Take the logarithm of the product, factor out n in each factor, and recognize a Riemann sum for ∫12lntdt.
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Solution
Step 1: take logarithms. Let un=n1n(n+1)(n+2)⋯(2n)>0. Then ln(un)=−lnn+n1k=1∑nln(n+k). Factor n in each factor inside the sum: ln(n+k)=lnn+ln(1+nk). Therefore n1k=1∑nln(n+k)=n1k=1∑n(lnn+ln(1+nk))=lnn+n1k=1∑nln(1+nk), since the constant lnn is summed n times and then divided by n. Hence ln(un)=n1k=1∑nln(1+nk).
Step 2: Riemann sum. The expression n1k=1∑nln(1+nk) is a left Riemann sum for the continuous function t↦ln(1+t) on [0,1]: the sample points are tk=k/n with step 1/n, for k=1,…,n, i.e. on the partition [0,1/n],[1/n,2/n],…,[(n−1)/n,1]. As n→+∞, n1k=1∑nln(1+nk)⟶∫01ln(1+t)dt.
Step 3: compute the integral. Substituting s=1+t, ds=dt, with s from 1 to 2: ∫01ln(1+t)dt=∫12lnsds. An antiderivative of lns is slns−s; hence ∫12lnsds=[slns−s]12=(2ln2−2)−(0−1)=2ln2−1. So ln(un)⟶2ln2−1=ln4−lne=ln(e4).
Step 4: exponentiate. By continuity of exp, un=exp(lnun)⟶exp(lne4)=e4.