Convergence of $sum_n=1^inftyleft(frac1a_n^2-frac1a_n+1^2right)$ where $a_1=1$ and $a_n=2-frac 1n$ for $ngeq 2$

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2












$begingroup$


Let $a_1=1 $ and $ a_n=2-frac 1n$ for $ngeq 2$. Then $$sum_n=1^inftybigg(frac1a_n^2-frac1a_n+1^2bigg)$$
converges to?




I started by expanding the sum:



$sum_n=1^inftybigg(frac1a_n^2-frac1a_n+1^2bigg)=bigg(frac1a_1^2-frac1a_2^2bigg)+bigg(frac1a_2^2-frac1a_3^2bigg)+bigg(frac1a_3^2-frac1a_4^2bigg)+ldots$



$=frac1a_1^2+bigg(-frac1a_2^2+frac1a_2^2bigg)+bigg(-frac1a_3^2+frac1a_3^2bigg)+bigg(-frac1a_4^2+frac1a_4^2bigg)+ldots$



$=frac1a_1^2$



$=1$




Now, the strange part is that the answer to this question is known to me as $0.75$. Is there something wrong with what I did? How does one arrive at $0.75$ as a solution?



PS: I am aware that infinite sums can behave in strange ways, and sometimes more than one solution may follow logically. Is this one such case?










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    2












    $begingroup$


    Let $a_1=1 $ and $ a_n=2-frac 1n$ for $ngeq 2$. Then $$sum_n=1^inftybigg(frac1a_n^2-frac1a_n+1^2bigg)$$
    converges to?




    I started by expanding the sum:



    $sum_n=1^inftybigg(frac1a_n^2-frac1a_n+1^2bigg)=bigg(frac1a_1^2-frac1a_2^2bigg)+bigg(frac1a_2^2-frac1a_3^2bigg)+bigg(frac1a_3^2-frac1a_4^2bigg)+ldots$



    $=frac1a_1^2+bigg(-frac1a_2^2+frac1a_2^2bigg)+bigg(-frac1a_3^2+frac1a_3^2bigg)+bigg(-frac1a_4^2+frac1a_4^2bigg)+ldots$



    $=frac1a_1^2$



    $=1$




    Now, the strange part is that the answer to this question is known to me as $0.75$. Is there something wrong with what I did? How does one arrive at $0.75$ as a solution?



    PS: I am aware that infinite sums can behave in strange ways, and sometimes more than one solution may follow logically. Is this one such case?










    share|cite|improve this question











    $endgroup$














      2












      2








      2





      $begingroup$


      Let $a_1=1 $ and $ a_n=2-frac 1n$ for $ngeq 2$. Then $$sum_n=1^inftybigg(frac1a_n^2-frac1a_n+1^2bigg)$$
      converges to?




      I started by expanding the sum:



      $sum_n=1^inftybigg(frac1a_n^2-frac1a_n+1^2bigg)=bigg(frac1a_1^2-frac1a_2^2bigg)+bigg(frac1a_2^2-frac1a_3^2bigg)+bigg(frac1a_3^2-frac1a_4^2bigg)+ldots$



      $=frac1a_1^2+bigg(-frac1a_2^2+frac1a_2^2bigg)+bigg(-frac1a_3^2+frac1a_3^2bigg)+bigg(-frac1a_4^2+frac1a_4^2bigg)+ldots$



      $=frac1a_1^2$



      $=1$




      Now, the strange part is that the answer to this question is known to me as $0.75$. Is there something wrong with what I did? How does one arrive at $0.75$ as a solution?



      PS: I am aware that infinite sums can behave in strange ways, and sometimes more than one solution may follow logically. Is this one such case?










      share|cite|improve this question











      $endgroup$




      Let $a_1=1 $ and $ a_n=2-frac 1n$ for $ngeq 2$. Then $$sum_n=1^inftybigg(frac1a_n^2-frac1a_n+1^2bigg)$$
      converges to?




      I started by expanding the sum:



      $sum_n=1^inftybigg(frac1a_n^2-frac1a_n+1^2bigg)=bigg(frac1a_1^2-frac1a_2^2bigg)+bigg(frac1a_2^2-frac1a_3^2bigg)+bigg(frac1a_3^2-frac1a_4^2bigg)+ldots$



      $=frac1a_1^2+bigg(-frac1a_2^2+frac1a_2^2bigg)+bigg(-frac1a_3^2+frac1a_3^2bigg)+bigg(-frac1a_4^2+frac1a_4^2bigg)+ldots$



      $=frac1a_1^2$



      $=1$




      Now, the strange part is that the answer to this question is known to me as $0.75$. Is there something wrong with what I did? How does one arrive at $0.75$ as a solution?



      PS: I am aware that infinite sums can behave in strange ways, and sometimes more than one solution may follow logically. Is this one such case?







      sequences-and-series convergence






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      edited Feb 4 at 9:46









      Asaf Karagila

      305k33435766




      305k33435766










      asked Feb 4 at 2:48









      s0ulr3aper07s0ulr3aper07

      476111




      476111




















          3 Answers
          3






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          7












          $begingroup$

          Let $$S_N=sum_n=1^Nleft(frac1a_n^2-frac1a_n+1^2right)=frac1a_1^2-frac1a_N+1^2.$$
          Since $a_1=1$ and $a_nto 2$, we have
          $$lim_NtoinftyS_N=1-frac12^2=frac34.$$






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$




















            4












            $begingroup$


            Infinite sums can behave in strange ways




            True!




            Sometimes more than one solution may follow logically




            Definitely not true. There is one answer in every case (as long as you allow "the sum diverges" as an answer). Sure, there are subtle errors which may make it appear that a sum has more than one value, but that's exactly what they are - errors.



            To avoid these errors, don't manipulate infinite sums unless you have a conclusive proof that the manipulation is justified. If you don't, go back to the definition. In your case this says
            $$eqalignsum_n=1^inftybigg(frac1a_n^2-frac1a_n+1^2bigg)
            &=lim_Ntoinftysum_n=1^Nbigg(frac1a_n^2-frac1a_n+1^2bigg)cr
            &=lim_Ntoinftybiggl(frac1a_1^2-frac1a_N+1^2biggr) .cr$$

            See if you can finish the job from here.






            share|cite|improve this answer









            $endgroup$












            • $begingroup$
              I stated that more than one solution may follow logically because of Grandi's series where 0, 1, and half are possible answers. Although, I suppose you could simply call the series divergent and completely avoid the controversy altogether.
              $endgroup$
              – s0ulr3aper07
              Feb 4 at 3:23






            • 2




              $begingroup$
              Using standard definitions, Grandi's series is divergent and that's that. Using Cesàro summation you get $frac12$, but this does not mean the series actually converges to $frac12$. As far as I am aware, there has been absolutely no serious controversy on this question for well over a century. Well stated in Wikipedia: "the above manipulations [giving various 'sums'] do not consider what the sum of a series actually means".
              $endgroup$
              – David
              Feb 4 at 3:53



















            3












            $begingroup$

            $a_n$ does not approach zero,
            so the end term can not
            be disregarded.



            In other words,
            the sum up to $n$ is
            $frac1a_1^2
            -frac1a_n^2
            to 1-frac14
            =frac34
            $
            .






            share|cite|improve this answer









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              3 Answers
              3






              active

              oldest

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              3 Answers
              3






              active

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              active

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              active

              oldest

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              7












              $begingroup$

              Let $$S_N=sum_n=1^Nleft(frac1a_n^2-frac1a_n+1^2right)=frac1a_1^2-frac1a_N+1^2.$$
              Since $a_1=1$ and $a_nto 2$, we have
              $$lim_NtoinftyS_N=1-frac12^2=frac34.$$






              share|cite|improve this answer









              $endgroup$

















                7












                $begingroup$

                Let $$S_N=sum_n=1^Nleft(frac1a_n^2-frac1a_n+1^2right)=frac1a_1^2-frac1a_N+1^2.$$
                Since $a_1=1$ and $a_nto 2$, we have
                $$lim_NtoinftyS_N=1-frac12^2=frac34.$$






                share|cite|improve this answer









                $endgroup$















                  7












                  7








                  7





                  $begingroup$

                  Let $$S_N=sum_n=1^Nleft(frac1a_n^2-frac1a_n+1^2right)=frac1a_1^2-frac1a_N+1^2.$$
                  Since $a_1=1$ and $a_nto 2$, we have
                  $$lim_NtoinftyS_N=1-frac12^2=frac34.$$






                  share|cite|improve this answer









                  $endgroup$



                  Let $$S_N=sum_n=1^Nleft(frac1a_n^2-frac1a_n+1^2right)=frac1a_1^2-frac1a_N+1^2.$$
                  Since $a_1=1$ and $a_nto 2$, we have
                  $$lim_NtoinftyS_N=1-frac12^2=frac34.$$







                  share|cite|improve this answer












                  share|cite|improve this answer



                  share|cite|improve this answer










                  answered Feb 4 at 2:54









                  Eclipse SunEclipse Sun

                  7,6051437




                  7,6051437





















                      4












                      $begingroup$


                      Infinite sums can behave in strange ways




                      True!




                      Sometimes more than one solution may follow logically




                      Definitely not true. There is one answer in every case (as long as you allow "the sum diverges" as an answer). Sure, there are subtle errors which may make it appear that a sum has more than one value, but that's exactly what they are - errors.



                      To avoid these errors, don't manipulate infinite sums unless you have a conclusive proof that the manipulation is justified. If you don't, go back to the definition. In your case this says
                      $$eqalignsum_n=1^inftybigg(frac1a_n^2-frac1a_n+1^2bigg)
                      &=lim_Ntoinftysum_n=1^Nbigg(frac1a_n^2-frac1a_n+1^2bigg)cr
                      &=lim_Ntoinftybiggl(frac1a_1^2-frac1a_N+1^2biggr) .cr$$

                      See if you can finish the job from here.






                      share|cite|improve this answer









                      $endgroup$












                      • $begingroup$
                        I stated that more than one solution may follow logically because of Grandi's series where 0, 1, and half are possible answers. Although, I suppose you could simply call the series divergent and completely avoid the controversy altogether.
                        $endgroup$
                        – s0ulr3aper07
                        Feb 4 at 3:23






                      • 2




                        $begingroup$
                        Using standard definitions, Grandi's series is divergent and that's that. Using Cesàro summation you get $frac12$, but this does not mean the series actually converges to $frac12$. As far as I am aware, there has been absolutely no serious controversy on this question for well over a century. Well stated in Wikipedia: "the above manipulations [giving various 'sums'] do not consider what the sum of a series actually means".
                        $endgroup$
                        – David
                        Feb 4 at 3:53
















                      4












                      $begingroup$


                      Infinite sums can behave in strange ways




                      True!




                      Sometimes more than one solution may follow logically




                      Definitely not true. There is one answer in every case (as long as you allow "the sum diverges" as an answer). Sure, there are subtle errors which may make it appear that a sum has more than one value, but that's exactly what they are - errors.



                      To avoid these errors, don't manipulate infinite sums unless you have a conclusive proof that the manipulation is justified. If you don't, go back to the definition. In your case this says
                      $$eqalignsum_n=1^inftybigg(frac1a_n^2-frac1a_n+1^2bigg)
                      &=lim_Ntoinftysum_n=1^Nbigg(frac1a_n^2-frac1a_n+1^2bigg)cr
                      &=lim_Ntoinftybiggl(frac1a_1^2-frac1a_N+1^2biggr) .cr$$

                      See if you can finish the job from here.






                      share|cite|improve this answer









                      $endgroup$












                      • $begingroup$
                        I stated that more than one solution may follow logically because of Grandi's series where 0, 1, and half are possible answers. Although, I suppose you could simply call the series divergent and completely avoid the controversy altogether.
                        $endgroup$
                        – s0ulr3aper07
                        Feb 4 at 3:23






                      • 2




                        $begingroup$
                        Using standard definitions, Grandi's series is divergent and that's that. Using Cesàro summation you get $frac12$, but this does not mean the series actually converges to $frac12$. As far as I am aware, there has been absolutely no serious controversy on this question for well over a century. Well stated in Wikipedia: "the above manipulations [giving various 'sums'] do not consider what the sum of a series actually means".
                        $endgroup$
                        – David
                        Feb 4 at 3:53














                      4












                      4








                      4





                      $begingroup$


                      Infinite sums can behave in strange ways




                      True!




                      Sometimes more than one solution may follow logically




                      Definitely not true. There is one answer in every case (as long as you allow "the sum diverges" as an answer). Sure, there are subtle errors which may make it appear that a sum has more than one value, but that's exactly what they are - errors.



                      To avoid these errors, don't manipulate infinite sums unless you have a conclusive proof that the manipulation is justified. If you don't, go back to the definition. In your case this says
                      $$eqalignsum_n=1^inftybigg(frac1a_n^2-frac1a_n+1^2bigg)
                      &=lim_Ntoinftysum_n=1^Nbigg(frac1a_n^2-frac1a_n+1^2bigg)cr
                      &=lim_Ntoinftybiggl(frac1a_1^2-frac1a_N+1^2biggr) .cr$$

                      See if you can finish the job from here.






                      share|cite|improve this answer









                      $endgroup$




                      Infinite sums can behave in strange ways




                      True!




                      Sometimes more than one solution may follow logically




                      Definitely not true. There is one answer in every case (as long as you allow "the sum diverges" as an answer). Sure, there are subtle errors which may make it appear that a sum has more than one value, but that's exactly what they are - errors.



                      To avoid these errors, don't manipulate infinite sums unless you have a conclusive proof that the manipulation is justified. If you don't, go back to the definition. In your case this says
                      $$eqalignsum_n=1^inftybigg(frac1a_n^2-frac1a_n+1^2bigg)
                      &=lim_Ntoinftysum_n=1^Nbigg(frac1a_n^2-frac1a_n+1^2bigg)cr
                      &=lim_Ntoinftybiggl(frac1a_1^2-frac1a_N+1^2biggr) .cr$$

                      See if you can finish the job from here.







                      share|cite|improve this answer












                      share|cite|improve this answer



                      share|cite|improve this answer










                      answered Feb 4 at 2:57









                      DavidDavid

                      69.2k667130




                      69.2k667130











                      • $begingroup$
                        I stated that more than one solution may follow logically because of Grandi's series where 0, 1, and half are possible answers. Although, I suppose you could simply call the series divergent and completely avoid the controversy altogether.
                        $endgroup$
                        – s0ulr3aper07
                        Feb 4 at 3:23






                      • 2




                        $begingroup$
                        Using standard definitions, Grandi's series is divergent and that's that. Using Cesàro summation you get $frac12$, but this does not mean the series actually converges to $frac12$. As far as I am aware, there has been absolutely no serious controversy on this question for well over a century. Well stated in Wikipedia: "the above manipulations [giving various 'sums'] do not consider what the sum of a series actually means".
                        $endgroup$
                        – David
                        Feb 4 at 3:53

















                      • $begingroup$
                        I stated that more than one solution may follow logically because of Grandi's series where 0, 1, and half are possible answers. Although, I suppose you could simply call the series divergent and completely avoid the controversy altogether.
                        $endgroup$
                        – s0ulr3aper07
                        Feb 4 at 3:23






                      • 2




                        $begingroup$
                        Using standard definitions, Grandi's series is divergent and that's that. Using Cesàro summation you get $frac12$, but this does not mean the series actually converges to $frac12$. As far as I am aware, there has been absolutely no serious controversy on this question for well over a century. Well stated in Wikipedia: "the above manipulations [giving various 'sums'] do not consider what the sum of a series actually means".
                        $endgroup$
                        – David
                        Feb 4 at 3:53
















                      $begingroup$
                      I stated that more than one solution may follow logically because of Grandi's series where 0, 1, and half are possible answers. Although, I suppose you could simply call the series divergent and completely avoid the controversy altogether.
                      $endgroup$
                      – s0ulr3aper07
                      Feb 4 at 3:23




                      $begingroup$
                      I stated that more than one solution may follow logically because of Grandi's series where 0, 1, and half are possible answers. Although, I suppose you could simply call the series divergent and completely avoid the controversy altogether.
                      $endgroup$
                      – s0ulr3aper07
                      Feb 4 at 3:23




                      2




                      2




                      $begingroup$
                      Using standard definitions, Grandi's series is divergent and that's that. Using Cesàro summation you get $frac12$, but this does not mean the series actually converges to $frac12$. As far as I am aware, there has been absolutely no serious controversy on this question for well over a century. Well stated in Wikipedia: "the above manipulations [giving various 'sums'] do not consider what the sum of a series actually means".
                      $endgroup$
                      – David
                      Feb 4 at 3:53





                      $begingroup$
                      Using standard definitions, Grandi's series is divergent and that's that. Using Cesàro summation you get $frac12$, but this does not mean the series actually converges to $frac12$. As far as I am aware, there has been absolutely no serious controversy on this question for well over a century. Well stated in Wikipedia: "the above manipulations [giving various 'sums'] do not consider what the sum of a series actually means".
                      $endgroup$
                      – David
                      Feb 4 at 3:53












                      3












                      $begingroup$

                      $a_n$ does not approach zero,
                      so the end term can not
                      be disregarded.



                      In other words,
                      the sum up to $n$ is
                      $frac1a_1^2
                      -frac1a_n^2
                      to 1-frac14
                      =frac34
                      $
                      .






                      share|cite|improve this answer









                      $endgroup$

















                        3












                        $begingroup$

                        $a_n$ does not approach zero,
                        so the end term can not
                        be disregarded.



                        In other words,
                        the sum up to $n$ is
                        $frac1a_1^2
                        -frac1a_n^2
                        to 1-frac14
                        =frac34
                        $
                        .






                        share|cite|improve this answer









                        $endgroup$















                          3












                          3








                          3





                          $begingroup$

                          $a_n$ does not approach zero,
                          so the end term can not
                          be disregarded.



                          In other words,
                          the sum up to $n$ is
                          $frac1a_1^2
                          -frac1a_n^2
                          to 1-frac14
                          =frac34
                          $
                          .






                          share|cite|improve this answer









                          $endgroup$



                          $a_n$ does not approach zero,
                          so the end term can not
                          be disregarded.



                          In other words,
                          the sum up to $n$ is
                          $frac1a_1^2
                          -frac1a_n^2
                          to 1-frac14
                          =frac34
                          $
                          .







                          share|cite|improve this answer












                          share|cite|improve this answer



                          share|cite|improve this answer










                          answered Feb 4 at 2:57









                          marty cohenmarty cohen

                          74k549128




                          74k549128



























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