Determining the limit of $x_{n+1} = x_n + 1/(3 x_n^2)$

Let $\{x_n\}_{n \in \mathbb{N}}$ be a sequence such that $$x_1 > 0, \qquad x_{n+1} = x_n + \frac{1}{3 x_n^2}$$ Check whether the sequence converges, and if so find its limit.

So I know that a sequence converges if it is bounded and monotone. So I proved those two (hopefully correct):

Proving that $x_n > 0$ for all $n$:

Base: $x_1 > 0$
Hypothesis: $x_n > 0$
Step: $$\text{x_n > 0 and \frac{1}{3 x_n^2} > 0} \implies x_n + \frac{1}{3 x_n^2} > 0 \implies x_{n+1} > 0$$

Proving that the sequence is monotone increasing: $$x_{n+1} - x_n = x_n + \frac{1}{3 x_n^2} - x_n = \frac{1}{3 x_n^2} > 0 \qquad \text{for all n}$$

Now, I've tried finding the limit, like this: $$\exists \alpha = \lim_{x \to \infty} x_{n+1} \implies \alpha = \alpha + \frac{1}{3 \alpha^2} \implies \frac{1}{3 \alpha^2} = 0$$

Where I end up with a conclusion that the limit is equal to infinity, meaning that the sequence diverges. So what am I doing wrong here? Is one of my proofs incorrect or is my limit calculation wrong?

Thanks

• You haven't done anything wrong. The sequence diverges to $\infty$. Aug 26 '18 at 11:55
• You are correct, the limit is $+\infty$. Aug 26 '18 at 11:55
• Shouldn't the sequence converge to a real number (not infinity) if it's bounded and monotone? Or did I misunderstand something?
– Koy
Aug 26 '18 at 12:01
• @Koy if a sequence is bounded above and monotone increasing, then the sequence is convergent. But you've shown that the sequence is bounded below, not bounded above. Hope you'll get it. :) Aug 26 '18 at 12:03
• In such a situation is it useful to compute some $$x_n$$ Aug 26 '18 at 12:08

Your proof is fine, but you may simply notice that $x_{n+1}^3 \geq x_n^3+1$ implies $x_n\geq\sqrt[3]{n-1+x_1^3}$.