Homework questions are welcome as long as they are asked honestly, explain the problem, and show sufficient effort. Please do not use this as the only tag for a question. For the answers on homework questions, helpful hints or instructions are preferred to a complete solution. Please do not add ...

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17
votes
8answers
1k views

How can I evaluate $\sum_{n=0}^\infty (n+1)x^n$

How can if find the sum for: $$ \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{2n}{3^{n+1}} $$ I know the answer thanks to Wolfram Alpha. I'm more concerned with how to get to to that number. It cites tests to prove ...
131
votes
10answers
28k views

Multiple-choice question about the probability of a random answer to itself being correct

I found this math "problem" on the internet, and I'm wondering if it has an answer: Question: If you choose an answer to this question at random, what is the probability that you will be correct? ...
29
votes
4answers
2k views

Finding the limit of $\frac {n}{\sqrt[n]{n!}}$

I'm trying to find $$\lim_{n\to\infty}\frac{n}{\sqrt[n]{n!}} .$$ I tried couple of methods: Stolz, Squeeze, D'Alambert Thanks! Edit: I can't use Stirling.
12
votes
3answers
3k views

Prove that $\gcd(a^n - 1, a^m - 1) = a^{\gcd(n, m)} - 1$

For all $a, m, n \in \mathbb{Z}^+$, $$\gcd(a^n - 1, a^m - 1) = a^{\gcd(n, m)} - 1$$
31
votes
8answers
2k views

How to prove that $\lim\limits_{x\to0}\frac{\sin x}x=1$?

How can one prove the statement $$\lim\limits_{x\to 0}\frac{\sin x}x=1$$ without using the Taylor series of $\sin$, $\cos$ and $\tan$? Best would be a geometrical solution. This is homework. In my ...
14
votes
7answers
916 views

Prove that $\lim \limits_{n \to \infty} \frac{x^n}{n!} = 0$, $x \in \Bbb R$.

Why is $$\lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{2^n}{n!}=0\text{ ?}$$ Can we generalize it to any exponent $x \in \Bbb R$? This is to say, is $$\lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{x^n}{n!}=0\text{ ?}$$ This is ...
2
votes
2answers
630 views

Countable Sets and the Cartesian Product of them

If I have two countable sets, $A$ and $B$, how can I prove that the cartesian product of them, $A \times B$, is also countable?
17
votes
3answers
1k views

The set of differences for a set of positive Lebesgue measure

Quite a while ago, I heard about a statement in measure theory, that goes as follows: Let $A \subset \mathbb R^n$ be a Lebesgue-measurable set of positive measure. Then we follow that $A-A = \{ ...
10
votes
5answers
1k views

Nonzero $f \in C([0, 1])$ for which $\int_0^1 f(x)x^n dx = 0$ for all $n$

As the title says, I'm wondering if there is a continuous function such that $f$ is nonzero on $[0, 1]$, and for which $\int_0^1 f(x)x^n dx = 0$ for all $n \geq 1$. I am trying to solve a problem ...
15
votes
11answers
2k views

$ \lim\limits_{n \to{+}\infty}{\sqrt[n]{n!}}$ is infinite

How do I prove that $ \displaystyle\lim_{n \to{+}\infty}{\sqrt[n]{n!}}$ is infinite?
2
votes
1answer
278 views

Solving a recurrence relation with the characteristic equation

I have some trouble solving this due to not seeing the steps to be able to feed it into the characteristic equation. $$T(n) = 4T(n-2) +n + 2^nn^2\ \text{with}\ \ T(0)=0,\ T(1)=1$$ (don't have to ...
2
votes
2answers
268 views

Units and Nilpotents

If $ua = au$, where $u$ is a unit and $a$ is a nilpotent, show that $u+a$ is a unit. I've been working on this problem for an hour that I tried to construct an element $x \in R$ such that $x(u+a) ...
13
votes
4answers
711 views

Showing that $\frac{\sqrt[n]{n!}}{n}$ $\rightarrow \frac{1}{e}$

Show:$$\lim_{n\to\infty}\frac{\sqrt[n]{n!}}{n}= \frac{1}{e}$$ So I can expand the numerator by geometric mean. Letting $C_{n}=\left(\ln(a_{1})+...+\ln(a_{n})\right)/n$. Let the numerator be called ...
22
votes
3answers
10k views

Construct a function which is continuous in $[1,5]$ but not differentiable at $2, 3, 4$

Construct a function which is continuous in $[1,5]$ but not differentiable at $2, 3, 4$. This question is just after the definition of differentiation and the theorem that if $f$ is finitely ...
9
votes
5answers
702 views

Help solving $\int {\frac{8x^4+15x^3+16x^2+22x+4}{x(x+1)^2(x^2+2)}dx}$

$\displaystyle\int {\frac{8x^4+15x^3+16x^2+22x+4}{x(x+1)^2(x^2+2)}\,\mathrm{d}x}$ I used partial fractions, solved $A = 2, C = 3$. $$\frac{A}{x} + \frac{B}{x+1} + \frac{C}{(x+1)^2} ...
1
vote
4answers
438 views

How to use fundamental theorem of arithmetic to conclude that $\gcd(a^k,b^n)=1$ for all $k, n \in$ N whenever $a,b \in$ N with $\gcd(a,b)=1$?

How to use fundamental theorem of arithmetic to conclude that $\gcd(a^k,b^n)=1$ for all $k, n \in$ N whenever $a,b \in$ N with $\gcd(a,b)=1$? Fundamental theorem of arithmetic: Each number $n\geq 2$ ...
14
votes
9answers
4k views

How to show $\det(AB) =\det(A)\det(B)$

Given two square matrices $A$ and $B$. How do you show $\det(AB) = \det(A)\det(B)$ where $\det(\cdot)$ is determinant of the matrix
11
votes
4answers
757 views

Proof that there are infinitely many prime numbers starting with a given digit string

To prove the following fact: given any sequence of digits in any base, eg 314159265358979323 base 10, there are infinitely many primes that start with these digits,eg when expressed in decimal they ...
3
votes
1answer
104 views

How to prove a sequence of a function converges uniformly ???

For n $\in \mathcal{N}$, define the formula, $$f_n(x)= x/(2n^2x^2+8), x \in [0,1].$$ Prove that the sequence $f_n$ converges uniformly on [0,1], as n $\rightarrow \infty$. I know that the definition ...
2
votes
1answer
286 views

Prove analyticity by Morera's theorem

Let $f$ be continuous on the complex plane and analytic on the complement of the coordinate axes. Show that $f$ is analytic everywhere. Hint: Morera's theorem. I think that I need to show that the ...
5
votes
1answer
452 views

Inequality involving $\limsup$ and $\liminf$

This may have been asked before, however I was unable to find any duplicate. This comes from pg. 52 of "Mathematical Analysis: An Introduction" by Browder. Problem 14: If $(a_n)$ is a sequence in ...
39
votes
4answers
1k views

Showing that $\int\limits_{-a}^a \frac{f(x)}{1+e^{x}} \mathrm dx = \int\limits_0^a f(x) \mathrm dx$, when $f$ is even

I have a question: Suppose $f$ is continuous and even on $[-a,a]$, $a>0$ then prove that $$\int\limits_{-a}^a \frac{f(x)}{1+e^{x}} \mathrm dx = \int\limits_0^a f(x) \mathrm dx$$ How can I ...
11
votes
2answers
1k views

Automorphism of the Field of rational functions

Let $K$ be a field and let $K(x)$ be the field of rational functions in $x$ whose coefficients are in $K$. Let $\theta(x)$ $\in$ Aut($K(x))$ such that $\theta|_K = id_K$. Show that $\theta(x) ...
19
votes
3answers
504 views

If $\sum a_n b_n <\infty$ for all $(b_n)\in \ell^2$ then $(a_n) \in \ell^2$

I'm trying to prove the following: If $(a_n)$ is a sequence of positive numbers such that $\sum_{n=1}^\infty a_n b_n<\infty$ for all sequences of positive numbers $(b_n)$ such that ...
7
votes
4answers
572 views

How can I compute the integral $\int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{dt}{1+t^4}$?

I have to compute this integral $$\int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{dt}{1+t^4}$$ to solve a problem in a homework. I have tried in many ways, but I'm stuck. A search in the web reveals me that it can be do it ...
4
votes
3answers
192 views

Indefinite integral of secant cubed

I need to calculate the following indefinite integral: $$I=\int \frac{1}{\cos^3(x)}dx$$ I know what the result is (from Mathematica): $$I=\tanh^{-1}(\tan(x/2))+(1/2)\sec(x)\tan(x)$$ but I don't ...
2
votes
2answers
140 views

prove that $f'(a)=\lim_{x\rightarrow a}f'(x)$.

Let $f$ be a real-valued function continuous on $[a,b]$ and differentiable on $(a,b)$. Suppose that $\lim_{x\rightarrow a}f'(x)$ exists. Then, prove that $f$ is differentiable at $a$ and ...
2
votes
1answer
439 views

Recurrence relation, Fibonacci numbers

$(a)$ Consider the recurrence relation $a_{n+2}a_n = a^2 _{n+1} + 2$ with $a_1 = a_2 = 1$. $(i)$ Assume that all $a_n$ are integers. Prove that they are all odd and the integers $a_n$ and $a_{n+1}$ ...
9
votes
6answers
1k views

Why is a finite integral domain always field?

This is how I'm approaching it: let $R$ be a finite integral domain and I'm trying to show every element in $R$ has an inverse: let $R-\{0\}=\{x_1,x_2,\ldots,x_k\}$, then as $R$ is closed under ...
7
votes
1answer
268 views

Starting digits of 2^n

Prove that for any finite sequence of decimal digits, there exists an $n$ such that the decimal expansion of $2^n$ begins with these digits.
5
votes
5answers
520 views

Largest integer that can't be represented as a non-negative linear combination of $m, n = mn - m - n$? Why?

This seemingly simple question has really stumped me: How do I prove that the largest integer that can't be represented with a non-negative linear combination of the integers $m, n$ is $mn - m - n$, ...
4
votes
1answer
253 views

Operator whose spectrum is given compact set

Let $A\subset \mathbb{C}$ be a compact subset. Since $A$ is compact and metric space, it is separable, say $\overline{\lbrace a_n\rbrace_{n=1}^\infty}=A$. Let $\mathcal{l}^2(\mathbb{Z})$ be the ...
3
votes
3answers
479 views

A number when successively divided by $9$, $11$ and $13$ leaves remainders $8$, $9$ and $8$ respectively

A number when successively divided by $9$, $11$ and $13$ leaves remainders $8$, $9$ and $8$ respectively. The answer is $881$, but how? Any clue about how this is solved?
2
votes
3answers
329 views

How do you solve the Initial value probelm $dp/dt = 10p(1-p), p(0)=0.1$?

The problem is... $$ \frac{dp}{dt} = 10p(1-p),$$ $p(0)=0.1$. Solve and show that $p(t) \to 1$ as $t\to \infty.$ I know this is probably really simple, I was trying to go down the line of finding ...
1
vote
6answers
487 views

Integral of $\int e^{2x} \sin 3x\, dx$

I am suppose to use integration by parts but I have no idea what to do for this problem $$\int e^{2x} \sin3x dx$$ $u = \sin3x dx$ $du = 3\cos3x$ $dv = e^{2x} $ $ v = \frac{ e^{2x}}{2}$ From this I ...
-2
votes
3answers
622 views

How to show that $\gcd(ab,n)=1$?

Let $\gcd(a,n)=\gcd(b,n)=1$. How to show that $\gcd(ab,n)=1$? This is a problem that is an exercise in my course.
16
votes
2answers
1k views

The union of a strictly increasing sequence of $\sigma$-algebras is not a $\sigma$-algebra

The union of a sequence of $\sigma$-algebras need not be a $\sigma$-algebra, but how do I prove the stronger statement below? Let $\mathcal{F}_n$ be a sequence of $\sigma$-algebras. If the ...
10
votes
4answers
786 views

Help with summing a power series

I'd like to determine the function corresponding to the following power series: $$x + \sum_{n=1}^\infty (-1)^n\frac{1\cdot3\cdot5\cdots(2n-1)}{2\cdot4\cdot6\cdots2n} \frac{x^{2n+1}}{2n+1}, $$ where ...
12
votes
4answers
1k views

Computing the integral of $\log (\sin x)$

How to compute the following integral $$\int \log(\sin x)\,\mathrm dx?$$
8
votes
2answers
782 views

Finding the adjoint of an operator

This is from my homework, I'm totally lost as to how to proceed. Consider the operator $T: L^2([0,1]) \rightarrow L^2([0,1])$ defined by $(Tf)(x) = \int^x_0 f(s) \ ds$ What is the adjoint of $T$? ...
7
votes
2answers
137 views

Finite group for which $|\{x:x^m=e\}|\leq m$ for all $m$ is cyclic.

Let $G$ be a finite group. For each positive integer $m$, if $x^{m}=e$ has at most $m$ solutions in $G$, $G$ is cyclic. What I have thought is that $n=\sum_{d\mid n}\phi(d)$ can be used to solve ...
3
votes
2answers
764 views

Subadditivity of the limit superior

$$ \limsup \left(f(h)+g(h)\right) \leq \limsup f(h)+ \limsup g(h).$$ How can we prove this? Any help would be appreciated.
9
votes
6answers
997 views

Show that the set of all finite subsets of $\mathbb{N}$ is countable.

Show that the set of all finite subsets of $\mathbb{N}$ is countable. I'm not sure how to do this problem. I keep trying to think of an explicit formula for 1-1 correspondence like adding all the ...
3
votes
5answers
474 views

Determine the Set of a Sum of Numbers

I want to determine the set of natural numbers that can be expressed as the sum of some non-negative number of 3s and 5s. $$S=\{3k+5j∣k,j∈\mathbb{N}∪\{0\}\}$$ I want to check whether that would be: ...
2
votes
1answer
71 views

prove that the sphere with a hair in $IR^{3}$ is not locally Euclidean at q. Hence it cannot be a topological manifold.

A fundamental theorem of topology, the theorem on invariance of dimension, states that if two nonempty open sets $U ⊂ R_{n}$ and $V ⊂ R_{m}$ are homeomorphic, then n = m. prove that the sphere with a ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views

Prove that $A+I$ is invertible if $A$ is nilpotent [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Units and Nilpotents Hi all wondering if I could get a bit of help with this, given $A^{2012}=0$ prove $(A+I)$ is invertible and find an expression for $(A+I)^{-1}$ in ...
6
votes
4answers
885 views

Equivalent metrics determine the same topology

Suppose that there are given two distance functions $d(x,y)$ and $d_1 (x,y)$ on the same space $S$. They are said to be equivalent if they determine the same open sets. Show that $d$ and $d_1$ are ...
5
votes
3answers
414 views

Combinatorial proof for two identities

Does exist a combinatorial proof for the following two identities ? $\sum_{k = 0}^{n} \binom{x+k}{k} = \binom{x+n+1}{n}$ $\sum_{k = 0}^{n} k\binom{n}{k} = n2^{n-1}$ I know how to derive the ...
1
vote
4answers
485 views

How can I prove that all rational numbers are either terminally real or repeating real numbers?

I am trying to figure out how to prove that all rational numbers are either terminally real or repeating real numbers, but I am having a great difficulty in doing so. Any help will be greatly ...
5
votes
4answers
378 views

Finding $\int e^{2x} \sin{4x} \, dx$

Finding $$\int e^{2x} \sin 4x \, dx$$ I think I should be doing integration by parts... If I let $u=e^{2x} \Rightarrow du = 2e^{2x}$, $dv = \sin{4x} \Rightarrow v = -\frac{1}{4} \cos{4x}$ $\int{ ...

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