Thomas' Calculus 13th Edition

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32187-896-5
ISBN 13: 978-0-32187-896-0

Chapter 10: Infinite Sequences and Series - Section 10.1 - Sequences - Exercises 10.1 - Page 569: 18

Answer

$a_{n}= \frac{2n-5}{n(n+1).},\quad n=1,2,3...$

Work Step by Step

Annotate $a_{n}=\displaystyle \frac{A_{n}}{B_{n}}$ The numerators $A_{n}$ form a sequence $\left[\begin{array}{lllllll} n & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & ...\\ A_{n} & -3 & -1 & 1 & 3 & 5 & ... \end{array}\right],$ This is an arithmetic sequence with common difference $d=2$ and initial term $A_{1}=-3$ $A_{1}=-3$ $A_{2}=-3+2$ $A_{3}=-3+2(2)$ $...$ $A_{n}=-3+(n-1)(2)=-3+2n-2=2n-5$ The numerators are done. Denominator sequence, $B_{n}$: $\left[\begin{array}{lllllll} n & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & ...\\ B_{n} & 2 & 6 & 12 & 20 & 30 & ...\\ & 1(2) & 2(3) & 3(4) & 4(5) & 5(6) & \end{array}\right]\Rightarrow B_{n}=n(n+1)$ Thus, we have: $a_{n}=\displaystyle \frac{2n-5}{n(n+1).},\quad n=1,2,3...$
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