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Two interlaced by inequalities sequences: arithmetic and geometric

数论 Math StackExchange 2 票 1 回答 60 浏览 提问者: SirMrprofmol 2026-08-10 14:36
number-theory

问题内容

We are to prove that if $n$ is fixed natural number then exists arithmetic $a_n$ and geometric $b_n$ sequences of integers that: $$b_1 < a_1 < b_2 < a_2 < \ldots < b_n < a_n.$$

Sketch

It’s equivalent to construct such sequences of fractions – we can always multiply by such large $N$ as is needed.

Let’s see an example: $n=3$ and $$1< 3 <4 < 11 < 16 < 19,$$ but it can’t be expanded for $n=4$: next terms are $64$, $27\ldots$ And we put $$\begin{cases} a_k = 1+ (k+1)c \\ b_k =(1+c)^{k+1} \end{cases},$$ where $c>0$ is small enough.

Then $a_{k-1} < b_k$ by means of Bernoulli inequality.

I’m keen on seeing another techniques of prove this theorem.

回答 (1)

French Man 2 票 2026-08-10 17:36 原文

Here's a construction: $$a_k = n^{2n} + (k+1)n^{2n-2}$$$$b_k = {n^{2n-2k}(n^2+1)^k}$$ Clearly $a_k$ is arithmetic and $b_k$ is geometric by calculating $b_{k+1}/b_k$

Then, $$\frac{b_k}{n^{2n}} = \left(1 + \frac{1}{n^2}\right)^k$$$$ \frac{a_k}{n^{2n}} = 1 + \frac{k+1}{n^2}$$ Bernoulli immediately gives $a_k < b_{k+1}$ and $b_k<a_k$ follows from:$$\begin{aligned} \left(1 + \frac{1}{n^2}\right)^k &= 1 + \frac{k}{n^2} + \sum_{j=2}^{k} \binom{k}{j} \frac{1}{n^{2j}} \\ &\le 1 + \frac{k}{n^2} + \frac{1}{n^2} \sum_{j=2}^{\infty} \frac{1}{j!} \\ &< 1 + \frac{k+1}{n^2} \end{aligned}$$