## anonymous 5 years ago Consider the following sequence: An = 2(-1)^n + (n/(n+1)). Is it possible to prove that An <= 3 for every n? Thanks

1. anonymous

you only have to show that lim n/(n+1) =1 as n tends to infinity.

2. anonymous

what is the justification for that assumption?

3. anonymous

derivate the function An with respect to n. Put the derivative equals to zero to find the value of n on the boundry. Then put the value of n back in An and evaluate n. This will always be less then or equal to 3

4. anonymous

this is because the derivative equals to zero gives us the turning point of the function... ie either the value of n coresponding to greatest or least value of An. Take the double derivative and put the value of n in it, it will turn out to be -ve showing this is the maximum point so all other values of An are less then this

5. anonymous

well...the derivative is 1/((n+1)^2).....therefore, is always positive.... > 0

6. anonymous

what abt the derivative of 2*(-1)^n?

7. anonymous

zero? :)

8. anonymous

i dont think so... its something involving log.

9. anonymous

i jst checked the above reply of limit aproach to infinity... that wud work too as n/1+n will approach 1 at infinity... and 2*(-1)^n can either be -2 or +2 so that wud gve correct answr

10. anonymous

i understood the limit reply....but it is safe to assume that the limit of n/(n+1) as n tends to infinity plus 2 is the maximum term of An?

11. anonymous

yes

12. anonymous

you don't need the derivative, and you certainly don't need the derivative of $2(-1)^n$ the biggest $2(-1)^n$ can be is 2 and $\frac{n}{n+1}<1$ by inspection. the numerator is less that the denominator!

13. anonymous

ok....but in order to prove that An <= 3 for every n, shouldn't we prove that An = 3 (which is impossible)?

14. anonymous

i understand less than 3, but less or EQUAL than 3 is a little bit more complicated to understand...

15. anonymous

if it is less than three it is certainly less than or equal to three. and less than 4 too!

16. anonymous

perhaps i was being silly. $0<3$ is a true statement, but so is $0\leq3$ If you know something is less than three it is certainly less than or equal to 3. The sequence you had will never be 3. There will be values that get closer and closer to 3 (and to 1, so the sequence has no actual limit), but it will certainly never be 3.