# Big O puzzler

• March 19th 2009, 11:08 AM
othnin
Big O puzzler
I have the following problem and I am stuck on it. Any ideas on how to work it?

Let k be a positive integer. Show that 1^k + 2^k + ... + n^k is O( n^(k+1) )
• March 20th 2009, 07:36 AM
Opalg
Quote:

Originally Posted by othnin
I have the following problem and I am stuck on it. Any ideas on how to work it?

Let k be a positive integer. Show that 1^k + 2^k + ... + n^k is O( n^(k+1) )

You want to show that $\frac{\sum_{r=1}^nr^k}{n^{k+1}}$ is bounded as $n\to\infty$. One way is to write that expression as $\frac1n\sum_{r=1}^n\Bigl(\frac rn\Bigr)^k$ and think of it as a Riemann sum approximating $\int_0^1\!\!x^k = \frac1{k+1}$.
• March 20th 2009, 01:33 PM
othnin
Interesting,

I was trying to do a proof by Induction. Do you know if it's possible to it that way?
• March 21st 2009, 04:52 AM
Laurent
Quote:

Originally Posted by othnin
I have the following problem and I am stuck on it. Any ideas on how to work it?

Let k be a positive integer. Show that 1^k + 2^k + ... + n^k is O( n^(k+1) )

Another way is the following easy one: since $i^k\leq n^k$ for $i=1,\ldots,n$, we have

$1^k+2^k+\cdots+n^k\leq n^k+n^k+\cdots+n^k= n\cdot n^k = n^{k+1}$.
• March 21st 2009, 03:22 PM
othnin
Thanks guys. I think I can get a proof out of it now.