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The exact question is- Find the real value(s) of $a (a \ne -1)$ for which the limit $$ \lim_{ n \to \infty} \frac{ 1^a+2^a\cdots+n^a}{(n+1)^{a-1}[ (na+1)+(na+2) \cdots+(na+n)]} = \frac{1}{60}$$

I simplified it a bit to get that limit. However, I got the answer from Wolfram Alpha $\frac{1}{a+1}$ without a solution and an assumption that $|a|<1$ however the answer that I got on further solving (and given) is $a=7$ and $a=-\frac{17}{2}$

How is it solved?

UmbQbify
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3 Answers3

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The expression is equal to

$$\frac{1}{n}\left( \left(\frac{1}{n}\right)^a +\cdots + \left(\frac{n}{n}\right)^a \right).$$

This is a Riemann sum, so your limit is the integral of an easy function.

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Beside the Riemann sum, consider that $$\sum_{i=1}^n i^a=H_n^{(-a)}$$ which is a generalized harmonic number.

Using asymptotics $$H_n^{(-a)}=n^a \left(\frac{n}{a+1}+\frac{1}{2}+\frac{a}{12 n}+O\left(\frac{1}{n^3}\right)\right)+\zeta (-a)$$ making for the question in title $$\frac{\sum_{i=1}^n i^a }{n^{a+1}}\sim \frac 1{a+1}+\frac a {2n}$$ So, the limit and also how it is approached.

For the question in text, $$\sum_{i=1}^n (na+i)=\frac{1}{2} \left((2 a+1) n^2+n\right)$$ and the same approach would lead to $$\sim \frac {n^a} {(n+1)^a} \frac{2(n+1)}{(1+a)(1+2a)n}\to \frac 2{(1+a)(1+2a) }$$

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Useful link related to the first equation;

Evaluate $\lim\limits_{n\to\infty}\frac{\sum_{k=1}^n k^m}{n^{m+1}}$

Limit of the sequence $\frac{1^k+2^k+...+n^k}{n^{k+1}}$

$\lim_{{n}\to {\infty}}\frac{1^p+2^p+\cdots+n^p}{n^{p+1}}=?$

Showing that $\lim_{n \rightarrow \infty}\frac{1^k+2^k+...+n^k}{n^{k+1}}=\frac{1}{k+1}$ using integral

Prove that limit of $\frac{1^p + 2^p + \ldots + n^p}{n^{p+1}}$ is equal to $\frac{1}{p+1}$

$$1^a+2^a+...+n^a\sim\frac{n^{a+1}}{a+1}$$ so we could write this limit :

$$ \lim_{ n \to \infty} \frac{ 1^a+2^a\cdots+n^a}{(n+1)^{a-1}[ (na+1)+(na+2) \cdots+(na+n)]} =\lim_{ n \to \infty}\frac{\frac{n^{a+1}}{a+1}}{{(n+1)^{a-1}[ n^2a+\frac{n(n+1)}{2}]}} = \lim_{ n \to \infty}\frac{2n^{a+1}}{{(a+1)n(n)^{a-1}n[2a+1]}} = \frac{2}{(a+1)(2a+1)}=\frac{1}{60}$$

So $(a+1)(2a+1)=120$ and $a=7,\frac{-17}{2}$

  • How do you know/prove that first fact which you used? – UmbQbify May 19 '19 at 15:21
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    I add some resources. You could use similar question in the right of your browser too find other similar questions. Please don't forget to mark correct solution question as "tik" to be in access other people. Thanks. – BarzanHayati May 19 '19 at 15:49