Is there a “greatest function” that converges?
$begingroup$
We just hit convergence tests in calculus, and learned that $sum_{n=1}^{infty} frac{1}{n^p}$
converges for all $p gt 1$. I thought that this was sort of a "barrier" between what converges and what diverges. Specifically, that setting $a_n=frac{1}{n^{1+epsilon}}$ is sort of the "greatest function" (I'll make this precise later) for which $sum a_n$ converges.
But, I did realize that there are functions that dominate $frac{1}{n^{1+epsilon}}$ but not $frac1n$, such as $frac{1}{nlog(n)}$. Now, the sum of that specific example diverges, but it got me wondering about whether $frac{1}{n}$ is truly the "boundary". So, this leads me to two questions.
1) Is there a function $f$ that dominates $frac{1}{n^p}$ for all $p>1$, meaning: $$lim_{xtoinfty} frac{f(x)}{frac{1}{x^p}}=infty$$
Such that:
$$sum_{n=1}^infty f(n)$$ converges?
2) If so, up to a constant is there a function $g$ such that $sum_{n=1}^infty g(n)$ converges, such that $g$ dominates $f$ for all other functions $f$ such that $sum_{n=1}^infty f(n)$ converges?
I'm just a freshman in high school so I apologize if this is a stupid question.
calculus sequences-and-series convergence
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
We just hit convergence tests in calculus, and learned that $sum_{n=1}^{infty} frac{1}{n^p}$
converges for all $p gt 1$. I thought that this was sort of a "barrier" between what converges and what diverges. Specifically, that setting $a_n=frac{1}{n^{1+epsilon}}$ is sort of the "greatest function" (I'll make this precise later) for which $sum a_n$ converges.
But, I did realize that there are functions that dominate $frac{1}{n^{1+epsilon}}$ but not $frac1n$, such as $frac{1}{nlog(n)}$. Now, the sum of that specific example diverges, but it got me wondering about whether $frac{1}{n}$ is truly the "boundary". So, this leads me to two questions.
1) Is there a function $f$ that dominates $frac{1}{n^p}$ for all $p>1$, meaning: $$lim_{xtoinfty} frac{f(x)}{frac{1}{x^p}}=infty$$
Such that:
$$sum_{n=1}^infty f(n)$$ converges?
2) If so, up to a constant is there a function $g$ such that $sum_{n=1}^infty g(n)$ converges, such that $g$ dominates $f$ for all other functions $f$ such that $sum_{n=1}^infty f(n)$ converges?
I'm just a freshman in high school so I apologize if this is a stupid question.
calculus sequences-and-series convergence
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
I tried to format the question such that it excludes all the "trivial" answers, i.e. "no, because you can just take this function and multiply by any constant to get another function that dominates it and still converges". The constant thing is just excluded by the fact that the limit has to diverge, rather than be equal to some constant, but something similar could still possibly happen. I tried to include a sort of "parameter" on $f$ to patch this, but I couldn't get it formal. But the sort of "philosophy" of the question is about the form of the function, rather than a "cop-out" like that.
$endgroup$
– Electric Moccasins
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
How about $f(x) = frac{1}{xln^2(x)}$ for your first question
$endgroup$
– Jakobian
3 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
It's a good question; part of a good answer will surely be to identify the most fruitful way to make the vague intuition behind it more precise.
$endgroup$
– Henning Makholm
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
From math.stackexchange.com/a/452074/42969: Let $sum_{n=1}^{infty} c_n$ be any convergent series with positive terms. Then, there exists a convergent series $sum_{n=1}^{infty} C_n$ with much bigger terms in the sense that $lim_{nrightarrowinfty} C_n/c_n = infty$.
$endgroup$
– Martin R
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
We just hit convergence tests in calculus, and learned that $sum_{n=1}^{infty} frac{1}{n^p}$
converges for all $p gt 1$. I thought that this was sort of a "barrier" between what converges and what diverges. Specifically, that setting $a_n=frac{1}{n^{1+epsilon}}$ is sort of the "greatest function" (I'll make this precise later) for which $sum a_n$ converges.
But, I did realize that there are functions that dominate $frac{1}{n^{1+epsilon}}$ but not $frac1n$, such as $frac{1}{nlog(n)}$. Now, the sum of that specific example diverges, but it got me wondering about whether $frac{1}{n}$ is truly the "boundary". So, this leads me to two questions.
1) Is there a function $f$ that dominates $frac{1}{n^p}$ for all $p>1$, meaning: $$lim_{xtoinfty} frac{f(x)}{frac{1}{x^p}}=infty$$
Such that:
$$sum_{n=1}^infty f(n)$$ converges?
2) If so, up to a constant is there a function $g$ such that $sum_{n=1}^infty g(n)$ converges, such that $g$ dominates $f$ for all other functions $f$ such that $sum_{n=1}^infty f(n)$ converges?
I'm just a freshman in high school so I apologize if this is a stupid question.
calculus sequences-and-series convergence
$endgroup$
We just hit convergence tests in calculus, and learned that $sum_{n=1}^{infty} frac{1}{n^p}$
converges for all $p gt 1$. I thought that this was sort of a "barrier" between what converges and what diverges. Specifically, that setting $a_n=frac{1}{n^{1+epsilon}}$ is sort of the "greatest function" (I'll make this precise later) for which $sum a_n$ converges.
But, I did realize that there are functions that dominate $frac{1}{n^{1+epsilon}}$ but not $frac1n$, such as $frac{1}{nlog(n)}$. Now, the sum of that specific example diverges, but it got me wondering about whether $frac{1}{n}$ is truly the "boundary". So, this leads me to two questions.
1) Is there a function $f$ that dominates $frac{1}{n^p}$ for all $p>1$, meaning: $$lim_{xtoinfty} frac{f(x)}{frac{1}{x^p}}=infty$$
Such that:
$$sum_{n=1}^infty f(n)$$ converges?
2) If so, up to a constant is there a function $g$ such that $sum_{n=1}^infty g(n)$ converges, such that $g$ dominates $f$ for all other functions $f$ such that $sum_{n=1}^infty f(n)$ converges?
I'm just a freshman in high school so I apologize if this is a stupid question.
calculus sequences-and-series convergence
calculus sequences-and-series convergence
asked 3 hours ago
Electric MoccasinsElectric Moccasins
863
863
1
$begingroup$
I tried to format the question such that it excludes all the "trivial" answers, i.e. "no, because you can just take this function and multiply by any constant to get another function that dominates it and still converges". The constant thing is just excluded by the fact that the limit has to diverge, rather than be equal to some constant, but something similar could still possibly happen. I tried to include a sort of "parameter" on $f$ to patch this, but I couldn't get it formal. But the sort of "philosophy" of the question is about the form of the function, rather than a "cop-out" like that.
$endgroup$
– Electric Moccasins
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
How about $f(x) = frac{1}{xln^2(x)}$ for your first question
$endgroup$
– Jakobian
3 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
It's a good question; part of a good answer will surely be to identify the most fruitful way to make the vague intuition behind it more precise.
$endgroup$
– Henning Makholm
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
From math.stackexchange.com/a/452074/42969: Let $sum_{n=1}^{infty} c_n$ be any convergent series with positive terms. Then, there exists a convergent series $sum_{n=1}^{infty} C_n$ with much bigger terms in the sense that $lim_{nrightarrowinfty} C_n/c_n = infty$.
$endgroup$
– Martin R
3 hours ago
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
I tried to format the question such that it excludes all the "trivial" answers, i.e. "no, because you can just take this function and multiply by any constant to get another function that dominates it and still converges". The constant thing is just excluded by the fact that the limit has to diverge, rather than be equal to some constant, but something similar could still possibly happen. I tried to include a sort of "parameter" on $f$ to patch this, but I couldn't get it formal. But the sort of "philosophy" of the question is about the form of the function, rather than a "cop-out" like that.
$endgroup$
– Electric Moccasins
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
How about $f(x) = frac{1}{xln^2(x)}$ for your first question
$endgroup$
– Jakobian
3 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
It's a good question; part of a good answer will surely be to identify the most fruitful way to make the vague intuition behind it more precise.
$endgroup$
– Henning Makholm
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
From math.stackexchange.com/a/452074/42969: Let $sum_{n=1}^{infty} c_n$ be any convergent series with positive terms. Then, there exists a convergent series $sum_{n=1}^{infty} C_n$ with much bigger terms in the sense that $lim_{nrightarrowinfty} C_n/c_n = infty$.
$endgroup$
– Martin R
3 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
I tried to format the question such that it excludes all the "trivial" answers, i.e. "no, because you can just take this function and multiply by any constant to get another function that dominates it and still converges". The constant thing is just excluded by the fact that the limit has to diverge, rather than be equal to some constant, but something similar could still possibly happen. I tried to include a sort of "parameter" on $f$ to patch this, but I couldn't get it formal. But the sort of "philosophy" of the question is about the form of the function, rather than a "cop-out" like that.
$endgroup$
– Electric Moccasins
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
I tried to format the question such that it excludes all the "trivial" answers, i.e. "no, because you can just take this function and multiply by any constant to get another function that dominates it and still converges". The constant thing is just excluded by the fact that the limit has to diverge, rather than be equal to some constant, but something similar could still possibly happen. I tried to include a sort of "parameter" on $f$ to patch this, but I couldn't get it formal. But the sort of "philosophy" of the question is about the form of the function, rather than a "cop-out" like that.
$endgroup$
– Electric Moccasins
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
How about $f(x) = frac{1}{xln^2(x)}$ for your first question
$endgroup$
– Jakobian
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
How about $f(x) = frac{1}{xln^2(x)}$ for your first question
$endgroup$
– Jakobian
3 hours ago
2
2
$begingroup$
It's a good question; part of a good answer will surely be to identify the most fruitful way to make the vague intuition behind it more precise.
$endgroup$
– Henning Makholm
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
It's a good question; part of a good answer will surely be to identify the most fruitful way to make the vague intuition behind it more precise.
$endgroup$
– Henning Makholm
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
From math.stackexchange.com/a/452074/42969: Let $sum_{n=1}^{infty} c_n$ be any convergent series with positive terms. Then, there exists a convergent series $sum_{n=1}^{infty} C_n$ with much bigger terms in the sense that $lim_{nrightarrowinfty} C_n/c_n = infty$.
$endgroup$
– Martin R
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
From math.stackexchange.com/a/452074/42969: Let $sum_{n=1}^{infty} c_n$ be any convergent series with positive terms. Then, there exists a convergent series $sum_{n=1}^{infty} C_n$ with much bigger terms in the sense that $lim_{nrightarrowinfty} C_n/c_n = infty$.
$endgroup$
– Martin R
3 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
1) Yes, $f(n)=frac{1}{n(ln{n})^2}$.
2) No. Assume $f geq 0$ and $sum_{n geq 1}{f(n)} < infty$.
Then there exists an increasing sequence $N_n$ and some constant $C > 0$ such that $sum_{N_n+1}^{N_{n+1}}{f(k)} leq C2^{-n}$.
Then set $g(n)=(p+1)f(n)$, where $N_p < n leq N_{p+1}$.
Then $sum_{$sum_{N_n+1}^{N_{n+1}}{g(k)} leq C(n+1)2^{-n}$, thus $sum_{n geq 1}{g(n)}$ is finite and $g(n) >> f(n)$.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
1) $$f(n) = frac{1}{n log(n)^2}$$
2) No. Given any $g > 0$ such that $sum_n g(n)$ converges, there is an increasing sequence $M_k$ such that $$sum_{n ge M_k} g(n) < 2^{-k}$$
Then
$ sum_n g(n) h(n)$ converges, where $h(n) = k$ for $M_k le n < M_{k+1}$.
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
If we're being pedantic you need $f(n) = dfrac{1}{nlog(n+1)^2}$ (or something similar) to prevent division by zero.
$endgroup$
– orlp
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Can you expand on how you know $sum g(n)h(n)$ converges? Just trying to wrap my head around this
$endgroup$
– Electric Moccasins
6 mins ago
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
});
});
}, "mathjax-editing");
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "69"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: true,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: 10,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f3101694%2fis-there-a-greatest-function-that-converges%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
1) Yes, $f(n)=frac{1}{n(ln{n})^2}$.
2) No. Assume $f geq 0$ and $sum_{n geq 1}{f(n)} < infty$.
Then there exists an increasing sequence $N_n$ and some constant $C > 0$ such that $sum_{N_n+1}^{N_{n+1}}{f(k)} leq C2^{-n}$.
Then set $g(n)=(p+1)f(n)$, where $N_p < n leq N_{p+1}$.
Then $sum_{$sum_{N_n+1}^{N_{n+1}}{g(k)} leq C(n+1)2^{-n}$, thus $sum_{n geq 1}{g(n)}$ is finite and $g(n) >> f(n)$.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
1) Yes, $f(n)=frac{1}{n(ln{n})^2}$.
2) No. Assume $f geq 0$ and $sum_{n geq 1}{f(n)} < infty$.
Then there exists an increasing sequence $N_n$ and some constant $C > 0$ such that $sum_{N_n+1}^{N_{n+1}}{f(k)} leq C2^{-n}$.
Then set $g(n)=(p+1)f(n)$, where $N_p < n leq N_{p+1}$.
Then $sum_{$sum_{N_n+1}^{N_{n+1}}{g(k)} leq C(n+1)2^{-n}$, thus $sum_{n geq 1}{g(n)}$ is finite and $g(n) >> f(n)$.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
1) Yes, $f(n)=frac{1}{n(ln{n})^2}$.
2) No. Assume $f geq 0$ and $sum_{n geq 1}{f(n)} < infty$.
Then there exists an increasing sequence $N_n$ and some constant $C > 0$ such that $sum_{N_n+1}^{N_{n+1}}{f(k)} leq C2^{-n}$.
Then set $g(n)=(p+1)f(n)$, where $N_p < n leq N_{p+1}$.
Then $sum_{$sum_{N_n+1}^{N_{n+1}}{g(k)} leq C(n+1)2^{-n}$, thus $sum_{n geq 1}{g(n)}$ is finite and $g(n) >> f(n)$.
$endgroup$
1) Yes, $f(n)=frac{1}{n(ln{n})^2}$.
2) No. Assume $f geq 0$ and $sum_{n geq 1}{f(n)} < infty$.
Then there exists an increasing sequence $N_n$ and some constant $C > 0$ such that $sum_{N_n+1}^{N_{n+1}}{f(k)} leq C2^{-n}$.
Then set $g(n)=(p+1)f(n)$, where $N_p < n leq N_{p+1}$.
Then $sum_{$sum_{N_n+1}^{N_{n+1}}{g(k)} leq C(n+1)2^{-n}$, thus $sum_{n geq 1}{g(n)}$ is finite and $g(n) >> f(n)$.
answered 3 hours ago
MindlackMindlack
3,59517
3,59517
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
1) $$f(n) = frac{1}{n log(n)^2}$$
2) No. Given any $g > 0$ such that $sum_n g(n)$ converges, there is an increasing sequence $M_k$ such that $$sum_{n ge M_k} g(n) < 2^{-k}$$
Then
$ sum_n g(n) h(n)$ converges, where $h(n) = k$ for $M_k le n < M_{k+1}$.
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
If we're being pedantic you need $f(n) = dfrac{1}{nlog(n+1)^2}$ (or something similar) to prevent division by zero.
$endgroup$
– orlp
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Can you expand on how you know $sum g(n)h(n)$ converges? Just trying to wrap my head around this
$endgroup$
– Electric Moccasins
6 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
1) $$f(n) = frac{1}{n log(n)^2}$$
2) No. Given any $g > 0$ such that $sum_n g(n)$ converges, there is an increasing sequence $M_k$ such that $$sum_{n ge M_k} g(n) < 2^{-k}$$
Then
$ sum_n g(n) h(n)$ converges, where $h(n) = k$ for $M_k le n < M_{k+1}$.
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
If we're being pedantic you need $f(n) = dfrac{1}{nlog(n+1)^2}$ (or something similar) to prevent division by zero.
$endgroup$
– orlp
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Can you expand on how you know $sum g(n)h(n)$ converges? Just trying to wrap my head around this
$endgroup$
– Electric Moccasins
6 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
1) $$f(n) = frac{1}{n log(n)^2}$$
2) No. Given any $g > 0$ such that $sum_n g(n)$ converges, there is an increasing sequence $M_k$ such that $$sum_{n ge M_k} g(n) < 2^{-k}$$
Then
$ sum_n g(n) h(n)$ converges, where $h(n) = k$ for $M_k le n < M_{k+1}$.
$endgroup$
1) $$f(n) = frac{1}{n log(n)^2}$$
2) No. Given any $g > 0$ such that $sum_n g(n)$ converges, there is an increasing sequence $M_k$ such that $$sum_{n ge M_k} g(n) < 2^{-k}$$
Then
$ sum_n g(n) h(n)$ converges, where $h(n) = k$ for $M_k le n < M_{k+1}$.
answered 3 hours ago
Robert IsraelRobert Israel
322k23212465
322k23212465
1
$begingroup$
If we're being pedantic you need $f(n) = dfrac{1}{nlog(n+1)^2}$ (or something similar) to prevent division by zero.
$endgroup$
– orlp
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Can you expand on how you know $sum g(n)h(n)$ converges? Just trying to wrap my head around this
$endgroup$
– Electric Moccasins
6 mins ago
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
If we're being pedantic you need $f(n) = dfrac{1}{nlog(n+1)^2}$ (or something similar) to prevent division by zero.
$endgroup$
– orlp
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Can you expand on how you know $sum g(n)h(n)$ converges? Just trying to wrap my head around this
$endgroup$
– Electric Moccasins
6 mins ago
1
1
$begingroup$
If we're being pedantic you need $f(n) = dfrac{1}{nlog(n+1)^2}$ (or something similar) to prevent division by zero.
$endgroup$
– orlp
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
If we're being pedantic you need $f(n) = dfrac{1}{nlog(n+1)^2}$ (or something similar) to prevent division by zero.
$endgroup$
– orlp
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Can you expand on how you know $sum g(n)h(n)$ converges? Just trying to wrap my head around this
$endgroup$
– Electric Moccasins
6 mins ago
$begingroup$
Can you expand on how you know $sum g(n)h(n)$ converges? Just trying to wrap my head around this
$endgroup$
– Electric Moccasins
6 mins ago
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Mathematics Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f3101694%2fis-there-a-greatest-function-that-converges%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
1
$begingroup$
I tried to format the question such that it excludes all the "trivial" answers, i.e. "no, because you can just take this function and multiply by any constant to get another function that dominates it and still converges". The constant thing is just excluded by the fact that the limit has to diverge, rather than be equal to some constant, but something similar could still possibly happen. I tried to include a sort of "parameter" on $f$ to patch this, but I couldn't get it formal. But the sort of "philosophy" of the question is about the form of the function, rather than a "cop-out" like that.
$endgroup$
– Electric Moccasins
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
How about $f(x) = frac{1}{xln^2(x)}$ for your first question
$endgroup$
– Jakobian
3 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
It's a good question; part of a good answer will surely be to identify the most fruitful way to make the vague intuition behind it more precise.
$endgroup$
– Henning Makholm
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
From math.stackexchange.com/a/452074/42969: Let $sum_{n=1}^{infty} c_n$ be any convergent series with positive terms. Then, there exists a convergent series $sum_{n=1}^{infty} C_n$ with much bigger terms in the sense that $lim_{nrightarrowinfty} C_n/c_n = infty$.
$endgroup$
– Martin R
3 hours ago