Test for convergence:

Solution 1:

Herein, we show using non-calculus based tools that $\log(x)\le \sqrt{x}$ , and in particular that $\log(k)\le \sqrt{k}$ for all integer $k\ge 1$. We begin with a primer on an elementary inequalities for the logarithm and exponential functions.

PRIMER:

In THIS ANSWER, I showed using only the limit definition of the exponential function and Bernoulli's Inequality that the logarithm and exponential functions satisfy the inequalities

$$\frac{x-1}{x}\le \log(x)\le x-1\tag1$$

for $x>0$, and

$$1+x\le e^x\le \frac{1}{1-x} \tag 2$$

for $x<1$.

PROBLEM $(1)$:

Let $f(x)=\frac x2-\log(x)$. Then, using $(1)$ we find for $h>0$ that

$$\begin{align} f(x+h)-f(x)&=\frac h2-\log\left(1+\frac hx\right)\\\\ &\ge \frac h2-\frac hx\\\\ &\ge 0 \end{align}$$

for all $x\ge 2$. So, $f(x)$ is monotone increasing for $x\ge 2$. And since $f(2)=1-\log(2)>0$ we have

$$\log(x)<x/2 \tag 3$$

for $x\ge 2$.

Now, setting $x= \sqrt{k}$ in $(3)$ reveals

$$\log(k)\le \sqrt k$$

for $k\ge 4$.

We also have from $(1)$, that $\log(x)\le 2(\sqrt x-1)$. When $x\le 4$, we see that $2(\sqrt x-1)\le \sqrt x$.

Hence, for all $x>0$, we find that $\log(x)\le \sqrt x$. Certainly then for all integer $k\ge 1$, $\log(k)\le \sqrt{k}$ as was to be shown!

PROBLEM $(2)$:

We can write $k^{1/k}=e^{\frac1k \log(k)}$. Using the left-hand side inequality in $(2)$ reveals

$$k^{1/k}-1\ge \frac{\log(k)}{k}>\frac{1}{k}$$

for $k\ge 3$. The series $\sum_{k=1}^\infty (k^{1/k}-1)$ diverges by comparison with the harmonic series.

PROBLEM $(3)$

Note that we can write

$$ \frac{k!}{k^k} =\frac{1\cdot 2\cdot 3\cdots k}{k\cdot k\cdot k\cdots k}\le \frac 2{k^2}$$

The series converges by comparison with the series $\sum_{k=1}^\infty \frac{1}{k^2}$.