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Is the sequence $(n\sin n)$ properly divergent i.e. do we have $\lim \space (n \sin n)= +\infty$ , or $\lim \space (n \sin n)= -\infty$ ? ( I think the answer is know because $(n)$ is increasing unbounded but $(\sin n)$ is bounded and divergent i.e. oscillating , but that is just a justification not a proof , I would really appreciate a rigorous proof )

user642796
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1 Answers1

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Set $f(x) = x \sin x$. You find that with $k\in \mathbb{N}$ $$ f(2k \pi+ \pi/2) \geq k$$ and $$ f( 2k \pi - \pi/2) \leq -k.$$

Thus $\limsup_{x\to\infty} f =\infty$ and $\liminf_{x\to\infty} f= -\infty$ and the limit does not exist.

Edit:

The above answer was for the limit over the real numbers. The OP asks for the limit of the sequence $f(n) = n \sin n$. We can proceed very similar.

We have to observe that for $k \in \mathbb{N}$, we have the inequalities $$ f(x) \geq k \text{ for } x \in [2 \pi k + \pi/4, 2 \pi k + 3\pi/4],$$ $$ f(x) \leq -k \text{ for } x \in [2 \pi k- 3\pi/4, 2 \pi k - \pi/4].$$ Furthermore, there is always an integer in the intervals which are of length $\pi/2 \geq 1.5$. Thus, we can again conclude the same thing about limsup and liminf as above.

Fabian
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    An alternative approach with the same conclusion would be to say that since $\sin(\pm 1) \approx \pm 0.841$ and $\sin(\pm 2) \approx \pm 0.909$, in every $7(\gt 2 \pi)$ terms starting from the $n$th, there will be at least one larger than $0.841 n$ and at least one smaller than $-0.841 n$. – Henry Feb 06 '14 at 14:18