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How can I prove that $\sum \left( 1 - \frac{2}{\sqrt{n}} \right)^n$ converges?

I've tried root test, and ratio test, but it was inconclusive.

Wolfram Alpha also says that this sum is convergent by comparison test.

What series can I use for comparison test?

user
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  • Hint: For $n\geq 5$, $n\log \left( {1 - \frac{2}{{\sqrt n }}} \right) < n\left( { - \frac{2}{{\sqrt n }}} \right) = - 2\sqrt n$, because $\log(1+x)<x$ for all $x>-1$. – Gary Mar 26 '20 at 11:47

3 Answers3

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$$\left(1-\frac{2}{\sqrt{n}}\right)^n=\left(\left(1-\frac{2}{\sqrt{n}}\right)^{-\frac{\sqrt{n}}{2}}\right)^{-2\sqrt{n}}\sim\frac{1}{e^{2\sqrt{n}}}<\frac{1}{\frac{\left(2\sqrt{n}\right)^4}{4!}}$$

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Another way to see this series converges is by Schlömilch's Test, a generalization of the Cauchy Condensation Test. Basically, if $u(n)$ is a positive increasing sequence with a uniformly bounded ratio of successive differences, then $\sum_{n} f(n)$ converges iff $\sum_{n} (u(n+1)-u(n)) f(u(n))$ converges. In our case, put $u(n)=n^2$: we have $u(n+1)/u(n)<5$ and the new series is $$ \sum (2n+1)\left(1-\frac{2}{n}\right)^{n^2} $$Now we can use the Root Test: $$ \lim_{n\to\infty}\left|\sqrt[n]{(2n+1)\left(1-\frac{2}{n}\right)^{n^2}}\right| $$We will split this into two limits. $$ =\lim_{n\to\infty}\left|\sqrt[n]{2n+1}\right|\cdot \lim_{n\to\infty}\left|\left(1-\frac{2}{n}\right)^{n}\right| $$These limits are both well-known: the first is $1$ and the second is $e^{-2}$. Their product is less than $1$, so we have convergence.

Integrand
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  • Beautiful answer, very clear. I recently needed to see whether $\sum_n (\frac{\sqrt{n} - 1}{\sqrt{n}})^n $ converges, and your treatment here works just as well for that. A micro-edit to make: the word "Generalization" in the link for Schlömilch's Test should be lowercase, for Wikipedia to jump right to that section. – Richard_Loves_Music May 10 '25 at 19:49
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As suggested in the comments, since for $x\to 0^+$ we have $\log(1-x)\le -x$ then

$$\left( 1 - \frac{2}{\sqrt{n}} \right)^n =e^{n\log\left( 1 - \frac{2}{\sqrt{n}} \right)} \le e^{-2\sqrt n}$$

and the series conveges by direct comparison test.

user
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