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Question 189: A Nonconstant Absolute Ratio Is Controlled below One by a Declared Rational Limit

On this page
  1. Original question and givens
  2. Definition and scope
  3. Step-by-step derivation
  4. Reverse checks
  5. Result
  6. This question review and source binding

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P250-0189 · q-20261015-advance-20261117-r02-ratio-test-series-0014

Original question and givens

Use exact scales A=14,B=14, rational ratio r=4/10. Set A=14>0,r=4/10∈(0,1), shift=14, alternating=true. The sequence is a_n=A*(r)^n/(n+shift), multiplied by (−1)^n exactly when alternating is true. Give (scale, ratio, shift, alternating, term_description, absolute_ratio_description, limit_description, dominating_ratio, ratio_bracket, domination_statement, conclusion).

  • G001 — Use exact scales A=14,B=14, rational ratio r=4/10. Set A=14>0,r=4/10∈(0,1), shift=14, alternating=true. The sequence is a_n=A*(r)^n/(n+shift), multiplied by (−1)^n exactly when alternating is true. Give (scale, ratio, shift, alternating, term_description, absolute_ratio_description, limit_description, dominating_ratio, ratio_bracket, domination_statement, conclusion).

Definition and scope

Require A>0, 0<r<1, s≥1 and n≥0. The explicit error bound, induction and geometric bound apply to the entire tail.

Step-by-step derivation

S001 · implies

Before

a_n=14*(-1)^n*(2/5)^n/(n+14)

After

|a_n|=14·(2/5)^n/(n+14)>0 for every integer n≥0

Conditions: n≥0; A=14>0; 0<r=2/5<1; s=14≥1

The whole rational base is raised to n; an alternating sign, if present, has absolute value 1.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: absolute_value · Uses: G001

S002 · implies

Before

|a_n|=14·(2/5)^n/(n+14)

After

|a_(n+1)|=14·(2/5)^(n+1)/(n+15)

Conditions: none

Replace every occurrence of n by n+1, including the shifted denominator.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: index_shift · Uses: G001, S001

S003 · implies

Before

|a_(n+1)| / |a_n|

After

abs_ratio=2/5*(n+14)/(n+15)

Conditions: none

Multiply by the reciprocal and cancel A and r^n; their nonzero status was established above.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: positive_factor_cancellation · Uses: G001, S002

S004 · implies

Before

abs_ratio=2/5*(n+14)/(n+15)

After

R_n=2/5−(2/5)/(n+15); |R_n−r|=(2/5)/(n+15)

Conditions: none

Write the numerator as the denominator minus 1 to obtain the explicit positive error.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: rational_error_identity · Uses: G001, S003

S005 · implies

Before

epsilon>0; N=floor(r/epsilon)+1

After

n≥N ⇒ n+15>r/epsilon ⇒ |R_n−r|<epsilon

Conditions: epsilon>0

The Archimedean property supplies this integer N. Taking reciprocals of positive numbers reverses the inequality and controls the entire tail, not a finite sample.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: archimedean_tail · Uses: G001, S004

S006 · calculation

Before

q−r := sub(7/10, 2/5)

After

q−r = 3/10

Conditions: none

Set q=(r+1)/2 and check that q is strictly greater than r.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: exact_rational_arithmetic · Uses: G001, S005

S007 · calculation

Before

1−q := sub(1, 7/10)

After

1−q = 3/10

Conditions: none

Then check that q is strictly below 1.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: exact_rational_arithmetic · Uses: G001, S006

S008 · calculation

Before

|a_0| := div(14, 14)

After

|a_0| = 1

Conditions: none

At n=0 the positive base to the zeroth power is 1; compute the initial domination constant.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: exact_rational_arithmetic · Uses: G001, S007

S009 · implies

Before

0<R_n<r=2/5<q=7/10<1

After

|a_n|≤(1)·(7/10)^n for every n≥0

Conditions: none

Equality holds at n=0. If the bound holds at n, multiplying by R_n<q proves it at n+1. Induction gives the bound for every n.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: inductive_geometric_domination · Uses: G001, S008

S010 · implies

Before

sum from k=0 to M of |a_k| ≤ (1)·(1−(7/10)^(M+1))/(1−(7/10))

After

all absolute partial sums ≤ 10/3

Conditions: none

Since 0<q<1 the finite geometric sum has this bound. Absolute partial sums are increasing and bounded, so completeness of the reals gives convergence.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: finite_geometric_sum · Uses: G001, S009

S011 · implies

Before

M>N≥0

After

sum from k=N+1 to M of |a_k| ≤ (1)·(7/10)^(N+1)/(1−(7/10)) → 0

Conditions: none

The same geometric bound controls differences of tail partial sums, explaining absolute convergence of the entire series.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: tail_bound · Uses: G001, S010

Reverse checks

  • S011 · premise_and_result_audit — The conclusion holds with or without alternating signs; no unrequested exact series sum is claimed.
  • S010 · premise_and_result_audit — Monotone bounded convergence and the geometric-sum identity are explicit prerequisites, not a claim of a Lean proof.
  • S009 · premise_and_result_audit — This is an explicit induction argument, not an inference from finitely many checked ratios.
  • S008 · premise_and_result_audit — Recompute |a_0| with exact rational arithmetic, not rounded decimals.
  • S007 · premise_and_result_audit — Recompute 1−q with exact rational arithmetic, not rounded decimals.
  • S006 · premise_and_result_audit — Recompute q−r with exact rational arithmetic, not rounded decimals.
  • S005 · premise_and_result_audit — N depends only on epsilon and the fixed parameters, not on a later n.
  • S004 · premise_and_result_audit — The error tends to zero while the denominator grows.
  • S003 · premise_and_result_audit — Keep the absolute ratio, not a potentially negative signed ratio.
  • S002 · premise_and_result_audit — Do not shift the exponent while leaving the denominator unchanged.
  • S001 · premise_and_result_audit — Positive A, r and n+s ensure every following ratio denominator is nonzero.

Result

(14, 2/5, 14, Yes, a_n=14*(-1)^n*(2/5)^n/(n+14), abs_ratio=2/5*(n+14)/(n+15), limit=2/5, 7/10, Yes, eventual_geometric_domination, absolutely_convergent)

The series converges absolutely, with an explicit geometric tail bound.

This question review and source binding

Review date: 2026-10-24

Original questions, answers, step expressions, numeric ASTs and historical records are retained. Source candidate labels remain historical and are not overwritten as formal proof.

Source hashes and review receipts
  • input commit: 0f7be61e2c22317a4075561dc822c87d881a50db
  • original question SHA-256: 3c288fb94de33215f9d2a56c6c639930356c2abfde4191f82c497eb46272e7bc
  • candidate record SHA-256: a0626c335ef9e58c6e5db16b4de9ff9c18f6bd3155e619f70e034f0e2769a168
  • semantic review receipt SHA-256: 4727d1bd957a9b7f6cadb7972ddb5ab80a31f5259dc5394c1dff2b71944ed36b
  • question-first witness SHA-256: 51e18649133238ac992229f6e16542a5f3af53ca73b2262ab0524508ea937dee
  • Lean: NOT_RUN · human review: NOT_PERFORMED
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