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Secondary 6 · Mathematics
Real numbers · Sequences

Increasing sequence

Yaritza saves money every month to buy a cell phone. If she sees that in the first five months she has saved more each time, can she be sure that in month 50 she will also save more than in month 49? To be sure, you have to prove it for every $n$, without calculating term by term. That is what you will learn here.

First steps: look at the terms

Before proving, it is a good idea to explore: calculate the first few terms and see whether they go up, go down, or stay the same.

For example, $x_n = -2n+10$ gives $8,\ 6,\ 4,\dots$ (it goes down). $y_n = \dfrac1n$ gives $1,\ 0.5,\ 0.33,\dots$ (it goes down). $z_n=\dfrac{n+1}{n+2}$ gives $0.67,\ 0.75,\ 0.8,\dots$ (it goes up).

Exploring gives you a hunch, not a proof. The proof comes in the following sections.

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Given the sequence with general term $b_n = \frac{n}{2} + 4$, prove that it is increasing by verifying that $b_{n+1} \geq b_n$ for any natural number $n$.

Given the sequence with general term $b_n = \frac{n}{2} + 4$, prove that it is increasing by verifying that $b_{n+1} \geq b_n$ for any natural number $n$.

Solve
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A student decides to save money for a trip. In the first month he saves $600$ pesos, and each subsequent month he saves $300$ pesos more than the previous month. Write…

A student decides to save money for a trip. In the first month he saves $600$ pesos, and each subsequent month he saves $300$ pesos more than the previous month. Write down the general term for the money saved in month $n$ and justify mathematically why this sequence is strictly increasing.

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Identify which of the following sequences is strictly increasing by calculating its first three terms and analysing its evolution: $x_n = -2n + 10$, $y_n = \frac{1}{n}$,…

Identify which of the following sequences is strictly increasing by calculating its first three terms and analysing its evolution: $x_n = -2n + 10$, $y_n = \frac{1}{n}$, $z_n = \frac{n+1}{n+2}$.

Solve

The difference test

If we only require $a_{n+1} \geq a_n$, the sequence is increasing (in the broad sense): it may stay level at some steps.

Points of a sequence plotted in the plane where each consecutive point is higher than the previous one. each point is above the previous one

The idea is simple: if the difference between a term and the previous one is always positive, every step goes up.

When the sequence has the form $a_n = pn + q$, the difference is always $p$: it is an arithmetic progression, and it increases if $p>0$.

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Write down the first four terms of the sequence $a_n = 3n - 5$ and check, by calculating the difference $a_{n+1} - a_n$, that it is a strictly increasing sequence.

Write down the first four terms of the sequence $a_n = 3n - 5$ and check, by calculating the difference $a_{n+1} - a_n$, that it is a strictly increasing sequence.

Solve
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Determine whether the sequence $c_n = n^2 + 2n$ is increasing. To do so, calculate algebraically the difference between term $n+1$ and term $n$, and analyse the sign of…

Determine whether the sequence $c_n = n^2 + 2n$ is increasing. To do so, calculate algebraically the difference between term $n+1$ and term $n$, and analyse the sign of the result.

Solve
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Prove algebraically that the sequence with general term $a_n = \frac{3n-1}{2n+5}$ is strictly increasing. To do so, expand the inequality $a_{n+1} - a_n > 0$ and justify…

Prove algebraically that the sequence with general term $a_n = \frac{3n-1}{2n+5}$ is strictly increasing. To do so, expand the inequality $a_{n+1} - a_n > 0$ and justify the signs of the resulting numerator and denominator.

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The ratio test

When all the terms are positive, it is more convenient to compare by dividing than by subtracting. If $a_{n+1}$ is greater than $a_n$ and both are positive, dividing gives more than 1.

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Given the geometric sequence $d_n = 3^n$, use the quotient method (that is, calculate $\frac{d_{n+1}}{d_n}$) to prove that it is a strictly increasing sequence.

Given the geometric sequence $d_n = 3^n$, use the quotient method (that is, calculate $\frac{d_{n+1}}{d_n}$) to prove that it is a strictly increasing sequence.

Solve
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The population of a bacteria colony in a controlled culture is modelled by the sequence $P_n = 200 \times (1,15)^n$, where $n \geq 1$ represents the number of days…

The population of a bacteria colony in a controlled culture is modelled by the sequence $P_n = 200 \times (1,15)^n$, where $n \geq 1$ represents the number of days elapsed. Use the ratio test $\frac{P_{n+1}}{P_n}$ to prove rigorously that the population is constantly growing.

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Study the monotonicity of the sequence $x_n = \frac{2^n}{n!}$. Show that it is not strictly increasing for all $n$, indicating from which specific term onwards it begins…

Study the monotonicity of the sequence $x_n = \frac{2^n}{n!}$. Show that it is not strictly increasing for all $n$, indicating from which specific term onwards it begins to strictly decrease.

Solve

Sequences with radicals

With roots, the difference $a_{n+1}-a_n$ does not reveal its sign at a glance. The way to solve this is to multiply and divide by the conjugate, just as in limits with radicals.

Operation of multiplying and dividing by the conjugate to simplify the difference of two roots. c(n+1) − c(n) = (n+6) − (n+5) √(n+6) + √(n+5) = 1 √(n+6) + √(n+5) multiply and divide by the conjugate removes the root from the subtraction
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Consider the sequence with radicals $c_n = \sqrt{n+5}$. Prove that it is strictly increasing. To avoid working directly with inequalities of surds, multiply and divide…

Consider the sequence with radicals $c_n = \sqrt{n+5}$. Prove that it is strictly increasing. To avoid working directly with inequalities of surds, multiply and divide the expression $c_{n+1} - c_n$ by its conjugate.

Solve
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Prove that the sequence with general term $a_n = \sqrt{n^2+n} - n$ is strictly increasing. Hint: Multiply and divide by the conjugate expression before analysing the…

Prove that the sequence with general term $a_n = \sqrt{n^2+n} - n$ is strictly increasing. Hint: Multiply and divide by the conjugate expression before analysing the difference $a_{n+1} - a_n$.

Solve

Sequences with a parameter

Sometimes you have to find for which values of a parameter a sequence is increasing: you set up $a_{n+1}-a_n>0$ (or the ratio $>1$) and solve for the parameter.

Move the slider and see when the points go up:

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Find the values of the parameter $k \in \mathbb{R}$ for which the sequence defined by $a_n = (k-3)n + 5$ is strictly increasing. Reason your answer from the difference…

Find the values of the parameter $k \in \mathbb{R}$ for which the sequence defined by $a_n = (k-3)n + 5$ is strictly increasing. Reason your answer from the difference $a_{n+1} - a_n$.

Solve
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Find the range of values of $x \in \mathbb{R}$ for which the geometric sequence $a_n = (2x - 1)^n$ is strictly increasing and has exclusively positive terms.

Find the range of values of $x \in \mathbb{R}$ for which the geometric sequence $a_n = (2x - 1)^n$ is strictly increasing and has exclusively positive terms.

Solve
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Analyse the growth of the sequence $a_n = \frac{n^2+k}{n}$, where $k$ is a real number. Prove that the sequence is strictly increasing for all $n \geq 1$ if and only if…

Analyse the growth of the sequence $a_n = \frac{n^2+k}{n}$, where $k$ is a real number. Prove that the sequence is strictly increasing for all $n \geq 1$ if and only if the parameter $k$ satisfies the condition $k < 2$.

Solve

Recurrences and partial sums

Recurrence. If $a_{n+1} = a_n + \dfrac1n$, the difference is already given: $a_{n+1}-a_n=\dfrac1n>0$. It is increasing with no further work.

Recurrence with a root. If $u_{n+1}=\sqrt{6+u_n}$ and the terms are positive, comparing $u_{n+1}$ with $u_n$ is awkward. Since both are positive, it is the same to compare their squares: $u_{n+1}^2-u_n^2 = 6+u_n-u_n^2 = (3-u_n)(2+u_n)$. If $un<3$, this product is positive, and then $u_{n+1}>un$.

Partial sum. If $S_n = t_1+t_2+\dots+t_n$ with all $t_i>0$, then $S_{n+1}-S_n=t_{n+1}>0$, and $S_n$ is strictly increasing. How fast it grows is determined by the size of $t_{n+1}$.

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Verify that the sequence defined by recurrence as $a_1 = 3$ and $a_{n+1} = a_n + \frac{1}{n}$ is strictly increasing for all $n \geq 1$.

Verify that the sequence defined by recurrence as $a_1 = 3$ and $a_{n+1} = a_n + \frac{1}{n}$ is strictly increasing for all $n \geq 1$.

Solve
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Given the sequence defined as the partial sum $S_n = \sum_{i=1}^n \frac{1}{i^2} = 1 + \frac{1}{4} + \frac{1}{9} + \dots + \frac{1}{n^2}$, justify analytically why this…

Given the sequence defined as the partial sum $S_n = \sum_{i=1}^n \frac{1}{i^2} = 1 + \frac{1}{4} + \frac{1}{9} + \dots + \frac{1}{n^2}$, justify analytically why this sequence is strictly increasing and deduce whether the difference between consecutive terms increases or decreases as $n$ becomes very large.

Solve
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A server network records the mean latency time (in milliseconds) using the recurrence sequence $u_1 = 2$, $u_{n+1} = \sqrt{6 + u_n}$. Given that all generated terms are…

A server network records the mean latency time (in milliseconds) using the recurrence sequence $u_1 = 2$, $u_{n+1} = \sqrt{6 + u_n}$. Given that all generated terms are positive and strictly less than $3$, prove that the sequence is strictly increasing by analysing the sign of $u_{n+1}^2 - u_n^2$.

Solve

Growing without overshooting: upper bounds

A sequence that grows does not necessarily become huge. Look at $a_n = 5 - \dfrac{1}{n}$: its terms are $4,\ 4.5,\ 4.67,\ 4.75,\dots$ They always go up, but none of them reaches $5$.

On a graph, an upper bound is a horizontal line $y=M$ that the points never cross. If the points rise more and more slowly and get closer and closer to a horizontal line, that line is a bound. If they rise without slowing down, there is no bound.

Increasing points that approach a horizontal line without crossing it: the line is an upper bound. upper bound: y = M

To check it with algebra, you prove that $a_n \le M$ for every $n$. With $a_n=5-\frac1n$ it is immediate: $\frac1n>0$, so $an<5$.

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In a kinematics experiment, the velocity of a moving object at time $n$ (in seconds) is given by the sequence $v_n = 10 - \frac{20}{n+1}$ in m/s. Prove analytically that…

In a kinematics experiment, the velocity of a moving object at time $n$ (in seconds) is given by the sequence $v_n = 10 - \frac{20}{n+1}$ in m/s. Prove analytically that the object is continuously accelerating (the sequence of velocities is strictly increasing) and observe the graph to determine whether it will exceed $10$ m/s at any point.

n (s) v (m/s) 0 5 10 0 5 10 v = 10 vn = 10 - 20/(n+1)
Solve
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A technology company expects its monthly profits (in thousands of pesos) to follow the sequence $B_n = 3\,000 - \frac{6\,000}{2^n}$. Prove mathematically that profits…

A technology company expects its monthly profits (in thousands of pesos) to follow the sequence $B_n = 3\,000 - \frac{6\,000}{2^n}$. Prove mathematically that profits increase from one month to the next.

Solve
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In an industrial heating process, the temperature of a metal alloy at minute $n$ follows the law $T_n = 120 - 90(0,75)^n$ in degrees Celsius. Prove mathematically that…

In an industrial heating process, the temperature of a metal alloy at minute $n$ follows the law $T_n = 120 - 90(0,75)^n$ in degrees Celsius. Prove mathematically that the temperature is strictly increasing. From the graph, deduce whether the sequence is bounded above.

n (min) T (°C) 0 5 10 0 65 120 T = 120 Tn = 120 - 90(0,75)^n
Solve

A famous case: $\left(1+\frac1n\right)^n$

First explore: $a_1=2$, $a_2=\left(\frac32\right)^2=2.25$, $a_3=\left(\frac43\right)^3\approx 2.37$. It goes up, but slowly.

To prove that it always goes up, we expand it with the binomial theorem. The term in position $k$ of the expansion of $\left(1+\frac1n\right)^n$ is

$$\frac{1}{k!}\left(1-\frac1n\right)\left(1-\frac2n\right)\cdots\left(1-\frac{k-1}{n}\right).$$

When going from $n$ to $n+1$, two things happen:

  • Each fraction $\frac jn$ gets smaller ($\frac{j}{n+1}<\frac jn$), so each parenthesis grows and each term grows.

  • The expansion of $a_{n+1}$ has one more term, and it is positive.

Adding larger terms and one more, $a_{n+1}>a_n$.

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Consider the sequence $a_n = \left(1 + \frac{1}{n}\right)^n$. Given that this sequence models the growth of capital under 100% annual compound interest with $n$…

Consider the sequence $a_n = \left(1 + \frac{1}{n}\right)^n$. Given that this sequence models the growth of capital under 100% annual compound interest with $n$ compounding periods (whose limit is continuous compounding), calculate its first three terms to check empirically that it is increasing. Then, set up the start of its general proof by expanding the binomial theorem for $a_n$ and $a_{n+1}$.

Solve

Summary

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