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Calculus Level 5

lim n n ζ ( 2 ) ζ ( 3 ) ζ ( n ) n 1 ζ ( 2 ) ζ ( 3 ) ζ ( n 1 ) \large \lim _{ n\to\infty }{ \dfrac { n-\zeta (2)-\zeta (3)-\cdots-\zeta (n) }{ n-1-\zeta (2)-\zeta (3)-\cdots-\zeta (n-1) } }

The limit above has a closed form. Find the value of this closed form.

Notation : ζ ( ) \zeta(\cdot) denotes the Riemann zeta function .


The answer is 0.5.

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2 solutions

Ariel Gershon
Jun 8, 2016

Let f ( n ) = n k = 2 n ζ ( n ) f(n) = n - \sum_{k=2}^{n} \zeta(n) . Then, f ( n ) = 1 k = 2 n ( ζ ( k ) 1 ) = 1 k = 2 n m = 2 1 m k = 1 m = 2 k = 2 n 1 m k = 1 m = 2 ( 1 m ( m 1 ) 1 m n ( m 1 ) ) = m = 2 1 m n ( m 1 ) \begin{array}{lll} f(n) & =& 1-\displaystyle \sum_{k=2}^{n} \left(\zeta(k)-1\right)\\ & = & 1-\displaystyle\sum_{k=2}^{n} \displaystyle\sum_{m=2}^{\infty} \dfrac{1}{m^k}\\ & = & 1 - \displaystyle\sum_{m=2}^{\infty} \displaystyle\sum_{k=2}^{n}\dfrac{1}{m^k}\\ & = & 1 - \displaystyle\sum_{m=2}^{\infty} \left(\dfrac{1}{m(m-1)} - \dfrac{1}{m^n(m-1)}\right)\\ & = & \displaystyle\sum_{m=2}^{\infty} \dfrac{1}{m^n(m-1)}\end{array}

Now I would like to show that lim n 2 n f ( n ) = 1 \lim_{n\to\infty} 2^n f(n) =1 . To do this, observe that for all n 1 n\ge 1 and m 3 m\ge 3 we have ( m 2 ) n > ( m 1 ) n 2 \left(\frac{m}{2}\right)^n >\frac{(m-1)n}{2} (which can be proved by induction). Therefore,

2 n f ( n ) = m = 2 1 ( m 1 ) ( 2 m ) n < 1 + m = 3 2 ( m 1 ) 2 n 2 n f ( n ) < 1 + 2 ( ζ ( 2 ) 1 ) n \begin{array}{lll} 2^n f(n) &=& \displaystyle\sum_{m=2}^{\infty} \dfrac{1}{(m-1)}\left(\dfrac{2}{m}\right)^n\\ & < & 1+ \displaystyle\sum_{m=3}^{\infty} \dfrac{2} {(m-1)^2 n}\\ 2^n f(n) & < & 1 + \dfrac{2(\zeta(2)-1)}{n}\end{array}

Thus, by the squeeze theorem, lim n 2 n f ( n ) = 1 \lim_{n\to\infty} 2^n f(n) = 1 .

Therefore, lim n f ( n ) f ( n 1 ) = 1 2 lim n 2 n f ( n ) 2 n 1 f ( n 1 ) = 1 2 \lim_{n\to\infty} \dfrac{f(n)}{f(n-1)}=\dfrac{1}{2}\lim_{n\to\infty} \dfrac{2^n f(n)}{2^{n-1} f(n-1)} = \boxed{\dfrac{1}{2}}

This is a splendid solution! I tried using Stolz–cesàro theorem , but I first need to prove that m = 2 n ζ ( m ) n \displaystyle \sum_{m=2}^n \zeta(m) \to n as n n tends to infinity, but I can't seem to prove it.

If this is proven, then I can publish my solution.

Pi Han Goh - 4 years, 5 months ago
Michael Mendrin
May 31, 2016

I think the answer of 1 2 \dfrac{1}{2} is correct for this, not the way you have it posted

lim n n ζ ( 2 ) ζ ( 3 ) . . . ζ ( n + 1 ) n 1 ζ ( 2 ) ζ ( 3 ) . . . ζ ( n + 1 ) \displaystyle \lim _{ n\rightarrow \infty }{ \dfrac { n-\zeta (2)-\zeta (3)...-\zeta (n+1) }{ n-1-\zeta (2)-\zeta (3)-...-\zeta (n+1) } }

Then, using L'Hospital, we have

lim n n ( n + 1 ) n 1 ( n + 1 ) = 1 2 \displaystyle \lim _{ n\rightarrow \infty }{ \dfrac { n- (n+1) }{ n-1- (n+1) } }=\dfrac{1}{2}

sorry for the mistake,check the edit i've made,this was my intended problem

Hamza A - 5 years ago

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That would have an indeterminate limit. The limit for the following

lim n n ( n + a ) n 1 ( n + b ) \displaystyle \lim _{ n\rightarrow \infty }{ \dfrac { n- (n+a) }{ n-1- (n+b) } }

is a 1 + b \dfrac{a}{1+b} , so if you want 1 2 \dfrac{1}{2} as the answer, then ( a , b ) = ( 1 , 1 ) (a,b)=(1,1) or any a a such that 2 a = b + 1 2a=b+1 .

Michael Mendrin - 5 years ago

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what?how's that related to the problem?

Hamza A - 5 years ago

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@Hamza A The negative signs cancel out. But, anyway, for this problem we take advantage of the following limit, as n n\rightarrow \infty

k = 2 n ζ ( k ) = n \displaystyle \sum _{ k=2 }^{ n }{ \zeta \left( k \right) } =n

Michael Mendrin - 5 years ago

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@Michael Mendrin no,i think you mean lim n k = 2 n ζ ( k ) n = 1 \lim _{ n\rightarrow \infty }{ \frac { \sum _{ k=2 }^{ n }{ \zeta (k) } }{ n } } =1 ,

Hamza A - 5 years ago

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@Hamza A I'll come back to this later, as I've run out of time. We'll have a closer look at that one limit, as this problem hinges on it.

Michael Mendrin - 5 years ago

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@Michael Mendrin Thanks. I see that this problem has been updated. Those who previously answered 2 will be marked correct.

In future, if you spot any errors with a problem, you can “report” it by selecting "report problem" in the “line line line” menu in the top right corner. This will notify the problem creator who can fix the issues.

Brilliant Mathematics Staff - 5 years ago

@Michael Mendrin i used that lim n 2 n ( n ζ ( 2 ) ζ ( 3 ) . . . ζ ( n ) ) = 1 \displaystyle\lim _{ n\rightarrow \infty }{ { 2 }^{ n }(n-\zeta (2)-\zeta (3)...-\zeta (n)) } =1 to solve this problem

Hamza A - 5 years ago

How did you use L'Hopital here?

Ariel Gershon - 4 years, 5 months ago

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I doubt it's possible. Looking at the solution discussion below suggests that the author (originally) submitted the answer wrongly.

So I think Michael's solution is actually "just a report stating that answer should be corrected".

Pi Han Goh - 4 years, 5 months ago

0 pending reports

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