how you solve: lim_(n->oo)(2-sqrt2)(2-root(3)2)(2-root(4)2)...(2-root(n)2)) ?

2 Answers
Mar 18, 2017

prod_(k=2)^oo(2-root(k)(2)) = 0

Explanation:

At first glance, we would propose 0 as the limit value. This conclusion is correct but must be proved.

So calling a_n = 2-root(n)(2), the condition a_n < 1 is not sufficient for convergence to zero in

lim_(n->oo)prod_(k=2)^n(2-2^(1/k))

The necessary and sufficient condition for convergence of

prod_(k=2)^oo a_k to a non zero value is that sum_(k=2)^oo log(a_k) converges.

If a_n < 1 and sum_(k=2)^oo log(a_k) does not converge, then
prod_(k=2)^oo a_n converges to 0.

Now considering the inequality (x-1)/x le log(x), x > 1 we have

(1 - 2^(1/k))/(2 - 2^(1/k)) le log(2-2^(1/k))

Considering now

sum_(k=2)^oo (1 - 2^(1/k))/(2 - 2^(1/k))

with b_k = (1 - 2^(1/k))/(2 - 2^(1/k)) clearly this series does not converge because b_k > 0 and

lim_(k->oo)b_k/b_(k+1)=1

so because sum_(k=2)^oo (1 - 2^(1/k))/(2 - 2^(1/k)) le sum_(k=2)^oo log(2-2^(1/k))

sum_(k=2)^oo log(2-2^(1/k)) does not converge then finally

lim_(n->oo)prod_(k=2)^n(2-2^(1/k)) = 0

Mar 18, 2017

prod_(n=2)^oo(2-2^(1/n)) = 0

Explanation:

Note that when 0 < t < 1 then:

ln(1-t) = -sum_(n=1)^oo (t^n/n) < -t

So:

ln (prod_(n=2)^oo(2-2^(1/n))) =sum_(n=2)^oo ln(2-2^(1/n))

color(white)(ln (prod_(n=2)^oo(2-2^(1/n))))=sum_(n=2)^oo ln(1 - (2^(1/n) - 1))

color(white)(ln (prod_(n=2)^oo(2-2^(1/n))))<= -sum_(n=2)^oo (2^(1/n) - 1)

Then:

2^(1/n) = e^(1/n ln 2) = sum_(k=0)^oo (1/n ln 2)^k/(k!) > 1 + 1/n ln 2

So:

2^(1/n)-1 > 1/n ln 2

So:

sum_(n=2)^oo (2^(1/n)-1) >= ln 2 sum_(n=2)^oo 1/n

diverges, since the harmonic series diverges.

So:

lim_(N->oo) ln(prod_(n=2)^N(2-2^(1/n))) = -oo

and therefore:

prod_(n=2)^oo(2-2^(1/n)) = lim_(t->-oo) e^t = 0

color(white)()
Footnote

For reference, here's a failed attempt that nevertheless illustrates a way you might approach such a problem...

I think it should be possible to prove that the product is 0 using a method in a similar vein to the usual one for proving that the harmonic series diverges...

The basic idea is:

(2-2^(1/2))(2-2^(1/3))(2-2^(1/4))(2-2^(1/5))(2-2^(1/6))(2-2^(1/7))(2-2^(1/8))...

<= underbrace((2-2^(1/2)))underbrace((2-2^(1/4))(2-2^(1/4)))underbrace((2-2^(1/8))(2-2^(1/8))(2-2^(1/8))(2-2^(1/8)))...

color(red)(cancel(color(black)(<=))) (2-2^(1/2))(2-2^(1/2))(2-2^(1/2))... = 0

Hmmm...that does not quite work either, since:

(2-2^(1/n))(2-2^(1/n)) > (2-2^(2/n))