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Real numbers · Sequences

Decreasing Sequence

Before you start, make sure you know: Algebraic fractions (High School Year 1 (semesters 1 and 2))
Before you start, make sure you know: Inequalities (High School Year 1 (semesters 1 and 2))

You buy a cell phone for $\$12{,}000$ and every year it is worth less than the year before. A hot piece of metal cools down minute by minute, and a ball bounces lower each time. In all three cases, each term is smaller than the previous one. Is it enough to look at a few values to be sure? No: here you are going to prove it with algebra.

Looking at the first terms

The first step is to calculate a few terms and see what happens. It is a good way to suspect something, but it is not yet a proof.

First terms of a strictly decreasing sequence: each point is lower than the previous one. each point is below the previous one
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Given the following sequences defined by their general term, identify which ones are strictly decreasing by empirically calculating their first four terms:…

Given the following sequences defined by their general term, identify which ones are strictly decreasing by empirically calculating their first four terms: $a_n = 5 - 2n$, $b_n = n^2 - 4$, $c_n = \frac{1}{2^n}$, $d_n = (-1)^n \times n$.

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The difference criterion

If $a_{n+1}-an<0$ for all $n$, every step goes downward. So, to prove that a sequence decreases, calculate the difference, simplify it, and study its sign.

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Prove, by analysing the sign of the difference $a_{n+1} - a_n$, that the polynomial sequence with general term $a_n = -4n + 7$ is strictly decreasing for every natural…

Prove, by analysing the sign of the difference $a_{n+1} - a_n$, that the polynomial sequence with general term $a_n = -4n + 7$ is strictly decreasing for every natural number $n$.

Solve
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A mountaineer descends a mountain at a constant rate. Their altitude in meters at the end of each hour $n$ of the journey is modeled by the sequence $h_n = 3500 - 150n$.…

A mountaineer descends a mountain at a constant rate. Their altitude in meters at the end of each hour $n$ of the journey is modeled by the sequence $h_n = 3500 - 150n$. Prove analytically that the sequence of altitudes $(h_n)$ is strictly decreasing.

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Fractions and exponentials with the difference

When $a_n$ is a fraction, you have to subtract fractions: find the common denominator and look at the numerator. The denominators are usually positive, so the numerator decides the sign.

With exponentials, you factor out the power.

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Check whether the rational sequence $b_n = \frac{3}{n+2}$ is decreasing. To do so, set up the expression $b_{n+1} - b_n$ and determine whether the result is less than or…

Check whether the rational sequence $b_n = \frac{3}{n+2}$ is decreasing. To do so, set up the expression $b_{n+1} - b_n$ and determine whether the result is less than or equal to zero for any $n \ge 1$.

Solve
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Prove that the sequence with general term $a_n = \frac{2n+5}{3n+1}$ is strictly decreasing. To do so, set up the inequality $a_{n+1} < a_n$, perform algebraic operations…

Prove that the sequence with general term $a_n = \frac{2n+5}{3n+1}$ is strictly decreasing. To do so, set up the inequality $a_{n+1} < a_n$, perform algebraic operations and arrive at a statement that is true for all $n \ge 1$.

Solve
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The temperature in degrees Celsius of a piece of metal cooling in a room at room temperature is given by the sequence $T_n = 20 + 80 \times (0,85)^n$, where $n$…

The temperature in degrees Celsius of a piece of metal cooling in a room at room temperature is given by the sequence $T_n = 20 + 80 \times (0,85)^n$, where $n$ represents the time elapsed in minutes. Prove that $(T_n)$ is a decreasing sequence and calculate algebraically the expression for the exact temperature drop that occurs between minute $n$ and minute $n+1$.

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The ratio criterion

It is ideal for powers and factorials, because the ratio simplifies a lot.

This criterion explains depreciation models: if an asset loses a percentage $p$ of its value each year, the value gets multiplied by $1-\frac{p}{100}$, which is less than 1. For example, a cell phone that loses $20\%$ per year is worth $V_n = 12{,}000\cdot 0.8^n$ pesos and its ratio is $0.8<1$.

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Use the ratio test $\frac{a_{n+1}}{a_n}$ to prove that the geometric sequence of positive terms $a_n = \left(\frac{3}{4}\right)^n$ is strictly decreasing.

Use the ratio test $\frac{a_{n+1}}{a_n}$ to prove that the geometric sequence of positive terms $a_n = \left(\frac{3}{4}\right)^n$ is strictly decreasing.

Solve
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An industrial machine loses $12\%$ of its value each year relative to the immediately preceding year. If its initial purchase value is $900\,000$ pesos, find the…

An industrial machine loses $12\%$ of its value each year relative to the immediately preceding year. If its initial purchase value is $900\,000$ pesos, find the expression for the general term $V_n$ representing its value after $n$ years and prove mathematically that the sequence $(V_n)$ is decreasing.

Solve
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A rubber ball is dropped from an initial height of $5$ meters. On each successive bounce, the ball reaches a height equal to $\frac{3}{4}$ of the maximum height of the…

A rubber ball is dropped from an initial height of $5$ meters. On each successive bounce, the ball reaches a height equal to $\frac{3}{4}$ of the maximum height of the previous bounce. Let $h_n$ be the maximum height reached after the $n$th bounce on the ground. Write the general term of the sequence and prove that it is strictly decreasing.

n (bounces) hn 1 2 3 4 5 h₁ h₂ h₃ h₄ h₅
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Decreasing from a certain term on

Some sequences do not decrease from the start: they rise for a while and then fall forever. You have to locate from which position the behavior changes: solve the inequality in $n$ and take the first natural number that satisfies it.

With factorials, the ratio simplifies because $(n+1)! = (n+1)\cdot n!$.

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Calculate the first five terms of the quadratic sequence $c_n = -n^2 + 6n$. Is it a decreasing sequence from the first term? Determine from which value of $n$ onwards…

Calculate the first five terms of the quadratic sequence $c_n = -n^2 + 6n$. Is it a decreasing sequence from the first term? Determine from which value of $n$ onwards the sequence becomes strictly decreasing.

Solve
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State whether the following statement is true or false and justify your answer with a numerical counterexample: "Every sequence whose terms are all negative is…

State whether the following statement is true or false and justify your answer with a numerical counterexample: "Every sequence whose terms are all negative is necessarily a decreasing sequence".

Solve
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Consider the sequence combining a power and a factorial $b_n = \frac{5^n}{n!}$. Calculate its first six terms and observe its behavior. Using the ratio test, determine…

Consider the sequence combining a power and a factorial $b_n = \frac{5^n}{n!}$. Calculate its first six terms and observe its behavior. Using the ratio test, determine analytically from which exact value of $n$ the sequence becomes strictly decreasing.

Solve
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Study the monotonicity of the sequence $d_n = \frac{(-1)^n}{n}$. Is it a decreasing sequence? Define a new sequence $e_n = |d_n|$ by taking the modulus of each term and…

Study the monotonicity of the sequence $d_n = \frac{(-1)^n}{n}$. Is it a decreasing sequence? Define a new sequence $e_n = |d_n|$ by taking the modulus of each term and prove step by step that $(e_n)$ is indeed a strictly decreasing sequence.

Solve

Recursive sequences

When the sequence is given recursively, $a_{n+1}$ is already expressed in terms of $a_n$, so the difference almost comes out by itself.

Sometimes the difference depends on $x_n$ and you have to use a known property of the terms.

And when the difference cannot be bounded directly, you use induction.

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A sequence is defined recursively by the first term $a_1 = 15$ and the recurrence relation $a_{n+1} = a_n - \frac{1}{n}$. Justify mathematically why this sequence is…

A sequence is defined recursively by the first term $a_1 = 15$ and the recurrence relation $a_{n+1} = a_n - \frac{1}{n}$. Justify mathematically why this sequence is strictly decreasing for all $n \ge 1$.

Solve
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In a chemical reactor, the concentration $C_n$ of a radioactive isotope after $n$ hours is given by the recurrence relation $C_1 = 100$ and…

In a chemical reactor, the concentration $C_n$ of a radioactive isotope after $n$ hours is given by the recurrence relation $C_1 = 100$ and $C_{n+1} = 0.5 \times C_n + 10$. Prove by mathematical induction that $C_{n+1} < C_n$ for all $n \ge 1$, concluding that the sequence of concentrations is strictly decreasing.

Solve
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The Babylonian method for approximating the value of $\sqrt{3}$ generates a sequence defined by $x_1 = 2$ and the recurrence relation…

The Babylonian method for approximating the value of $\sqrt{3}$ generates a sequence defined by $x_1 = 2$ and the recurrence relation $x_{n+1} = \frac{1}{2} \left( x_n + \frac{3}{x_n} \right)$. Given that all terms of the sequence satisfy $x_n > \sqrt{3}$, prove analytically that $x_{n+1} < x_n$ for all $n \ge 1$, thus showing that the sequence of approximations is strictly decreasing.

xn x_{n+1} √3 2.0 y = x f(x) x₁ x₂
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Radicals and bounds

A subtraction of square roots is hard to analyze. The trick, already familiar from rationalizing, is to multiply by the conjugate.

Another useful tool is to split the fraction: $\dfrac{3^n+2}{3^n} = 1+\dfrac{2}{3^n}$. This makes it immediately clear that the terms are greater than 1 and that the addend $\frac{2}{3^n}$ decreases.

Decreasing sequence whose terms approach a horizontal lower bound without crossing it, inside a strip between two bounds. upper bound M lower bound m all the terms lie between m and M

A decreasing sequence is always bounded above by its first term. What matters is whether it also has a lower bound.

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Prove that the sequence constructed using radicals $c_n = \sqrt{n+2} - \sqrt{n}$ is strictly decreasing. Multiply and divide by the conjugate expression before analysing…

Prove that the sequence constructed using radicals $c_n = \sqrt{n+2} - \sqrt{n}$ is strictly decreasing. Multiply and divide by the conjugate expression before analysing whether $c_{n+1} < c_n$.

Solve
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Consider the sequence defined by $a_n = \frac{3^n + 2}{3^n}$. Prove that it is bounded below by $1$ and that it is strictly decreasing. Finally, determine from which…

Consider the sequence defined by $a_n = \frac{3^n + 2}{3^n}$. Prove that it is bounded below by $1$ and that it is strictly decreasing. Finally, determine from which value of $n$ onwards the difference between two consecutive terms has a modulus less than $10^{-4}$.

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Parameters and operations with sequences

If the sequence depends on a parameter, the procedure is the same: calculate the difference, require it to be negative for all $n\ge1$, and solve for the parameter. The key is the worst case: the condition must hold for every $n$, so it is imposed at the most demanding $n$.

Another common question is what happens when you operate with sequences. The sum of two decreasing sequences is decreasing, because $(u_{n+1}+v_{n+1})-(u_n+v_n) = (u_{n+1}-u_n)+(v_{n+1}-v_n)$ is a sum of two negatives. With the product you have to watch the sign of the terms: use the hypothesis $u_n,v_n>0$ and compare step by step, one factor at a time.

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Given the polynomial sequence $a_n = -kn^2 + 8n - 3$, determine the set of values that the real parameter $k$ must take to ensure that the sequence is strictly…

Given the polynomial sequence $a_n = -kn^2 + 8n - 3$, determine the set of values that the real parameter $k$ must take to ensure that the sequence is strictly decreasing for all $n \ge 1$.

Solve
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Find the rigorous mathematical condition that the real parameter $p$ must satisfy for the rational sequence $a_n = \frac{pn+4}{2n+3}$ to be strictly decreasing…

Find the rigorous mathematical condition that the real parameter $p$ must satisfy for the rational sequence $a_n = \frac{pn+4}{2n+3}$ to be strictly decreasing throughout its natural domain $n \ge 1$.

Solve
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Let $(u_n)$ and $(v_n)$ be two sequences of strictly positive real numbers. Knowing that $(u_n)$ is strictly decreasing and $(v_n)$ is also strictly decreasing, prove…

Let $(u_n)$ and $(v_n)$ be two sequences of strictly positive real numbers. Knowing that $(u_n)$ is strictly decreasing and $(v_n)$ is also strictly decreasing, prove algebraically that the product sequence defined by $w_n = u_n \times v_n$ is, in turn, strictly decreasing.

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Partial sums, logarithms, and factorials

If $S_n=a_1+\dots+a_n$ is the sum of the first terms, then $S_{n+1}-S_n=a_{n+1}$. Therefore: if all the $a_n$ are negative, $(S_n)$ is strictly decreasing. And if $E_n = c - S_n$ with $a_n>0$, then $E_{n+1}-En=-a_{n+1}<0$: $(E_n)$ decreases.

With logarithms, the sum simplifies because $\ln\frac{a}{b}=\ln a-\ln b$ and the intermediate terms cancel (telescoping sum).

With factorials and powers of $n$, the ratio simplifies as follows:

When the ratio contains an expression like $\left(1+\frac1n\right)^n$, remember that it is compared with $e$ using the inequality you are given.

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Consider the sequence of partial sums $S_n = \sum_{i=1}^n \frac{1}{3^i}$. Let $E_n = \frac{1}{2} - S_n$ be the sequence measuring the distance between $S_n$ and the…

Consider the sequence of partial sums $S_n = \sum_{i=1}^n \frac{1}{3^i}$. Let $E_n = \frac{1}{2} - S_n$ be the sequence measuring the distance between $S_n$ and the theoretical limit of the infinite series. Prove that $(E_n)$ is a strictly decreasing sequence and express it in closed form in terms of $n$.

Solve
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Study whether the logarithmic sequence $a_n = \ln\left(\frac{n+1}{n+2}\right)$ is increasing or decreasing. Then, prove that the sequence of partial sums…

Study whether the logarithmic sequence $a_n = \ln\left(\frac{n+1}{n+2}\right)$ is increasing or decreasing. Then, prove that the sequence of partial sums $S_n = a_1 + a_2 + \dots + a_n$ is strictly decreasing and find a simplified algebraic expression for $S_n$ by applying the properties of logarithms.

Solve
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Consider the sequence defined by $a_n = \frac{n^n}{n! \times e^n}$. Given that the inequality $\left(1 + \frac{1}{n}\right)^n < e$ holds for any natural number $n$,…

Consider the sequence defined by $a_n = \frac{n^n}{n! \times e^n}$. Given that the inequality $\left(1 + \frac{1}{n}\right)^n < e$ holds for any natural number $n$, prove using the ratio test that $(a_n)$ is a strictly decreasing sequence.

Solve

Back to the beginning: the cell phone that loses $20\%$ of its value each year has $V_n=12{,}000\cdot 0.8^n$. Since $\frac{V_{n+1}}{V_n}=0.8<1$ and all the values are positive, the sequence is strictly decreasing: each year it is worth less than the year before.

Summary

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