# Prove a sequence is nonincreasing by induction

• Nov 13th 2012, 10:59 AM
JSB1917
Prove a sequence is nonincreasing by induction
I'm stuck on this....

Problem:
Show that (tn) is a nonincreasing sequence. That is, use induction to prove that $t_{n} \geq t_{n+1}$ where $t_{n+1}=\left(1-\frac{1}{(n+1)^2}\right)t_{n}.$

I have the base case so, $1 \geq \frac{3}{4}$. Then assume $t_{k} \geq t_{k+1}$.
But I'm stuck at this part. I don't know how to arrive at $t_{k+1} \geq t_{k+2}$. I tried messing with the inequalities and stuff, but I'm still not sure.

Edit: The only thing I could really come up with was .....

$(1-\frac{1}{(k+1)^2}) \geq (1-\frac{1}{(k+1)^2})(1-\frac{1}{(k+2)^2}$ then use the fact $t_{k+1}=1-\frac{1}{(k+1)^2}$ and so $\frac{t_{k+1}}{t_{k}}=1-\frac{1}{(n+1)^2}.$
• Nov 13th 2012, 11:32 AM
Plato
Re: Prove a sequence is nonincreasing by induction
Quote:

Originally Posted by JSB1917
Problem:
Show that (tn) is a nonincreasing sequence. That is, use induction to prove that $t_{n} \geq t_{n+1}$ where $t_{n+1}=1-\frac{1}{(n+1)^2}.$

You better double check the problem!
$t_{n+1}=1-\frac{1}{(n+1)^2}$ is an increasing sequence.
• Nov 13th 2012, 11:52 AM
JSB1917
Re: Prove a sequence is nonincreasing by induction
Yeah, sorry, it's actually $t_{n+1}=\left(1-\frac{1}{(n+1)^2}\right)t_{n}$ I forgot the $t_{n}$ at the end. I put that in the original post now.
• Nov 13th 2012, 12:34 PM
Plato
Re: Prove a sequence is nonincreasing by induction
Quote:

Originally Posted by JSB1917
Yeah, sorry, it's actually $t_{n+1}=\left(1-\frac{1}{(n+1)^2}\right)t_{n}$ I forgot the $t_{n}$ at the end. I put that in the original post now.

Suppose you know that $t_k\ge t_{k+1}$.
Then multiply: $t_k\left( {1 - \frac{1}{{(k + 1)^2 }}} \right)\ge t_{k+1}\left( {1 - \frac{1}{{(k + 1)^2 }}} \right)$
But $\left( {1 - \frac{1}{{(k + 1)^2 }}} \right) \ge \left( {1 - \frac{1}{{(k + 2)^2 }}} \right)$
So $t_{k+1}\ge t_{k+2}$
• Nov 13th 2012, 12:51 PM
JSB1917
Re: Prove a sequence is nonincreasing by induction
Quote:

Originally Posted by Plato
Suppose you know that $t_k\ge t_{k+1}$.
Then multiply: $t_k\left( {1 - \frac{1}{{(k + 1)^2 }}} \right)\ge t_{k+1}\left( {1 - \frac{1}{{(k + 1)^2 }}} \right)$
But $\left( {1 - \frac{1}{{(k + 1)^2 }}} \right) \ge \left( {1 - \frac{1}{{(k + 2)^2 }}} \right)$
So $t_{k+1}\ge t_{k+2}$

Yeah, but I don't think it's correct that $\left( {1 - \frac{1}{{(k + 1)^2 }}} \right) \ge \left( {1 - \frac{1}{{(k + 2)^2 }}} \right)$

Because....
$(k+1)^2 \leq (k+2)^2$, then
$-\frac{1}{(k+2)^2} \geq -\frac{1}{(k+1)^2}$ and so
$1-\frac{1}{(k+2)^2} \geq 1-\frac{1}{(k+1)^2}$
• Nov 13th 2012, 01:02 PM
Plato
Re: Prove a sequence is nonincreasing by induction
Quote:

Originally Posted by JSB1917
Yeah, but I don't think it's correct that $\left( {1 - \frac{1}{{(k + 1)^2 }}} \right) \ge \left( {1 - \frac{1}{{(k + 2)^2 }}} \right)$
Because....
$(k+1)^2 \leq (k+2)^2$, then
$-\frac{1}{(k+2)^2} \geq -\frac{1}{(k+1)^2}$ and so
$1-\frac{1}{(k+2)^2} \geq 1-\frac{1}{(k+1)^2}$

You are correct about that. Sorry, I got lost in my own notation.
I still have your OP in my head. It is odd how the brains holds on to things.
• Nov 13th 2012, 01:18 PM
JSB1917
Re: Prove a sequence is nonincreasing by induction
Quote:

Originally Posted by Plato
You are correct about that. Sorry, I got lost in my own notation.
I know that we need to work backwards from $t_{k+2}\le t_{k+1}$.

I think using $\left(1-\frac{1}{(k+2)^2}\right) \geq \left(1-\frac{1}{(k+1)^2}\right)$ that then

$\left(1-\frac{1}{(k+2)^2}\right)t_{k} \geq \left(1-\frac{1}{(k+2)^2}\right)t_{k+1}$ and so,

$\left(1-\frac{1}{(k+2)^2}\right)t_{k} \geq \left(1-\frac{1}{(k+1)^2}\right)t_{k} \geq \left(1-\frac{1}{(k+2)^2}\right)t_{k+1}$ and so

$t_{k+1} \geq t_{k+2}$

That seems right to me. Thoughts?
• Nov 13th 2012, 03:40 PM
Plato
Re: Prove a sequence is nonincreasing by induction
Quote:

Originally Posted by JSB1917
$\left(1-\frac{1}{(k+2)^2}\right)t_{k} \geq \left(1-\frac{1}{(k+1)^2}\right)t_{k} \geq \left(1-\frac{1}{(k+2)^2}\right)t_{k+1}$ and so Thoughts?

I do not follow that. As I said above, the brain just get stuck on an idea and will not let it go.

Think about this. We know $t_{k + 1} = \left( {1 - \frac{1}{{(k + 1)^2 }}} \right)t_k$.

Consider $t_{k + 1} - t_k = \left( {1 - \frac{1}{{(k + 1)^2 }}} \right)t_k - t_k = \left( { - \frac{{t_k }}{{(k + 1)^2 }}} \right) < 0$.

What does that tell us?
• Nov 13th 2012, 04:10 PM
JSB1917
Re: Prove a sequence is nonincreasing by induction
Quote:

Originally Posted by Plato
I do not follow that. As I said above, the brain just get stuck on an idea and will not let it go.

Think about this. We know $t_{k + 1} = \left( {1 - \frac{1}{{(k + 1)^2 }}} \right)t_k$.

Consider $t_{k + 1} - t_k = \left( {1 - \frac{1}{{(k + 1)^2 }}} \right)t_k - t_k = \left( { - \frac{{t_k }}{{(k + 1)^2 }}} \right) < 0$.

What does that tell us?

Aside from it's negative, not sure.
• Nov 13th 2012, 04:24 PM
Plato
Re: Prove a sequence is nonincreasing by induction
Quote:

Originally Posted by JSB1917
Aside from it's negative, not sure.

Surely $t_{k+1}-t_k<0$ says $t_{k+1}
• Nov 13th 2012, 04:28 PM
JSB1917
Re: Prove a sequence is nonincreasing by induction
Quote:

Originally Posted by Plato
Surely $t_{k+1}-t_k<0$ says $t_{k+1}

yeah...I know that, but where is this leading? I'm just not seeing it.
• Nov 13th 2012, 09:43 PM
hollywood
Re: Prove a sequence is nonincreasing by induction
If we have:

$t_{k + 1} = \left( {1 - \frac{1}{{(k + 1)^2 }}} \right)t_k$

then since $1 - \frac{1}{{(k + 1)^2 }}<1$, $t_{k + 1} < t_k$ and therefore the sequence is decreasing.

- Hollywood