Mid Semester Examination Solution

Course: Mathematics I (MA 101) Maximum Marks: 25

1. Let q ≥ 0, y1 = q, and yn+1 = 14 (yn2 + 3), ∀n ≥ 1. For what values of q the sequence {yn } converges? (4)
Give a proper justification of your answer. Also, find lim yn whenever it exists.
n→∞
Sol. If yn converges, then yn goes to some limit say l.
1 2
⇒l= (l + 3)
4
⇒ l = 1, l = 3
1 2
We have yn+1 − yn = 4 (yn − 2
yn−1 ). Also, y2 − y1 = 41 (q − 1)(q − 3). (∗)
[1 mark]
Suppose q > 3. Then y2 > y1 . Using induction and (∗), {yn } is an increasing sequences. If {yn }
converges then l = lim{yn } = sup{yn : n ∈ N} ≥ y1 = q > 3. Which is not possible. Hence, if q > 3,
then {yn } cannot converge.
[1 mark]
Suppose q = 3. Then yn = 3 ∀n. This implies that yn converges to 3. [0.5 mark]
Suppose 1 < q < 3. Then y2 < y1 . Using induction and (∗) , yn+1 < yn , ∀n, i.e. yn is a decreasing
sequence. Also we can prove yn > 1 (yn is bounded below)
[∵ yn+1 − 1 = 14 (yn2 − 1) and y1 > 1]
⇒ {yn } converges to 1. {yn } does not converge to 3 as lim yn =inf{yn : n ∈ N} ≤ y1 = q < 3.
[1 mark]

Suppose 0 < q ≤ 1. Then y2 ≥ y1 ⇒ yn+1 ≥ yn . Also yn+1 ≤ 1 ⇒ {yn } converges to 1.

[0.5 mark]

2. Let f : X −→ R be a continuous function, where X ⊂ R. If (xn ) is sequence in X with the property (2)
that for every ϵ > 0 there exists a positive integer N such that |xn − xm | < ϵ for all n, m ≥ N. Then
prove or disprove that (f (xn )) is a Cauchy sequence in R.
Sol. (No step marking)
(f (xn )) need not be a Cauchy sequence.

For example, take X = (0, 1), Y = R, (xn ) = ( n1 ), f (x) = 1

x, then (f (xn )) = (n), which is not a
Cauchy sequence in R.

∞
X an
3. Determine the values of (a, b, c) for which the series (4)
n=3
nb (log n)c
i). converges absolutely ii). converges but not absolutely iii). diverges.
Sol. We have
an
xn = b .
n (log n)c
Using Ratio test
an+1 nb (log n)c
 
 
lim  b c n+1

(n + 1) (log(n + 1)) a 
 b  c 
 n log n 
= |a| lim 
 
n+1 log(n + 1) 
= |a|
⇒ series will converge if |a| < 1, and diverges for |a| > 1.
[1 mark]
If a = 1, then
1
xn = .
nb (log n)c
1
If b > 1 and c ≥ 0 then for n > e ⇒ log n > 1 ⇒ (log n)c < 1. This implies that

1 1
< b
nb (log n)c n

By comparison test,
X X 1 X 1
xn = < .
nb (log n)c nb
P
Thus, xn converges absolutely for b > 1 and c ≥ 0.
Let b > 1 and c < 0. It implies b = 1 + α for some α > 0. Now consider
X X 1 X 1 (log n)−c
xn = =
nb (log n)c n1+α/2 nα/2
X d
=
n1+α/2
P
for some constant d > 0.By comparison test, xn converges absolutely for b > 1 and c < 0.
[1.5 mark]

P∞ P∞ 1
Now consider b = 1, a = 1. n=3 xn = n=3 n(log n)c converges by integral test for c > 1 and
diverges for c ≤ 1.
[0.5 mark]

When b < 1
1
xn =
nb (log n)c
1
yn =
n
xn n n1−b
= b =
yn n (log n)c (log n)c
xn
lim =∞
yn
1
P P
and yn diverge, so by limit comparison test nb (log n)c
diverges for b < 1.
[0.5 mark]

When a = −1
(−1)n
xn =
nb (log n)c

By alternating series test (Leibniz test) it converges.

[0.5 mark]

So the final answer:

Absolutely converges for
{(a, b, c)| |a| < 1, b, c ∈ R}
{(1, b, c)| b > 1, c ∈ R}
{(1, 1, c)| c > 1}
Conditionaly convergent for
{(−1, b, c)| b, c ∈ R}
Diverges for
{(a, b, c)| |a| > 1, b, c ∈ R}

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 {(1, b, c)| b < 1, c ∈ R}
{(1, 1, c)| c ≤ 1}

∞
X 1
4. Find the range of positive values of x for which the series n + x−n
is convergent. (3)
n=1
x
1 xn
Sol. Let un = = , n ∈ N. Given x > 0. Note that
xn + x−n x2n + 1
(i) For x > 0, un > 0 ∀ n ∈ N,
(ii)

un+1 xn+1 x2n + 1

= 2n+2 ·
un x +1 xn
2n
x +1
= x · 2n+2 .
x +1
Case 1: x > 1

1 + x12n
 
un+1 x 1
lim = lim x · 2 1 = 2 = < 1,
n→∞ un n→∞ x + x2n x x
⇒ The series converges by Ratio test.

[1 mark]

Case 2: x < 1

x2n + 1
 
un+1
lim = lim x · 2n+2 = x < 1,
n→∞ un n→∞ x +1
⇒ The series converges by Ratio test.

[1 mark]

Case 3: x = 1

12n + 1
 
un+1
lim = lim 1 · 2n = 1,
n→∞ un n→∞ 1 +1
1 1
lim un = lim n = ̸= 0.
n→∞ n→∞ 1 + 1−n 2
⇒ The series is divergent.

[1 mark]

Hence, the range of the positive values of x for which the series is convergrnt is (0, 1) ∪
(1, ∞).
∞
X (ax − b)n
5. Find the radius and interval of convergence of the series , where a, b > 0. (2)
n=1
nan
b n b n
(ax−b)n (x− a ) P∞ (x− a )
Sol. Since nan = n . For series n=1 n , radius of convergence R = 1.
[1 mark]
At end points, which are (x − ab ) = 1 and −1, the series is divergent at (x − ab ) = 1(its harmonic
series) and convergent at (x − ab ) = −1 (using alternating series test).
[1 mark]

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6. Use ε-δ definition of limit to show that (3)

x2 − x + 1 1
lim = .
x→1 x+1 2
x2 −x+1
Sol. Here, we have f (x) = x+1 , a = 1, and b = 1/2. Suppose ϵ > 0 is given. Then,
 2 
x − x + 1 1
|f (x) − b| = 
 − 
x+1 2
 2   
 2x − 3x + 1   (x − 1)(2x − 1) 
=  =  .
2(x + 1)   2(x + 1) 

[0.5 mark]
If |x − a| = |x − 1| < k, for any k > 0, then
 
 1 
|2x − 1| = 2 x − 1 + 

2
  
1
≤ 2 |x − 1| +   , (Using triangle inequality)
2
< 2(k + 1/2) = 2k + 1.
1 1
Also, −k < x − 1 < k ⇒ −k + 1 < x < k + 1 ⇒ −k + 2 < x + 1 < k + 2. Therefore, x+1 < 2−k ⇒
1 1
|x+1| < |2−k| . Consequently, we get

|x − 1| 2k + 1
|f (x) − b| < · (A)
2 |2 − k|

[1.5 mark]
n o
2ϵ|2−k|
The RHS term will be less than ϵ provided |x − 1| < 2k+1 . Hence, we choose δ = min k, 2ϵ|2−k|
2k+1 .
Thus, if 0 < |x − 1| < δ it follows that |x − 1| < k so that (A) will be valid and since |x − 1| < 2ϵ|2−k|
2k+1 ,
|f (x) − b| < ϵ. So, we have found a δ > 0 for an arbitrary ϵ > 0 such that 0 < |x − 1| < δ ⇒
|f (x) − b| < ϵ.
[1 mark]

√
7. Let f : [0, 1] → R be a continuous function such that f (x) = f ( 3 x), ∀x ∈ [0, 1]. Show that f is a (3)
constant function.
Solution. For x ∈ [0, 1], we have
√ 1 1 1
f (x) = f ( 3 x) = f (x 9 ) = f (x 33 ) = · · · = f (x 3n ).

[1 mark]
1 1
For x ∈ (0, 1], x 3n tends to 1 as n tends to ∞. By sequential criteria, f (x 3n ) → f (1).
⇒ f (x) = f (1) for x ∈ (0, 1]
[1 mark]
Now by continuity of f , lim f (x) = f (0). ⇒ lim f (1) = f (0) ⇒ f (0) = f (1) = f (x) ⇒ f is constant.
x→0 x→0
[1 mark]

8. Let f : R → (0, ∞) be a function which satisfies f (x + y) = f (x)f (y) for all x, y ∈ R. If f is (4)
continuous at x = 0, then prove that f (x) = bx for some real number b ̸= 0.
2
Sol. Putting x = y = 0 gives (f (0)) = f (0). Thus f (0) = 0 or 1. Since image of f lies in (0, ∞),
we have that f (0) = 1.
[1 mark]

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Now we will show that f is continuous at every x0 ∈ R. As 1 = f (0) = f (x0 +(−x0 )) = f (x0 )f (−x0 ),
1
we get f (x0 ) = f (−x 0)
. Let a sequence xn → x0 , then xn − x0 → 0. The continuity of function f
1
at 0 gives f (xn − x0 ) → 1. This in turn provides that f (xn ) → f (−x 0)
= f (x0 ). Thus function f is
continuous at every x0 ∈ R.
[1.5 mark]

n 1
Note that for every n ∈ N, f (1) = f ( n1 + n1 +· · ·+(n− times )) = f ( n1 ) , therefore f ( n1 ) = (f (1)) n .
 p p
For positive rational numbers, f ( pq ) = f ( 1q + 1q + · · · + (p − times )) = f ( 1q ) = (f (1)) q . Also
−p
 
f − pq = f 1p = (f (1)) q . Now for any x ∈ R, there exists a sequence of xn rational numbers
(q)
such that xn → x, then using the continuity of f , we get that f (xn ) → f (x). hence we have
x x
f (xn ) = (f (1)) n → (f (1)) = f (x). Thus b = f (1) will give the desired result.
[1.5 mark]

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