-2

$\lim\limits_{n \to \infty }\sum_{i=1}^{n}{1 \over n+i-1} = \int_{1}^{2}{1 \over x}dx$

For the above equations, could one can prove it without using any derivatives?

snapper
  • 589

1 Answers1

5

We can write this as a Riemann Sum by dividing by $n$ and switch indices to get $$\frac{1}{n}\sum_{i=1}^n \frac{1}{1+\frac{i-1}{n}}=\frac{1}{n}\sum_{i=2}^n \frac{1}{1+\frac{i}{n}}$$ Convert this to a Riemann Integral and use properties of integrals to get your form

  • any special reason you convert i=1 to i =2? – snapper May 24 '17 at 03:25
  • would you elaborate the procedure regarding how to convert above summation into Riemann Integral form? – snapper May 24 '17 at 03:35
  • it IS in riemann integral form. The limit change was to bring it into the form of a Riemann Sum, i.e. $\lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{1}{n} \sum_{k=0}^\infty f(k/n) = \int_0^1 f(x) dx$. In your case the bottom limit is $2$ and not $0$, but this is irrelevant here... to see this, pull the first two terms out of the sum and note that they go to zero because of the limit anyway. – Brevan Ellefsen May 24 '17 at 05:52