Exercises 5.7 Week 5 Exercises, due 26 October 2021
Let \((a_n)_{n=0}^{\infty}\) be a sequence of positive real numbers. For every \(n\in\NN_0\text{,}\) we may define the expression
More systematically, we define this expression inductively: for \(n=0\text{,}\) we write \([a_0]=a_0\text{;}\) now for every \(n \in \NN_0\text{,}\) we define
1.
Define two auxiliary sequences \((u_n)_{n=-2}^{\infty}\) and \((v_n)_{n=-2}^{\infty}\) of real numbers recursively as follows. Let
and
For any natural number \(n\in \NN_0\text{,}\) let
Prove that
2.
If \(a_n = 1\) for every natural number \(n\text{,}\) then what are the numbers \(u_n\) and \(v_n\text{?}\) If you don't know a name for these sequences, that's ok; please just compute the first ten terms of each sequence.
3.
Prove that for any \(n \in \NN_0\text{,}\) we have
4.
For ease of notation, let us write \(x_n = [a_0,a_1, \dots,a_n]\) for \(n\in\NN_0\text{.}\) Prove that the subsequences
are each bounded and monotonic, hence convergent. Write \(A = \lim_{n\to \infty} x_{2n}\) and \(B = \lim_{n\to \infty} x_{2n+1}\text{.}\)
5.
Assume now that for every \(n\in\NN_0\text{,}\) one has \(a_n \in \NN\text{.}\) Prove that \(A=B\text{.}\) Conclude that the sequence \((x_n)_{n=0}^{\infty}\) converges. Write \([a_0,a_1,\dots]\) for the limit.
6.
Let \(s,t \in \NN\text{.}\) Find an expression for \([s,t,s,t,\dots]\text{.}\) (Hint: you may use the quadratic formula.)