2 problems found
Solution:
For \(n=1\), \(2\), \(3\), \(\ldots\,\), let \[ I_n = \int_0^1 {t^{n-1} \over \l t+1 \r^n} \, \mathrm{d} t \, . \] By considering the greatest value taken by \(\displaystyle {t \over t+1}\) for \(0 \le t \le 1\) show that \(I_{n+1} < {1 \over 2} I_{n}\,\). Show also that \(\; \displaystyle I_{n+1}= - \frac 1{\; n\, 2^n} + I_{n}\,\). Deduce that \(\; \displaystyle I_n < \frac1 {\; n \, 2^{n-1}}\,\). Prove that \[ \ln 2 = \sum_{r=1}^n {1 \over \; r\, 2^r} + I_{n+1} \] and hence show that \({2 \over 3} < \ln 2 < {17 \over 24}\,\).
Solution: \begin{align*} && \frac{t}{t+1} &= 1 - \frac{1}{t+1} \geq \frac12 \\ \Rightarrow && I_{n+1} &= \int_0^1 \frac{t^{n}}{(t+1)^{n+1}} \d t \\ &&&= \int_0^1\frac{t}{t+1} \frac{t^{n-1}}{(t+1)^{n}} \d t \\ &&&< \int_0^1\frac12\frac{t^{n-1}}{(t+1)^{n}} \d t \\ &&&= \frac12 I_n \\ \\ && I_{n+1} &= \int_0^1 \frac{t^{n}}{(t+1)^{n+1}} \d t \\ &&&= \left [ t^n \frac{(1+t)^{-n}}{-n} \right]_0^1 +\frac1n \int_0^1 n t^{n-1}(1+t)^{-n} \d t \\ &&&= -\frac{1}{n2^n} + I_n \\ \Rightarrow && \frac12 I_n &> -\frac1{n2^n} + I_n \\ \Rightarrow && \frac{1}{n2^{n-1}} &> I_n \end{align*} \begin{align*} && \ln 2 &= \int_0^1 \frac{1}{1+t} \d t \\ &&&= I_1 \\ &&&= \frac1{2} + I_2 \\ &&&= \frac1{2} + \frac{1}{2 \cdot 2^2} + I_3 \\ &&&= \sum_{r=1}^n \frac{1}{r2^r} + I_{n+1} \\ \\ && \ln 2 &= \frac12 + \frac18 + \frac1{24} + I_4 \\ \Rightarrow && \ln 2 &> \frac12 + \frac18 + \frac1{24} = \frac{12+3+1}{24} = \frac{16}{24} = \frac23 \\ \Rightarrow && \ln 2 &= \frac12 + \frac18 + I_3 \\ &&&< \frac12 + \frac18 +\frac{1}{3 \cdot 4} \\ &&&< \frac{12}{24} + \frac{3}{24} + \frac{2}{24} = \frac{17}{24} \end{align*}