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For any $a > 0$, I have to show the sequence $x_{n+1}=$ $ \frac 12\left(x_n+ \frac {a} {x_n}\right)$

converges to the square root of $a$ for any $x_1>0$.

If I assume the limit exists ( denoted by $x$) then,

$x= \frac 12\left(x+ \frac {a} {x}\right)$ can be solved to $x^2 = a$

How could I show that it does exist?

TShiong
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user110503
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  • Try to show that the sequence is monotonic and bounded, then you can conclude that the limit exists. – Mustafa Said Mar 21 '14 at 20:36
  • It seemed that whether or not it increased/decreased depended on the value of $x_n$ compared to $a$ and to 1. I assumed this would mean I would have to break it into multiple cases. Is there something I missed? – user110503 Mar 21 '14 at 20:41
  • we have that $x_n \geq a$ by the arithmetic-geometric mean inequality for $n \geq 2$ so you may assume that $x_n > a$. – Mustafa Said Mar 21 '14 at 20:55
  • Look up Hero (Heron) of Alexandria, and also Newton's Method. – DanielWainfleet Apr 10 '23 at 19:21

2 Answers2

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As mentioned in the comments, we need to show that the sequence is monotonic and bounded.

First, we observe that $$ x_n-x_{n+1}=x_n-\frac12\Bigl(x_n+\frac a{x_n}\Bigr)=\frac1{2x_n}(x_n^2-a). $$ Secondly, we obtain that \begin{align*} x_n^2-a &=\frac14\Bigl(x_{n-1}+\frac a{x_{n-1}}\Bigr)^2-a\\ &=\frac{x_{n-1}^2}4-\frac a2+\frac{a^2}{4x_{n-1}^2}\\ &=\frac14\Bigl(x_{n-1}^2-2a+\frac{a^2}{x_{n-1}^2}\Bigr)\\ &=\frac{1}{4}\Bigl(x_{n-1}-\frac a{x_{n-1}}\Bigr)^2\\ &\ge0. \end{align*} Hence, $x_n\ge x_{n+1}$ and $x_n$ is bounded from below since $x_n^2\ge a$ for each $n\ge2$.

Monotonic and bounded sequence converges. Denote the limit of the sequence $x=\lim_{n\to\infty}x_n$. Then we have that $$ x=\frac12\Bigl(x+\frac ax\Bigr)\quad\iff\quad x=\sqrt a. $$

Cm7F7Bb
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That looks a lot like the well known method for computing square roots. It is derived by using Newton's on

$$ x^2 - a = 0 $$

$$ x_{n+1}=x_n-\frac{f(x_n)}{f'(x_n)} $$

$$=x_n-\frac{x_n^2-a}{2x_n}$$

$$=\frac{1}{2}\left(x_n+\frac{a}{x_n}\right) $$

If it converges it will converge to the $$ \sqrt{a} $$

bobbym
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