56 II B.Sc.

Mathematics
4. If s, =
+1
then shÍw that {s,} is monotonically decreasing bounded belowSema
and b

5. If s, = 1
+...+ then show that {s,} is convergent, ANU A93)
2n + 1
6. 1
2n +2 21n +
TANU M2002
If s, =1 then show that {s,} is convergent.
7.
ttT 1 1
KANU 94)
If s, =1+ 22t...+ then showthat {s,} is monotonically
1
increasing.
If s, = Sn+|=2 - then showthat s.} is monotonic and bounded. (ANU M97)
3
8.

9.
TS=l, S,+|=V3s, then showthat {s,} is convergent.
10. If s, = 25, + 1
then show that {s,} is convergent and its limit= 1.
3
2s, +3
11. If s, =1, s,+ 4 then show that {s.} is monotonically increasing sequence:and
evaluate its limit. AU M20021
12. If s,=1, s,+|= 2s, then show that (s} is a decreasing sequence and converges to!
2s, + 1
ANU J2094)
13. lf s,=Vc >0, s,., = Vc +s,, for allneN then show that {s,} is convergent to
positive root ofx-x-c= 0.
1
14. Ifs, = 8, s,.=s, +2 then show that (s,} is bounded and monotonic. Also show
that its limit = 4.

15. If s,> 2, s,.1=1+vs,-1 then show that s,} is monotonically decreasing and
bounded below by 2. Also show that its limit = 2.
12/1
17. Show that i) lim (1 + =e ) lim(1 +) =e ii) lim1+:
2n

a
16. If s >0,s,.=,(a>0) then show that {$} is convergent to va.

1.6.4. LIMIT POINTS OF A SEQUENCE

DEFINITION 1.6.1 :A real number p issaid to be a limit point or a cluster pointofa
sequence {s,} if every neighbourhood ofp contains infinite number of terms ofthe s*
quence.
Note : A real number p is a limit point of a sequence {s,} iff given [ > 0, s, e (p - 8,ptu
for infinitely many values ofn i.e. |s,-p<e for infinitely many values of n.
 Seguences 57
HEOREM 1.6.1 : The limit of a
sequence is alimit point of the sequence?
Proof: Let {s,} be a sequence such that lim s,
=1.
Iet [> 0. Then m e
N>ne N,nm’s, - <&
l-8<s, <l+[ ’s, e(l-[, l+ ) »(l-[, l-) contains infinitely many s,'s
lisa limit point of {s.}.
Note 1: The converse of the above
theorem need not be true. i.e., limit point of a sequence
need not be the limit of the
s, =(-1',
sequence. For example, consider the sequence {s,} where
n N. Every neighbourhood of 1 contains all the even terms of the sequence
and hence is a limit point. Every neighbourhood of - 1 contains all the odd terms of the
sequence and hence -1 is a limit
point. But sequence s,} is not convergent. So neither 1
nor-1is the limit of {s.}.
Note 2 : If s, = l for infinitely many values of n then I is a limit point of
{si.
Note 3 : If there exists a neighbourhood of a real number p containing only
of terms of a sequence {s,} then p is not a limit
finite number
point of {s,}.
1
Ex 1.6.1: Ifs, =then show that 0 is alimit point of {s,}.
Sol: Let E>0. By Archimedes theorem me N>m> 1/e.
neN, nm’’s,
n <E’-8<s,<E’s, e(-e, )
»-6, 8) contains infinitely many terms of {s,} > 0 is a limit point of {s,}.
Ex 1.6.2 :Ifs,=n then slow that {s,} has no limit point.
Sol : Letp e R. Nowp-p+contains atmost one term of {s}.
Thereforep is not a limit point of {s}. .. {s,} has no limit point.
THEOREM 1.6.2 : flis a limit point of the range of a sequence s,} then is a limit
point of the sequence {s,t
Proof : Let S be the range of the sequence {s}. Since l is a limit point of S, every
neighbourhood of lcontains infinite number of elements of S. But each element of S is a
term of the sequence s,}. Thus every neighbourhood of l contains infinite terms of the se
quence (s,}. Therefore l is a limit point of the sequence (s).
Note : The converse of the above theorem need not be true. For example,
consider the se
quence {s,} where s, = 1+(-1)' for all n e N. Now s, = 0, if n is odd and s, = 2 if n is
even. .. 0,2 are limt points of {s,}. But the range of the sequence is {0, 2}, which is a fi
nite set. Thus it has no limit points.
58 II B.Sc.
Mathematics
THEOREM 1.6.3 im s =lthen / is the only limitpoint 0f Sn} -Sem&
TANU M2012
Proof: Let {s, be a sequence such that lim s, =.
Let [ >0. Then 3me N2ne N,nn »|s,-l| <
’-[<s, <l+[’s, e (l- [,I+8)
U-8, l+)contains infinitely many s. 's ’lis alimit point of s,}.
Letr be alimit point of {s,}. Suppose if possible I +!. Let [=|!-|>0
Since lims, =1,3me NTneN,n m>s, -<E.
Since ? is a limt point of fs.3.3pe Nep>n and |s, -I|<8
Now|-I|=|l-:-s, ts,-|s|l-s+|5,-I|=8+8=|1-I|»|l-|<|l-,
It is a contradiçtion. . l=!.

1.6.2BOLZANO-WEIERSTRASs THEOREM FOR SEQUENCES

THEOREM 1.6.4 Every bounded sequence has at least one limit point.
[ANU J2015, M2006; AU S98; OU M2013; SKU M2002; SVU MoA
Proof: Let fs.} be a bounded sequence and S be its range set.
Since fs,} is bounded, therefore S is a bounded set.
Case (i) : Suppose Sis a finite set. Let S={a,, a,, *, am
Let A,= {ne N:s,=a} for 1sism. Then UA,=N
lfA, A, *,A are all finite then uA,= Nis finite which is not true.
.". At least one A, is an infinite set for i= 1,2,. m. Let it be A,.
Then s, =a, for infinitely many n e N. Hence a, is alimit point of (s,}.
Case (ii):Suppose Sis an infinite set. Then Sis a bounded infinite set. By Bolzano
Weierstrass Theorem for aggregates, Shas a limit point, say l.
Hence l is a limit point of sequence (s.
THEOREM 1.6.5 The set of limit points of a bounded sequence is bounded
Proof: Let {s,} be abounded sequence. Then 3k,, k, e Rk, <s, <k,, neN.
i.e.,s, e (-o, k) and s, &(kz, o) for any ne N.
Hence ifleRand le (-o, k,) Uk, o), then is not alimit point of {s,}.
Thus the set of limit points of {s,} is bounded.
THEOREM 1.6.6 Every bounded sequence has the greatest and the least limi
points. / [AUA2000, S99, M9)
Proof : Let s} be a bounded sequence. Then the set L of limit points of (} 5
bounded. Now L#Ø anddL is bounded. Hence by completeness axiom the set Lhasi
fimum and supremum. Let inf L=u and sup L=y,
Sequences 59
Let [>0. sup L=V’3xe
Lay-g<ry<y+>xe(V-&, Vt E)
>(v-E, V+ [) is a neighbourhood of x.
Since x 1S a limit point of fs.}. therefore (v-g. v+E) contains infinite number ol
terms of Sns. Thus every neighbourhood of v contains infinite number of terms of S
Hence vis a limit point of fs.}.
.vEL. Similarly we can show that u e L.
DEFINITlON 1.6.2 : Let s,} be a bounded sequence. Then the least limit pont o
(s. is called lower limit or limit inferior of fs.}. It is denoted by lim or
n ’ o
lim
inf S The greatest limit point of {s.} is called upper limt or limit superior 0!
(s,}. It is denoted by lim S, 0r lim Sup s,

THEOREM 1.6.7 fa sequence s.} is bounded and has only one limit point "P
then {s,} converges to .
Proof: Since {s,} is bounded, so it has atleast one limit point.
But {s,} has only one limit point, say l. Hence for any [>0, (l-E, I+ [) contains S,
for all except a finite number of values of n. Let Sp., S ', Sp, be the finite number of
terms of s,} that lie ouside (- [, l+ ). Let m- 1l= max {m,, m, , m,}.
Then for ne N,n n>s, ¬ (l- [, l+ [) ’|s, -|<[. .:. {s,} converges to I.
THEOREM 1.6.8 A sequence {s,} is convergent iff (s,} is bounded and has only
one limit point. [ANU M2012, M2001; SKU O2002]
Proof: The proof follows from theorem 2.2.5, theorem 2.6.3 and theorem 2.6.7.
Ex 1.6.3 : Show that every sequence inaclosed interval I has a limit point in l.
Sol: Since I is a closed interval, therefore I isa bounded set.
Lets,} be a sequence in a closed intervall.
Since I is bounded, therefore (s} is also bounded.
By Bolzano weierstrass theorem {s,} has a limit point, say p.
Ifpe R-Ithen R- Iis aneighbourhood ofp. But R- I contains no term of fs.}.
Acontradiction. .. peI.
1.6.3. CAUCHY SEQUENCES
Inthe following we shall establish an important criterion known as Cauchy conver
gence criterion, which will help us to decide whether asequence is convergent or divergent
without knowing its limit or limit point.