How to prove that recursive sequence converges and find it's limit

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For sequence given by $a_1=1$ i $a_n+1= frac1a_1+a_2+ldots+a_n$ I have to prove that it converges to some number and find this number.



I tried toshow that it's monotonic by calculating
$$
fraca_n+1a_n = frac1a_n(a_1+a_2+ldots+a_n)
$$

but I cannot say anything about the denominator. How can I try to find it's limit?










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    For sequence given by $a_1=1$ i $a_n+1= frac1a_1+a_2+ldots+a_n$ I have to prove that it converges to some number and find this number.



    I tried toshow that it's monotonic by calculating
    $$
    fraca_n+1a_n = frac1a_n(a_1+a_2+ldots+a_n)
    $$

    but I cannot say anything about the denominator. How can I try to find it's limit?










    share|cite|improve this question







    New contributor




    avan1235 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.





















      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite











      For sequence given by $a_1=1$ i $a_n+1= frac1a_1+a_2+ldots+a_n$ I have to prove that it converges to some number and find this number.



      I tried toshow that it's monotonic by calculating
      $$
      fraca_n+1a_n = frac1a_n(a_1+a_2+ldots+a_n)
      $$

      but I cannot say anything about the denominator. How can I try to find it's limit?










      share|cite|improve this question







      New contributor




      avan1235 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.











      For sequence given by $a_1=1$ i $a_n+1= frac1a_1+a_2+ldots+a_n$ I have to prove that it converges to some number and find this number.



      I tried toshow that it's monotonic by calculating
      $$
      fraca_n+1a_n = frac1a_n(a_1+a_2+ldots+a_n)
      $$

      but I cannot say anything about the denominator. How can I try to find it's limit?







      sequences-and-series limits convergence






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      avan1235 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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      asked 1 hour ago









      avan1235

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          3 Answers
          3






          active

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          up vote
          2
          down vote



          accepted










          Let $s_n = sumlimits_k=1^n a_k$. We can rewrite the recurrence relation as



          $$s_n+1 - s_n = a_n+1 = frac1s_n quadimplies s_n+1 = s_n + frac1s_n$$



          This implies
          $$s_n+1^2 = s_n^2 + 2 + frac1s_n^2 ge s_n^2 + 2$$



          So for all $n > 1$, we have



          $$s_n^2 = s_1^2 + sum_k=1^n-1 (s_k+1^2 - s_k^2) ge 1 + sum_k=1^n-1 2 = 2n - 1$$



          Since all $a_n$ is clearly positive, we have $displaystyle;0 < a_n = frac1s_n-1 le frac1sqrt2n-3$.



          By squeezing, $a_n$ converges to $0$ as $ntoinfty$.






          share|cite|improve this answer



























            up vote
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            Note that $$a_n+1 = frac1left(a_1 + ldots + a_n-1right) + a_n = frac1frac1a_n + a_n =fraca_n1 + a_n^2$$ for $n geq 1$. If you can prove that is is convergent, then, calling the limit $alpha$, we must have $$alpha = fracalpha1+alpha^2,$$ and solving this gives $alpha = 0$.



            As for proving convergence, the recurrence relation given in the form above should help you to verify that the sequence is indeed monotone decreasing, and further you should be able to check that the sequence is bounded below by zero. Then apply monotone convergence theorem.






            share|cite|improve this answer



























              up vote
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              down vote













              1. Prove by induction that $a_ngeq0$ for all $n$ (it's pretty straightforward).


              2. You'll have then $a_n+1/a_n = 1/(a_nsum_i=1^n a_i) < 1$ for all $n$ (since $a_1=1$).


              Thus $a_ngeq0$ is decreasing, converging to some limit $xgeq0$.
              Such limit must satisfy $x=1/sum_n=1^infty a_n$.
              If $x>0$, we would have convergence of $sum_n=1^inftya_n$, implying $a_nto 0$, a contradiction. Therefore, $x=limlimits_ntoinfty a_n = 0$.






              share|cite|improve this answer




















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                3 Answers
                3






                active

                oldest

                votes








                3 Answers
                3






                active

                oldest

                votes









                active

                oldest

                votes






                active

                oldest

                votes








                up vote
                2
                down vote



                accepted










                Let $s_n = sumlimits_k=1^n a_k$. We can rewrite the recurrence relation as



                $$s_n+1 - s_n = a_n+1 = frac1s_n quadimplies s_n+1 = s_n + frac1s_n$$



                This implies
                $$s_n+1^2 = s_n^2 + 2 + frac1s_n^2 ge s_n^2 + 2$$



                So for all $n > 1$, we have



                $$s_n^2 = s_1^2 + sum_k=1^n-1 (s_k+1^2 - s_k^2) ge 1 + sum_k=1^n-1 2 = 2n - 1$$



                Since all $a_n$ is clearly positive, we have $displaystyle;0 < a_n = frac1s_n-1 le frac1sqrt2n-3$.



                By squeezing, $a_n$ converges to $0$ as $ntoinfty$.






                share|cite|improve this answer
























                  up vote
                  2
                  down vote



                  accepted










                  Let $s_n = sumlimits_k=1^n a_k$. We can rewrite the recurrence relation as



                  $$s_n+1 - s_n = a_n+1 = frac1s_n quadimplies s_n+1 = s_n + frac1s_n$$



                  This implies
                  $$s_n+1^2 = s_n^2 + 2 + frac1s_n^2 ge s_n^2 + 2$$



                  So for all $n > 1$, we have



                  $$s_n^2 = s_1^2 + sum_k=1^n-1 (s_k+1^2 - s_k^2) ge 1 + sum_k=1^n-1 2 = 2n - 1$$



                  Since all $a_n$ is clearly positive, we have $displaystyle;0 < a_n = frac1s_n-1 le frac1sqrt2n-3$.



                  By squeezing, $a_n$ converges to $0$ as $ntoinfty$.






                  share|cite|improve this answer






















                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote



                    accepted







                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote



                    accepted






                    Let $s_n = sumlimits_k=1^n a_k$. We can rewrite the recurrence relation as



                    $$s_n+1 - s_n = a_n+1 = frac1s_n quadimplies s_n+1 = s_n + frac1s_n$$



                    This implies
                    $$s_n+1^2 = s_n^2 + 2 + frac1s_n^2 ge s_n^2 + 2$$



                    So for all $n > 1$, we have



                    $$s_n^2 = s_1^2 + sum_k=1^n-1 (s_k+1^2 - s_k^2) ge 1 + sum_k=1^n-1 2 = 2n - 1$$



                    Since all $a_n$ is clearly positive, we have $displaystyle;0 < a_n = frac1s_n-1 le frac1sqrt2n-3$.



                    By squeezing, $a_n$ converges to $0$ as $ntoinfty$.






                    share|cite|improve this answer












                    Let $s_n = sumlimits_k=1^n a_k$. We can rewrite the recurrence relation as



                    $$s_n+1 - s_n = a_n+1 = frac1s_n quadimplies s_n+1 = s_n + frac1s_n$$



                    This implies
                    $$s_n+1^2 = s_n^2 + 2 + frac1s_n^2 ge s_n^2 + 2$$



                    So for all $n > 1$, we have



                    $$s_n^2 = s_1^2 + sum_k=1^n-1 (s_k+1^2 - s_k^2) ge 1 + sum_k=1^n-1 2 = 2n - 1$$



                    Since all $a_n$ is clearly positive, we have $displaystyle;0 < a_n = frac1s_n-1 le frac1sqrt2n-3$.



                    By squeezing, $a_n$ converges to $0$ as $ntoinfty$.







                    share|cite|improve this answer












                    share|cite|improve this answer



                    share|cite|improve this answer










                    answered 51 mins ago









                    achille hui

                    92.1k5127248




                    92.1k5127248




















                        up vote
                        2
                        down vote













                        Note that $$a_n+1 = frac1left(a_1 + ldots + a_n-1right) + a_n = frac1frac1a_n + a_n =fraca_n1 + a_n^2$$ for $n geq 1$. If you can prove that is is convergent, then, calling the limit $alpha$, we must have $$alpha = fracalpha1+alpha^2,$$ and solving this gives $alpha = 0$.



                        As for proving convergence, the recurrence relation given in the form above should help you to verify that the sequence is indeed monotone decreasing, and further you should be able to check that the sequence is bounded below by zero. Then apply monotone convergence theorem.






                        share|cite|improve this answer
























                          up vote
                          2
                          down vote













                          Note that $$a_n+1 = frac1left(a_1 + ldots + a_n-1right) + a_n = frac1frac1a_n + a_n =fraca_n1 + a_n^2$$ for $n geq 1$. If you can prove that is is convergent, then, calling the limit $alpha$, we must have $$alpha = fracalpha1+alpha^2,$$ and solving this gives $alpha = 0$.



                          As for proving convergence, the recurrence relation given in the form above should help you to verify that the sequence is indeed monotone decreasing, and further you should be able to check that the sequence is bounded below by zero. Then apply monotone convergence theorem.






                          share|cite|improve this answer






















                            up vote
                            2
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            2
                            down vote









                            Note that $$a_n+1 = frac1left(a_1 + ldots + a_n-1right) + a_n = frac1frac1a_n + a_n =fraca_n1 + a_n^2$$ for $n geq 1$. If you can prove that is is convergent, then, calling the limit $alpha$, we must have $$alpha = fracalpha1+alpha^2,$$ and solving this gives $alpha = 0$.



                            As for proving convergence, the recurrence relation given in the form above should help you to verify that the sequence is indeed monotone decreasing, and further you should be able to check that the sequence is bounded below by zero. Then apply monotone convergence theorem.






                            share|cite|improve this answer












                            Note that $$a_n+1 = frac1left(a_1 + ldots + a_n-1right) + a_n = frac1frac1a_n + a_n =fraca_n1 + a_n^2$$ for $n geq 1$. If you can prove that is is convergent, then, calling the limit $alpha$, we must have $$alpha = fracalpha1+alpha^2,$$ and solving this gives $alpha = 0$.



                            As for proving convergence, the recurrence relation given in the form above should help you to verify that the sequence is indeed monotone decreasing, and further you should be able to check that the sequence is bounded below by zero. Then apply monotone convergence theorem.







                            share|cite|improve this answer












                            share|cite|improve this answer



                            share|cite|improve this answer










                            answered 1 hour ago









                            Sam Streeter

                            1,245217




                            1,245217




















                                up vote
                                0
                                down vote













                                1. Prove by induction that $a_ngeq0$ for all $n$ (it's pretty straightforward).


                                2. You'll have then $a_n+1/a_n = 1/(a_nsum_i=1^n a_i) < 1$ for all $n$ (since $a_1=1$).


                                Thus $a_ngeq0$ is decreasing, converging to some limit $xgeq0$.
                                Such limit must satisfy $x=1/sum_n=1^infty a_n$.
                                If $x>0$, we would have convergence of $sum_n=1^inftya_n$, implying $a_nto 0$, a contradiction. Therefore, $x=limlimits_ntoinfty a_n = 0$.






                                share|cite|improve this answer
























                                  up vote
                                  0
                                  down vote













                                  1. Prove by induction that $a_ngeq0$ for all $n$ (it's pretty straightforward).


                                  2. You'll have then $a_n+1/a_n = 1/(a_nsum_i=1^n a_i) < 1$ for all $n$ (since $a_1=1$).


                                  Thus $a_ngeq0$ is decreasing, converging to some limit $xgeq0$.
                                  Such limit must satisfy $x=1/sum_n=1^infty a_n$.
                                  If $x>0$, we would have convergence of $sum_n=1^inftya_n$, implying $a_nto 0$, a contradiction. Therefore, $x=limlimits_ntoinfty a_n = 0$.






                                  share|cite|improve this answer






















                                    up vote
                                    0
                                    down vote










                                    up vote
                                    0
                                    down vote









                                    1. Prove by induction that $a_ngeq0$ for all $n$ (it's pretty straightforward).


                                    2. You'll have then $a_n+1/a_n = 1/(a_nsum_i=1^n a_i) < 1$ for all $n$ (since $a_1=1$).


                                    Thus $a_ngeq0$ is decreasing, converging to some limit $xgeq0$.
                                    Such limit must satisfy $x=1/sum_n=1^infty a_n$.
                                    If $x>0$, we would have convergence of $sum_n=1^inftya_n$, implying $a_nto 0$, a contradiction. Therefore, $x=limlimits_ntoinfty a_n = 0$.






                                    share|cite|improve this answer












                                    1. Prove by induction that $a_ngeq0$ for all $n$ (it's pretty straightforward).


                                    2. You'll have then $a_n+1/a_n = 1/(a_nsum_i=1^n a_i) < 1$ for all $n$ (since $a_1=1$).


                                    Thus $a_ngeq0$ is decreasing, converging to some limit $xgeq0$.
                                    Such limit must satisfy $x=1/sum_n=1^infty a_n$.
                                    If $x>0$, we would have convergence of $sum_n=1^inftya_n$, implying $a_nto 0$, a contradiction. Therefore, $x=limlimits_ntoinfty a_n = 0$.







                                    share|cite|improve this answer












                                    share|cite|improve this answer



                                    share|cite|improve this answer










                                    answered 51 mins ago









                                    rldias

                                    2,8431522




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