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Determine the convergence or divergence of f(n) = nan

by RoRi

Consider the function f(n) defined by

    \[ f(n) = na^n \qquad \text{where} \quad |a| < 1. \]

Determine whether the sequence \{ f(n) \} converges or diverges, and if it converges find the limit.

We use the definition of the exponential and some tricks to get f(n) into a form we know how to deal with,

    \begin{align*} \lim_{n \to \infty} f(n) &= \lim_{n \to \infty} na^n \\[9pt] &= \lim_{n \to \infty} \left( n^{\frac{1}{n}} a \right)^n \\[9pt] &= \lim_{n \to \infty} e^{n \log \left(a n^{\frac{1}{n}}\right)} \\[9pt] &= \exp \left( \lim_{n \to \infty} \left( n \log a + \log n \right) \right) \\[9pt] &= \exp \left( \lim_{n \to \infty} n \left( \log a + \frac{\log n}{n} \right) \right) \\[9pt] &= 0. \end{align*}

The final line follows since

    \[ \lim_{n \to \infty} \left(\log a + \frac{\log n}{n}\right) < 0 \]

since

    \[ \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{\log n}{n} = 0 \qquad \text{and} \qquad |a| < 1. \]

Therefore,

    \[ n \left( \log a + \frac{\log n}{n} \right) \to -\infty \qquad \text{as} \qquad n \to \infty.\]

Thus, \{ f(n) \} converges to the limit 0.

One comment

  1. alberto balsalm says:

    Would it still be valid to express the question as

    *** QuickLaTeX cannot compile formula:
na^n = \frac{a^n}{\frac{1}{n}}

*** Error message:
Cannot connect to QuickLaTeX server: cURL error 60: Peer's Certificate issuer is not recognized.
Please make sure your server/PHP settings allow HTTP requests to external resources ("allow_url_fopen", etc.)
These links might help in finding solution:
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/core-control/
http://wordpress.org/support/topic/an-unexpected-http-error-occurred-during-the-api-request-on-wordpress-3?replies=37

    and just claim the limits of both the numerator and denominator approach 0?

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