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Sequences Notes

The document discusses several theorems related to sequences of real numbers, including the uniqueness of limits, the boundedness of convergent sequences, and the behavior of monotone sequences. It presents proofs for each theorem, demonstrating the relationships between convergence, boundedness, and continuity. Key results include that a convergent sequence is bounded and that monotone sequences converge if they are bounded above or below.

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Francis Gibson
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7 views2 pages

Sequences Notes

The document discusses several theorems related to sequences of real numbers, including the uniqueness of limits, the boundedness of convergent sequences, and the behavior of monotone sequences. It presents proofs for each theorem, demonstrating the relationships between convergence, boundedness, and continuity. Key results include that a convergent sequence is bounded and that monotone sequences converge if they are bounded above or below.

Uploaded by

Francis Gibson
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SEQUENCES

(ADDITIONAL NOTES TO STEWART §11.1)

The Archimedean Property

For each x > 0 in R there exists an N ∈ N such that N > x.


Hence there also exists for each x > 0 an N ∈ N such that N1 < x.

Theorem A

If the limit of a sequence of real numbers exists, then it is unique.

Proof. Suppose that an → a as n → ∞ and an → b as n → ∞, and also suppose that a 6= b.


Let  = 12 |a − b|. Then  > 0. Since an → a, there exists an N1 ∈ N such that if n > N1 , then
|an − a| <  and since an → b, there exists an N2 ∈ N such that if n > N2 , then |an − b| < . Now
let n > max{N1 , N2 }. Then |an − a| <  and |an − b| < . But then it follows that
2 = |a − b| ≤ |a − an | + |an − b| < 2
— contradictory. Hence a = b. 

Theorem B

A convergent sequence of real numbers is bounded.

Proof. Suppose that an → a as n → ∞. Then (consider  = 1) there exists an N ∈ N such


that if n > N , then |an − a| < 1, and hence |an | ≤ |an − a| + |a| < 1 + |a| for all n > N . Let
r = max{|a1 |, |a2 |, . . . , |aN |, 1 + |a|}. Then |an | ≤ r for all n ∈ N, so that {an } is bounded. 

Theorem C

Suppose that {cn } is a sequence in the domain of a real function f , lim cn = c and f is continuous
n→∞
at c. Then lim f (cn ) = f (c).
n→∞

Prove this.

The Monotone Sequence Theorem


1. Suppose that {an } is an increasing sequence. Then {an } is bounded above if and only if {an }
converges, in which case
lim an = sup{an : n ∈ N}.
n→∞

2. Suppose that {an } is a decreasing sequence. Then {an } is bounded below if and only if {an }
converges, in which case
lim an = inf{an : n ∈ N}.
n→∞

1
Proof.

1. Suppose that {an } is an increasing sequence which is bounded above. Then S = {an : n ∈ N} is
bounded above, so that L = sup S exists, and an ≤ L for all n ∈ N. We show that lim an = L:
n→∞

Let  > 0. It follows from Theorem 10 (Improper Integrals: Additional Notes) that there exists
an N ∈ N such that L −  < aN . Since {an } is increasing, aN ≤ an for all n ≥ N . Hence it
follows that
L −  < aN ≤ an ≤ L < L + ,
so that |L − an | < , for all n ≥ N . Consequently lim an = L.
n→∞

Conversely, if {an } is an increasing sequence which converges, then it follows from Theorem B
above that {an } is bounded, so that {an } is bounded above.

2. similar. 

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