Showing $\lim\frac{x_n}{y_n}=\lim\frac{x_{n+1}-x_n}{y_{n+1}-y_n}$

Let $(y_n)$ be an unbounded sequence of natural numbers with $y_{n+1}>y_n\forall n\in\mathbb{N}$. Let $(x_n)$ be another sequence, and suppose that $$\lim\frac{x_{n+1}-x_n}{y_{n+1}-y_n}$$ exists. Prove that $$\lim\frac{x_n}{y_n}=\lim\frac{x_{n+1}-x_n}{y_{n+1}-y_n}$$

Theres also a hint that we could use from a previously used question in class which is here: Proving Two Limits Are Equal to Each Other

My issue is that I don't see a correlation between the two. Could some explain please?

• – Git Gud Oct 13 '14 at 17:51
• That looks exactly like what I'm dealing with here but I still don't see the connection between the two problems – Jeff Oct 13 '14 at 17:55
• It's the same thing, I spot no difference. – Git Gud Oct 13 '14 at 17:59
• Actually I looked at a page different from the Wikipedia page and I see the connection, thanks I appreciate it – Jeff Oct 13 '14 at 17:59

So it seems that you want to use the following result to prove Stolz-Cesaro theorem:

Let $P_{ij}$, where $P_{ij}$ is a real number and $i, j$ natural number, allow the three statements to hold:

• $P_{ij}\ge 0$ for all $i, j$

• $\lim_{i\to\infty}P_{ij}=0$ for all $j$

• $\sum_{j=1}^i P_{ij} =1$ for all $i$

Let $(x_i)$ be a convergent sequence and let a sequence $(y_i)$ be defined by

$y_i=\sum_{j=1}^i P_{ij}x_j$

Then $(y_i)$ is a convergent sequence and $\lim y_i=\lim x_i$

I will add that this is similar to Silverman–Toeplitz theorem. (Well, the assumption $\sup\limits_i \sum\limits_{j=0}^n P_{ij}<+\infty$ is missing, but it seems that you implicitly assume that the sum $y_i$ exists for each convergent sequence $(x_j)$. Silverman-Toeplitz theorem is stronger in the sense that it allows also negative values - which is why absolute value is added in some place - and it gives sufficient and necessary condition. But still it is close to the result you've included here, so it's probably worth mentioning.)

What about proving Stolz-Cesaro theorem in this form:

Theorem. Let us assume that $\lim\limits_{n\to\infty} \frac{a_n}{b_n}=l$, where $b_n\ge0$ and $\sum\limits_{n=1}^\infty b_n=+\infty$. Then $$\lim\limits_{n\to\infty}\frac{\sum_{k=1}^n a_k}{\sum_{k=1}^n b_k}=l.$$

As mentioned here, this is simply a different form of Stolz-Cesaro theorem.

Proof. Let us use the previous result with $x_j=\frac{a_j}{b_j}$ and $$P_{ij}= \begin{cases} \frac{b_j}{b_1+\dots+b_i} & i\ge j, \\ 0 & i<j. \end{cases}$$

The we have $$y_i = \frac{a_1}{b_1} \cdot \frac{b_1}{b_1+\dots+b_i} + \frac{a_2}{b_2} \cdot \frac{b_2}{b_1+\dots+b_i} + \dots + \frac{a_i}{b_i} \cdot \frac{b_i}{b_1+\dots+b_i} = \frac{a_1+\dots+a_i}{b_1+\dots+b_i}.$$

So if we show that $P_i$ fulfills the above condition we get that $$\lim\limits_{i\to\infty} \frac{a_1+\dots+a_i}{b_1+\dots+b_i} = \lim\limits_{i\to\infty} y_i = \lim\limits_{j\to\infty} x_j = \lim\limits_{j\to\infty} \frac{a_j}{b_j}.$$

This proof might seem somewhat unnatural on the first sight. Maybe it helps thinking about the case $b_n=1$ (i.e., $y_n=n$) first.