
n
2n n! ln2n
23. (a) n (b) 2n (c)
n + n! e + 3n! 2n
Solution
2n n 2n n
(a) lim n = lim =2
n
n + n! n
n n!
n (1 + n )
n
n! n! 1
(b) lim 2n = lim 2n =
n
e + 3n! n
e 3
3n!(1 + )
3n!
1
ln 2n ln 2 ln n n 2
(c) lim = lim + lim = 0 + lim = lim =0
n
2n n
2n n
2n n
1 n
n
2
2 n
 K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E. 8

 n n
24. James Stirling (1692-1770) showed that for large values of n, n!   2
n . Use
 e
n!
this approximation for the factorial of n to show that lim n = 0 .
n
n

Solution
n! (n / e)n 2
n 2
n
lim n = lim n
= lim n = 0 .
n n n n n e
n!en
(Notice that Stirling’s result leads to the elegant limit lim n = 2
.)
n n n

n2
25. (a) Show that lim 2 = 1 . (b) Establish this limit by an 
N proof.
n
n + 1

Solution
n2 n2
(a) lim 2 = lim =1
n
n + 1 n
2 1
n (1 + 2 )
n
2
n n2 1
(b) 2
1 <  
 < 2
1<  
 < 2 <  . Hence we have that
n +1 n +1 n +1
1 1 n2 1
n2 + 1 < n>
1 . Thus 2
1 <  for all n > N where N =
1 .
  n +1 

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

Solution
1  1
(a) Let y = . Then lim ln y = lim ln  n  =
lim n ln 2 =
 . Hence y  e
 = 0 .
2 n n n 2 n

1 1 1 1 ln  1
(b) n <  
 < n <  . Hence n <   2 n >  n >
. Thus n <

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

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

2n!(1 +
2n!
n! 1 n! 1 2n!
1
2n!
(b)
<  
 <
<. I.e.
 < < i.e.
1 + 2n! 2 1 + 2n! 2 2(1 + 2n!)

1

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

1
>

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

1 1
n! >

 2
1 1 1 1
Now n! > n and so we if we demand n >
we automatically ensure n! >
.
 2  2
n! 1 1 1
Thus
<  for all n > N where N >
. As a check take
1 + 2n! 2  2
1 10! 1
 = 10
1  N > 10
. With N = 10 we have that
< 6.89  10
8 < 10
1 .
2 1 + 2  10! 2
This shows that the choice of N is very loose. This is so because the inequality n! > n is
1 1
very easily satisfied so a much lower value of N than N >
could have done.
 2

28. A sequence of positive numbers is defined recursively through un +1 = 1
un , with

1
u1 = . Given that the sequence is convergent, find the limit of the sequence,
2
lim un .
n 

Solution
Let the limit be L. Then lim un = L , lim un +1 = L and so L = 1
L  L2 + L
1 = 0 .
n
n

1 + 5
The positive root is L = .
2
1
cos x
29. Find lim .
x0 x2
Solution
1
cos x sin x cos x 1
Limit is of the 0/0 type. Hence lim 2
= lim = lim = .
x0 x x0 2x x0 2 2
ln(1
2x)
30. Find the limit lim .
x0 x
Solution

2
ln(1
2x)
Limit is of the 0/0 type. Hence lim = lim 1
2x =
2 .
x0 x x0 1
tan x
31. Evaluate the limit lim .
x
0 x
Solution
tan x sec 2 x
Limit is of the 0/0 type. Hence lim = lim = 1.
x
0 x x
0 1
 K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E. 10

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

arcsin(3x)
3x
33. Find lim .
x0 x3
Solution
Limit is of the 0/0 type. Hence
3 1

3 3  (
18x)(
)(1
9x 2 )
3/2
arcsin(3x)
3x
= lim 1
9x2
2
lim = lim 2
x0 x3 x0 3x x0 6x
3
27(1
9x 2 )
3/2 + 27x(
)(1
9x 2 )
3/2 (
18x) 9
= lim 2 =
x0 6 2

1 1
34. Evaluate lim(
).
x0 x sin x
Solution
1 1 sin x
x
lim(
) = lim( )
x0 x sin x x0 x sin x
cos x
1
= lim( )
x0 sin x + x cos x

sin x
= lim( )
x0 cos x + cos x
x sin x

=0
sin(x + 2 sin x)
35. Find the limit lim .
x
0 sin x
Solution
sin(x + 2 sin x) cos(x + 2 sin x)(1 + 2 cos x)
lim = lim
x
0 sin x x
0 cos x
=3
1 1
36. Find lim(
).
x0 x tan x
Solution
1 1 x
tan x
We may write
= which is a 0/0 limit. Using L’ Hôpital’s rule we
x tan x x tan x
have
1 1 x
tan x 1
sec 2 x
lim(
) = lim = lim
x0 x tan x x0 x tan x x0 tan x + x sec 2 x

2 sec x(sec x tan x)

= lim 2 =0
x0 sec x + sec 2 x + x2 sec x(sec x tan x)
11 K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E.

1 1
37. Find lim(
).
x1 ln x x
1
Solution
1 1 x
1
ln x

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

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

1 1
+
1+ x
1
x
lim = lim 2 1 + x 2 1
x = 1 .
x0 x x0 1
e(n +1)x
1
39. Consider the function f (x) = 1 + e + e +
+ e . (a) Show that f (x) =
x 2x nx
.
ex
1
df
(b) Show that = 1e x + 2e2 x +
+ nenx . (c) Hence show that
dx
df
1+ 2 +
+ n = . (d) Hence evaluate 1 + 2 +
+ n . (e) Using this method find
dx x = 0
an expression for (but do not attempt to evaluate) 1k + 2 k +
+ n k where k is a
positive integer.
Solution
e(n +1)x
1
(a) 1 + e x + e2 x +
+ enx = , by summing a geometric progression.
ex
1
df
(b) = 1e x + 2e2 x +
+ nenx
dx
(c) Setting x=0 in the result above gives the answer.
(d)
df (x) (n + 1)e(n +1)x (e x
1)
(e(n +1)x
1)e x
=
dx (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’ Hôpital’s rule
 K. A. Tsokos: Series and D.E. 12

df (0) e x
(n + 1)e(n +1)x
n(n + 1)e(n +1)x + n(n + 2)e(n + 2)x

= lim
dx x0 2(e x
1)e x
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
= lim
x0 4e2 x
2e x
1
(n + 1)2
n(n + 1)2 + n(n + 2)2
=
2
1
n
2n
1
n 3
2n 2
n + n 3 + 4n 2 + 4n
2
=
2
n +n
2
=
2
n(n + 1)
=
2

df
(e) We saw that = 1e x + 2e2 x +
+ nenx . Differentiating again gives
dx
d2 f
2
= 12 e x + 2 2 e2 x +
+ n 2 enx
dx
and so differentiating k times gives
dk f
= 1k e x + 2 k e2 x +
+ n k enx .
dx k
Thus at x = 0 we have that
dk f d k  e(n +1)x
1 
1k + 2 k +
+ n k = k = k x .
dx x = 0 dx  e
1  x = 0

Applying L’ Hôpital’s rule to this expression is hopeless. To make progress requires

more advanced work.