Unit 1.

Sequences

Basic limits involving geometric sequences

Example 1
Find the limits:
7n (−3)n
a) lim n b) lim n+2 c) lim 7n − 4n d) lim (−2)n − 3n
n→∞ 8 n→∞ 2 n→∞ n→∞

Answersn  n
7 7
a) lim n = lim = 0 because −1 < 87 < 1.
n→∞ 8 n→∞ 8  n
n
(−3) 1 3
b) lim n+2 = lim · − = ∞ (with no sign) because − 32 < −1.
n→∞ 2 n→∞ 4 2
n n
 n 
2n )

7 (7 − 2
c) lim 7 − 2 = lim
n n
n
n
= lim 7 · 1 − = +∞ (the type is +∞ · 1).
n→∞ n→∞ 7 n→∞ 7
n
3n ((−2)n − 3n )
  
2
d) lim (−2) − 3 = lim
n n n
= lim 3 · − − 1 = −∞ (the type is +∞ · (−1)).
n→∞ n→∞ 3n n→∞ 3
Exercise 1
7n + 3n 7n + 3n+1 3n + (−1)n+1 0.2n + 0.5n
a) lim b) lim c) lim d) lim
n→∞ 8n n→∞ (−8)n−2 n→∞ (−5)n + 2n+2 n→∞ 0.3n − 0.4n

Answer: The rst three limits are 0. To show this, numerator and denominator can be divided by
8n , (−8)n and (−5)n , respectively, and take into account that lim rn = 0 if −1 < r < 1. For example, in
n→∞
part c):
3n (−1)n
−
n
n
3n + (−1)n+1 3n − (−1)n (−5)n (−5)n − 35 − 51 0
lim = lim = lim n = lim
n = = 0
n
n→∞ (−5) + 2 n+2 n
n→∞ (−5) + 4 · 2 n n→∞ 2 n→∞ 1 + 4 − 2 1
1+4· n
5
(−5)
 n  n  n
3 1 2
because lim − = 0, lim = 0 and lim − = 0, due to the fact that the ratios r of these
n→∞ 5 n→∞ 5 n→∞ 5
three geometric sequences verify the condition −1 < r < 1.
d) Dividing numerator and denominator by 0.5n :
2 n


0.2n + 0.5n 5
+1
lim = lim n 4 n
n→∞ 3



n→∞ 0.3n − 0.4n −
5 5
1
The three last ratios are between −1 and 1 so it's a limit of type (innity). But we notice that the
0
denominator takes only negative values while the numerator takes positive values, so
2 n


0.2n + 0.5n 5
+1
lim = lim 3 n
n = −∞
− 54


n→∞ 0.3n − 0.4n n→∞
5

1
Stolz's criterion

Example 2
log(n)
a) lim =0
n→∞ n
log(n2 ) 2 log(n) log(nk )
In the same line, lim = lim = 0 and lim = 0 for each k ∈ N.
n→∞ n n→∞ n n→∞ n
n2
b) lim =0
n→∞ 5n
1 + 2 + ··· + n 1
c) lim 2
=
n→∞ n 2
1 1
1 + 2 + ··· + n
d) lim =1
n→∞ log(n)
Examples a) and b) are remarkable results. Some innities can be ordered as follows:

log(n) << n << n2 << n3 << · · · << 2n << 3n << · · ·

which means that lim log(n) = 0, lim nn2 = 0, . . . , lim 23n = 0.

n

n→∞ n n→∞ n→∞

In general,

log(n) << P (n) << bn

where P (n) is any polynomial of degree at least one with a positive main coecient and b is any
number greater than 1.

Exercise 2
Compute the following limits by using the Stolz's criterion.

√ √ √ √
1 2 3 n
+ + + ... +
a) lim 2 3
√ 4 n+1
n→∞ n+1
Solution: we apply the Stolz's criterion and nd
√
n+1 √ √ √
√
n+2 n+1 n+1+ n n + 1 + n2 + n
lim √ √ = lim = lim =2
n→∞ n + 1 − n n→∞ n+2 n→∞ n+2

To compute the last limit there are several options:

ˆ we may think about the sizes of numerator and denominator (the symbol ∽ means that the
size of the two involved sequences is the same and one can be substituted by the other in the
numerator or denominator):
√ √
n+1+ n2 + n ∽ n + n2 = 2n, n+2∽n

and therefore √
n + 1 + n2 + n 2n
lim = lim =2
n→∞ n+2 n→∞ n

2
 ˆ Another possibility is to divide numerator and denominator by n:
√
√ n + 1 + n2 + n
n + 1 + n2 + n n
lim = lim =
n→∞ n+2 n→∞ n + 2
n
√
q
1 + n1 + 1 + n1 1+ 1
lim 2 = =2
n→∞ 1+ n 1
√ √ √ √
1 1 2 2 n n
+ + 3103 · · · +
b) lim 2 5
√ n2 +1
Answer: 2
n→∞ n+2
We have to compute
√
(n+1) n+1 √ √ √
√
(n + 1) n + 1 n + 1 + n
(n+1)2 +1 (n + 1)2 + (n + 1) n2 + n
lim √ √ = lim =
n→∞ n + 1 − n n→∞ n2 + 2n + 2 n2 + 2n + 2

The sizes of numerator and denominator are 2n2 and n2 , respectively.

22 32 (n + 1)2
+ + ... + 1
c) lim 1 2 n Answer:
n→∞ n2 2
3 + 6 + · · · + (3n)
d) lim
n→∞ 1 + 3 + · · · + (2n − 1)

3n + 3 3
Answer: we apply the Stolz's criterion and calculate lim = .
n→∞ 2n + 1 2
√ √ √
1+ 2 + ··· + n
e) lim √
n→∞ n3
Solution: by the Stolz's criterion we calculate
√ √ p √  √
n+1 n+1 (n + 1)3 + n3 (n + 1)2 + n4 + n3 2
lim p √ = lim = lim =
n→∞ (n + 1)3 − n3 n→∞ (n + 1)3 − n3 n→∞ 2
3n + 3n + 1 3

Notice that (n + 1)3 = n3 + 3n2 + 3n + 1

√ √ √
1 + 14 + 1 + 24 + · · · + 1 + n4 1
f) lim Answer:
n→∞ n3 3
5n3
g) lim √ √ √ Answer: 15
n→∞ 2 + 14 + 2 + 2 4 + · · · + 2 + n4
12 + 22 + 32 + . . . + n2 1
h) lim Answer: .
n→∞ n3 3
log(1) + log(2) + . . . + log(n)
i) lim Answer: 0 (apply the Stolz's rule twice).
n→∞ 1 + 2 + ··· + n
log(13 ) + log(23 ) + . . . + log(n3 )
j) lim Answer: 0
n→∞ n2
The expression can also be written as


3 log(1) + 3 log(2) + · · · + 3 log(n) 3 log(1) + log(2) + · · · + log(n) 3 log(n!)
2
= 2
=
n n n2

3
 log(1) + log(2) + . . . + log(n)
k) lim √
n→∞ n
Solution: we apply the Stolz's criterion and calculate
log(n + 1) √ √ 
lim √ √ = lim n + 1 + n log(n + 1) = +∞
n→∞ n + 1 − n n→∞

32 43 (n + 1)n
 
1
l) lim 2 2+ + 2 + ··· +
n→∞ n 2 3 nn−1
Solution: we write the limit as
32 43 (n+1)n
2+ 2
+ 32
+ ··· + nn−1
lim
n→∞ n2
Then, we apply the Stolz's criterion and calculate
 
(n+2)n+1
n+2
n+2

n+2
n
1 n→∞lim n −1 e
(n+1)n n+1
lim = lim = ·e =
n→∞ 2n + 1 n→∞ 2n + 1 n+1 2 2

log(n!)
m) lim Answer: +∞.
n→∞ n
log(n!)
n) lim Answer: 0.
n→∞ n2
From the last two limits, we can see the size of log(n!) as a sequence tending to +∞ is between n
and n2 :

n << log(n!) << n2

4
Root criterion

Example 3
√
a) lim n
n=1
n→∞ √
b) lim n 3n5 + n2 − 3 = 1
n→∞ √
c) lim n! = +∞
n

n→∞ r
n n! 1
d) lim n
=
n→∞ s n e
(2n)! 4
e) lim n n 2
=
n→∞ 3 · (n!) 3
The limit we compute with this criterion gives us information about the size of the positive sequence
√
(an ) inside the root: if lim n an = α then
n→∞

ˆ If α < 1, then lim an = 0 (what happens is that an is smaller than a geometric sequence
n→∞
converging to 0).
ˆ If α > 1 then lim an = +∞ (an is greater than a geometric sequence diverging to +∞).
n→∞

ˆ If α = 1, we can say nothing about the limit lim an and the latter can be calculated by using
n→∞
another method.

From examples d) and e) we get that

n! (2n)!
lim = 0, lim = +∞
n→∞ nn n→∞ (n!)2

and then n! << nn and 3n · (n!)2 << (2n)! .

Exercise 3
√
Compute the following limits of the type lim n
an by using the root criterion and give information
n→∞
about the limit of (an ) if it is possible.

r r
n2 n15
a) lim and lim
n n

n→∞ 2n n→∞ 2n
Solution: for the rst one, we apply the root test and calculate
(n + 1)2
n+1 (n + 1)2 1
lim 2 2 = lim =
n→∞ n n→∞ 2n2 2
2n
√
n
n2 1 √
Another possibility is to write lim lim n2 and nd this last limit by the root criterion
n
=
n→∞ 2 2 n→∞
(it is 1).
r
n15 1
The second one can be obtained analogously and it happens to be lim
n
n
=
n→∞ 2 2

5
 As a consequence n2 << 2n and n15 << 2n . Notice that this can be generalized to any polynomial
with positive main coecient and any geometric sequence bn with b > 1.
2
b) lim √
n
n→∞ n+1
Answer: 2. Rootrcriterion can be applied to nd the limit of the denominator. Also, we can write
2n
the limit as lim n
and apply the root criterion.
n→∞ n+1
r
2n
c) lim n
Answer: 0, and so 2n << n!.
n→∞ n!
r
nn
d) lim n
n→∞ (n + 1)!
Solution: we apply the root criterion and calculate
(n+1)n+1 n
(n + 1)n+1

(n+2)! n+1 n+1
lim nn = lim n
= lim =e
n→∞ n→∞ (n + 2) · n n→∞ n + 2 n
(n+1)!

And therefore, (n + 1)! << nn .

s
n!
e) lim n
n→∞ 3 · 5 · 7 · · · (2n + 1)
Solution: we apply the root criterion and calculate
n+1 1
lim =
n→∞ 2n + 3 2
and therefore, n! << 3 · 5 · 7 · · · (2n + 1).
p
n
2 · 4 · · · (2n)
f) lim
n→∞ n
r
2 · 4 · · · (2n)
Solution: we write the limit as lim , apply the root criterion and calculate
n

n→∞ nn
(2n + 2) · nn nn 2
lim n+1
= lim 2 n
=
n→∞ (n + 1) n→∞ (n + 1) e
and therefore, 2 · 4 · · · (2n) << nn , that is, 2n · n! << nn .
s
n2n
g) lim n

n→∞ (2n)!
Solution: we apply the root criterion and calculate
(n + 1)2n+2 · (2n)! (n + 1)2 (n + 1)2n e2
lim = lim · =
n→∞ (2n + 2)! · n2n n→∞ (2n + 2)(2n + 1) n2n 4
and therefore (2n)! << n2n .
r
(2n)n
h) lim
n

n→∞ n!
Solution: we apply the root criterion and calculate
(2n + 2)n+1 (2n + 2)n
lim = lim 2 = 2e
n→∞ (n + 1) · (2n)n n→∞ (2n)n

6
 s
5n · n! 5
i) lim n
Answer: , and so (n + 1)n+1 << 5n · n!.
n→∞ (n + 1)n+1 e
r
nn e
j) lim n
Answer: , and so 2n · n! << nn .
n→∞ 2n · n! 2

7
Sandwich rule

Example 4
1 1 1
a) lim √ +√ + ··· + √
n→∞ n2 + 1 n2 + 2 n2 + n
1 1 1
We call (bn ) the sequence. The n terms verify: √ >√ > ... > √ because they
n2 +1 n2 +2 n2+n
are fractions with the same numerator and increasing denominators. Then
1 1 1 1 1
n· √ ≤√ +√ + ··· + √ ≤n· √ , ∀n ∈ N
n2+n 2
n +1 2
n +2 2
n +n 2
n +1
Because lim √ n
n2 +1
= lim √ n
n2 +n
= 1 we conclude that lim bn = 1.
n→∞ n→∞ n→∞
1 1 1
b) lim √ + √ + . . . + √ = +∞
n→∞ 1 2 n
1 2 n
c) lim 3 + 3 + ··· + 3
n→∞ n + 1 n +2 n +n
We call (bn ) the sequence. In this case, the n fractions , n32+2 , . . . , n3n+n have increasing numer-
1
n3 +1
ators and increasing denominators, so we will vary the strategy. Each of these fractions is:
1
ˆ greater than (smallest numerator over largest denominator)
+n n3
n
ˆ smaller than 3 (largest numerator over smallest denominator)
n +1
1 n
Therefore, n · ≤ b n ≤ n · , ∀n ∈ N.
n3 + 1 n3 + 1
n n2
Because lim 3 = lim 3 = 0, we conclude that lim bn = 0.
n→∞ n + 1 n→∞ n + n n→∞

Exercise 4
Calculate the following limits by using the sandwich rule.

 
1 1 1 1
a) lim √ +√ +√ + ... + √
n→∞ 1 + 4n2 2 + 4n2 3 + 4n2 n + 4n2
Solution: we call (bn ) the sequence; it is the sum of n terms that are decreasing, so
n n
√ ≤ bn ≤ √ , ∀n ∈ N
n + 4n2 1 + 4n2
1
Then lim bn = because the bigger and smaller sequences have that limit.
n→∞ 2
 
1 1 1
b) lim n2
+ + +··· + 3 Answer: 1.
n→∞ n3 + 1 n3 + 2 n +n
√ √ √ !
1 2 n
c) lim 2
+ 2 + +··· + 2
n→∞ n +1 n +2 n +n

8
 Solution:
√ we call (bn ) the sequence;
√
it is the sum of n terms. Each term is greater or equal than
1 n
and smaller of equal than 2 , and so it veries
n2 +n n +1
√
n n n
≤ bn ≤ 2 , ∀n ∈ N
n2 + n n +1
Then lim bn = 0 when we apply the sandwich criterion.
n→∞
√
n n
We can consider also the bounds 0 ≤ bn ≤ 2 to nd the limit.
n +1
 2
n + 1 n2 + 2 n2 + n

d) lim + + +··· + 3
n→∞ n3 + 1 n3 + 2 n +n
n2 + 1
Solution: we call (bn ) the sequence; each of its n terms is greater or equal than and smaller
n3 + n
n2 + n
or equal than , and so
n3 + 1
n(n2 + 1) n(n2 + n)
≤ b n ≤ , ∀n ∈ N
n3 + n n3 + 1
We apply the sandwich criterion to nd the limit 1.
12 22 n2
 
e) lim + + . . . + Answer: 0
n→∞ n4 + 1 n4 + 2 n4 + n
n2
 
n 2n
f) lim + + . . . + Answer: 0
n→∞ n4 + 1 n4 + 2 n4 + n
 
1 1 1
g) lim + + +··· + n
n→∞ 3n + 3 3n + 32 3 + 3n
Solution: we call (bn ) the sequence; their n terms are decreasing so
n n
n
≤ bn ≤ n , ∀n ∈ N
2·3 3 +3
We apply the Stolz's criterion and calculate
n n
lim =0 y lim =0
n→∞ 2 · 3n n→∞ 3n +3
Thus, by the sandwich criterion, the limit of (bn ) is 0.
n
Another possibility: we could have used the bounds 0 ≤ bn ≤ n , then apply the Stolz's criterion
3 +3
for the last limit and nally the sandwich criterion.
 
1 2 n
h) lim n
+ n + +··· + n
n→∞ 3 +1 3 +2 3 +n
1
Solution: we call (bn ) the sequence; each of the n terms of bn is greater or equal than and
3n +n
n
smaller or equal than so
3n +1
n n2
≤ b n ≤ , ∀n ∈ N
3n + n 3n + 1
n
Now, we apply the Stolz's criterion to calculate lim = 0, and twice the same criterion for
n→∞ 3n +n
n2
lim = 0. Then we apply the sandwich criterion to conrm that the limit is 0.
n→∞ 3n + 1

9
Product of a bounded sequence by a null sequence

Example 5
cos(n2 + n)
a) lim
n→∞ n
5 sin(n!) + 7 cos(n8 )
b) lim
n→∞ log(n)
5 cos(n8 ) − 7 sin(n!)
c) lim √
n→∞ n+1

Exercise 5
Find the following limits.

sin π2 n


a) lim √
n→∞ n+1
− sin(n2 ) + (−1)n cos(n3 )
b) lim √
n→∞ n
2 sin(n!) − (−1)n+3
c) lim
n→∞ log n
3 sin2 (n) − 5 cos(n)
d) lim
n→∞ log n
2 sin(n!) − (−1)n+3 cos(n3 )
e) lim
n→∞ log n
cos(n) · sin(n2 ) − 2 cos(n3 )
f) lim √
n→∞ n
Solution: all of them are particular cases of limits that are the product of a bounded sequence by a
null sequence (whose limit is 0), so all the limits are 0. We justify some of the bounds of the sequences
involved.
a) | sin π
| ≤ 1, ∀n ∈ N


2
n
b) By the triangle inequality and the property of the absolute value of a product:

− sin(n2 ) + (−1)n cos(n3 ) ≤ − sin(n2 ) + (−1)n cos(n3 ) =

= | sin(n2 )| + |(−1)n | · | cos(n3 )| = | sin(n2 )| + | cos(n3 )| ≤ 1 + 1 = 2, ∀n ∈ N

c) By the triangle inequality:

2 sin(n!) − (−1)n+3 = 2 sin(n!) + (−1)n+2 ≤

≤ |2 sin(n!)| + |(−1)n+2 | = 2| sin(n!)| + 1 ≤ 2 + 1 = 3, ∀n ∈ N

d) By the triangle inequality:

3 sin2 (n) − 5 cos(n) = 3 sin2 (n) + (−5) · cos(n) ≤

≤ |3 sin2 (n)| + |(−5) · cos(n)| = 3| sin2 (n!)| + 5| cos(n)| ≤ 3 + 5 = 8, ∀n ∈ N

10
f) By the triangle inequality and the property of the absolute value of a product:

cos(n) · sin(n2 ) − 2 cos(n3 ) = cos(n) · sin(n2 ) + (−2) cos(n3 ) ≤

≤ cos(n) · sin(n2 ) + (−2) cos(n3 ) =

= | cos(n)| · | sin(n2 )| + |(−2)| · | cos(n3 )| ≤ 1 · 1 + 2 · 1 = 3, ∀n ∈ N

11
Type 1∞
Exercise 6
Calculate the following limits.

 n2
1
a) lim 1 + n
n→∞ 3

Solution: it is a limit of type 1∞ and so it is equal to eL where

n2
 
1 2
L = lim n 1 + n − 1 = lim n
n→∞ 3 n→∞ 3

∞
The last limit is of type and it is 0 (apply Stolz's criterion twice). So, the result is e0 = 1.
∞
 n2
1
b) lim 1 +
n→∞ log n

Solution: it is a 1∞ -limit so it is equal to eL where

n2
 
2 1
L = lim n 1 + − 1 = lim
n→∞ log(n) n→∞ log(n)

The last limit is of type ∞

∞
for which we can apply the Stolz's criterion and compute
2n + 1
lim
= +∞
n→∞ log n+1
n

because it is of type +∞
0+
.
Therefore the initial limit is +∞ because it is of type e+∞ .
√  √n
n−1
c) lim √ Answer: e−2 .
n→∞ n+1
√
3
!6n
n2 + 1
d) lim √3
n→∞ n2 − 1
 13 !6n 2n
n2 + 1 n2 + 1
 
Solution: we write the limit as lim = lim and then apply the
n→∞ n2 − 1 n→∞ n2 − 1
formula for the 1∞ -type:
n2 + 1
 
lim 2n · −1 4n
lim 2
en→∞ n2 − 1 = en→∞ n − 1 = e0 = 1
 12 +32 +···+(2n−1)2
1
e) lim 1 +
n→∞ 1 + 4 + · · · + (3n − 2)2
2 2

Solution: we apply the formula for limits of type 1∞ and compute eL where
12 + 32 + · · · + (2n − 1)2 4
L = lim 2 2 2
=
n→∞ 1 + 4 + · · · + (3n − 2) 9

To obtain the last limit we can apply Stolz's criterion. The initial limit is e 9 .
4

12