Lesson 1-4

TESTING FOR
MONOTONICITY

MAPUA UNIVERSITY
TESTING FOR MONOTONICITY
 EXAMPLE
1. Use the difference o show that the
is strictly increasing or strictly decreasing.
Solution:
;

which proves that the sequence is

strictly decreasing.
 EXAMPLE
2. Use the ratio to show that the given sequence is strictly
increasing or strictly decreasing.
Solution:

Forming the ratio of successive terms, we obtain

from which we see that This proves that the sequence is strictly
increasing.
 EXAMPLE
3. Show that the sequence is eventually strictly decreasing. Use
the ratio
Solution:
and
=

so the sequence is eventually strictly decreasing as confirmed

by the graph.
EXAMPLE