Find the Limit!

Calculus Level 5

lim n n 3 n 1 3 + n 2 3 + + ( 1 ) n 1 1 3 n 3 = ? \large{\lim_{n \to \infty} \dfrac{\sqrt[3]{n} - \sqrt[3]{n-1} + \sqrt[3]{n-2} + \ldots + (-1)^{n-1}\sqrt[3]{1}}{\sqrt[3]{n}} = \ ?}

Give your answer as 123 if you think that the limit does not exist.


The answer is 0.5.

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2 solutions

Riccardo Frosini
Jul 23, 2015

writing the equation as lim n k = 0 n n k 3 ( 1 ) k n 3 \lim_{n\rightarrow \infty} \sum_{k=0}^n \frac{\sqrt[3]{n-k}(-1)^k}{\sqrt[3]{n}} We know that the limit of the sum is equal to the sum of the limit (unless for ambigous limits such as \infty-\infty ) therefore: k = 0 lim n n k 3 ( 1 ) k n 3 \sum_{k=0}^\infty \lim_{n\rightarrow \infty} \frac{\sqrt[3]{n-k}(-1)^k}{\sqrt[3]{n}} which can be reduced to: k = 0 lim n 1 k n 3 ( 1 ) k \sum_{k=0}^\infty \lim_{n\rightarrow \infty} \sqrt[3]{1-\frac{k}{n}}(-1)^k and since lim n k n = 0 \lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}\frac{k}{n}=0 we have: k = 0 ( 1 ) k \sum_{k=0}^\infty (-1)^k By manipulating the series we know that: k = 0 ( 1 ) k = 1 k = 0 ( 1 ) k \sum_{k=0}^\infty (-1)^k=1-\sum_{k=0}^\infty (-1)^k that leads to
k = 0 ( 1 ) k = 1 / 2 \sum_{k=0}^\infty (-1)^k=1/2

The last two steps arise by an analytical continuation. In general, we can't say 1 1 + 1 1 + 1 1 + = 1 2 1 - 1 + 1 - 1 +1-1+ \ldots = \dfrac12 .

Satyajit Mohanty - 5 years, 10 months ago

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Can you explain it a bit more. I didnt understand how it came 0.5

rajdeep das - 3 years, 2 months ago
John Gilling
Jul 24, 2015

Why was the solution 0.5 marked incorrect when the "correct" answer is given as 0.500? Also, I wasn't given three chances!

I don't know. Ask @Brilliant Mathematics ! :/

Satyajit Mohanty - 5 years, 10 months ago

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Seems like this might be an iPhone app bug. When I opened this same problem in a browser just now, it shows the answer of 0.5 marked as correct. Sorry for the confusion!

John Gilling - 5 years, 10 months ago

That's odd I submitted 0.5 and the system automatically recognized it as right.

Riccardo Frosini - 5 years, 10 months ago

With the iPhone / Android app, we are noticing that at times, esp if the data / wireless connection drops, then it is unable to properly grade a decimal answer.

It would initially mark you incorrect if your answer doesn't perfectly math, and when the connection is restored we are able to evaluate it accordingly (hence it eventually shows that you are correct).

We are working on fixing this bug.

Calvin Lin Staff - 5 years, 10 months ago

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