Chapter 10: Problem 83
Which of the sequences \(\left\\{a_{n}\right\\}\) converge, and which diverge? Find the limit of each convergent sequence. \(a_{n}=\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^{n}+\frac{1}{\sqrt{2^{n}}}\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The sequence converges to 0.
Step by step solution
01
Analyze components of the sequence
The given sequence is \(a_n = \left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^n + \frac{1}{\sqrt{2^n}}\). It consists of two parts: \(\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^n\) and \(\frac{1}{\sqrt{2^n}}\). We need to analyze the convergence of each component separately.
02
Examine \(\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^n\)
The term \(\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^n\) is a geometric sequence with a common ratio of \(\frac{1}{3}\), where \(0 < \frac{1}{3} < 1\). Geometric sequences with ratios between 0 and 1 converge to 0 as \(n\) approaches infinity.
03
Examine \(\frac{1}{\sqrt{2^n}}\)
The term \(\frac{1}{\sqrt{2^n}}\) can be rewritten as \((2^{-1/2})^n\). This is another geometric sequence with a common ratio of \(2^{-1/2}\), where \(0 < 2^{-1/2} < 1\). Similarly, this sequence also converges to 0 as \(n\) approaches infinity.
04
Combine results to evaluate \(a_n\)
Since both components \(\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^n\) and \(\frac{1}{\sqrt{2^n}}\) converge to 0, their sum also converges to 0. Therefore, the sequence \(a_n\) converges.
05
Find the limit of the convergent sequence
Given that each term in the sequence \(a_n = \left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^n + \frac{1}{\sqrt{2^n}}\) tends to 0, the limit of the sequence as \(n\) approaches infinity is 0.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Geometric Sequence
A geometric sequence is a sequence of numbers where each term after the first is found by multiplying the previous one by a fixed, non-zero number called the common ratio. For example, consider the sequence \(a_n = \left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^n\). Here, each term is obtained by multiplying the previous term by \(\frac{1}{3}\). Since this ratio is between 0 and 1, the sequence converges towards 0.
- In a geometric sequence, if the common ratio \(r\) satisfies \(0 < r < 1\), the sequence converges to 0.
- If \(r = 1\), the sequence is constant and converges to the exact value of its terms.
- If \(r > 1\) or \(r < -1\), the sequence diverges, meaning it grows to infinity or oscillates without settling at a particular value.
Limits in Calculus
Limits in calculus describe the behavior of a function or sequence as its input approaches a particular point. For sequences, we often look at the behavior as the number of terms (\(n\)) approaches infinity. We write this as \( \lim_{n \to \infty} \).
- Applying the concept of limits to the sequence \(a_n = \left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^n + \frac{1}{\sqrt{2^n}}\), we see both components have limits of 0 as \(n\) approaches infinity.
- This concludes that \( \lim_{n \to \infty} a_n = 0\).
Convergent and Divergent Sequences
In mathematical analysis, sequences can either converge or diverge depending on their behavior as \(n\) tends to infinity.
and behaviors in mathematical analysis and has a wide application in various fields such as computational mathematics and physics.
- A sequence converges if it approaches a finite limit or specific point as \(n\) becomes very large.
- Alternatively, a sequence diverges if it moves away without approaching any fixed limit.
and behaviors in mathematical analysis and has a wide application in various fields such as computational mathematics and physics.