Analyzing the Setup
We are tasked with solving a limit of a summation, a classic challenge that requires breaking down complex expressions into manageable components. We begin by examining the Left Hand Side (LHS) of the equation:
The terms within the summation are (nk+1),(nk+2),…,(nk+n), which form an arithmetic progression. We can decompose this sum into two distinct parts:
The first part is simply adding nk to itself n times, yielding n2k. The second part is the sum of the first n natural numbers, which is 2n(n+1). Thus, the bracketed sum simplifies to:
The Limit of the LHS
Now, we incorporate the limit:
n→∞limnk+1(n+1)k−1[n2k+2n2+n]
To simplify, we factor n2 out of the bracket:
Simultaneously, we rewrite the coefficient as:
As n→∞, the n2 terms cancel out, and the terms involving n1 vanish. We are left with 1k−1⋅(k+21), which simplifies to:
The Riemann Transformation
Next, we address the Right Hand Side (RHS):
We rewrite this expression to fit the definition of a Riemann sum:
33⋅n→∞limn1r=1∑n(nr)k
This expression transforms directly into a definite integral:
33∫01xkdx=33[k+1xk+1]01=k+133
The Final Showdown
We equate the simplified LHS and RHS to form an algebraic equation:
Multiplying both sides by 2(k+1) to clear the denominators, we obtain:
Expanding this results in the quadratic equation:
Factoring the quadratic, we find:
This yields two potential values: k=5 and k=−213. Since the problem requires an integer solution, we discard the fractional value. The final answer is k=5.