1

so i have got a sequence $$x_n=1+\frac{2}{4}+\frac{3}{16}+\frac{4}{64}+...+\frac{n}{4^{n-1}}$$ and i have to prove that it actually converges to some point, just by looking at it, it is clear to me that it does converge, if i would take its limit $$\lim_{n \to \infty}\sum_{k=0}^{n}{\frac{n}{4^{n-1}}}$$

as n increases the numerator becomes actually less than the denominator, from that point it would converge, but how would i prove it.

5 Answers5

4

Use comparison: $$\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}{\frac{k}{4^{k-1}}}<\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}\frac{2^k}{4^{k-1}}=4\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}\bigg(\frac{2}{4}\bigg)^k$$

LeeNeverGup
  • 2,671
2

With a few tools that the OP probably doesn't have yet, we can also find the actual limit:

It is well known that $$\frac{1}{1-x} = \sum_{n=0}^\infty x^n \text{ when } |x|<1$$ Differentiating this, we get $$\frac{1}{(1-x)^2} = \sum_{n=1}^\infty nx^{n-1}, $$ which is just your series if we set $x=1/4$.

Since $|1/4|<1$ and differentiation doesn't change the radius of convergence, your series converges, and the limit is $\frac{1}{(1-1/4)^2} = \frac{16}{9}$.

0

the series $\sum (x_n-x_{n-1})$ converges, because

$$x_n-x_{n-1}=\frac n{4^{n-1}}\leq\frac1{2^{n-1}}$$

ziang chen
  • 7,771
0

$\int_{1}^{\infty}\frac{n}{4^{n-1}}dn=\frac{2ln(2)+1}{4ln(2)^2}$ and $\lim_{t \to \infty}\int_{1}^t\frac{n}{4^{n-1}}dn=\frac{2ln(2)+1}{4ln(2)^2}$

(Integral test)

0

By induction the partial sums are $\frac{16*4^{n-1} - 3n -4}{9*4^{n-1}}$, which clearly approaches $\frac{16}{9}$ as $n$ goes to infinity.

Nate
  • 11,206