Definitions for divergence

In summary, the general definition of a sequence to diverge is the negation of what it means for a sequence to converge. This definition specifically states that for any real number L, there exists an epsilon greater than 0 such that for all natural numbers N, there exists a value n greater than or equal to N where the absolute value of the difference between the nth term and L is greater than or equal to epsilon. The definition of a sequence diverging to infinity is a sub-case of the general definition, meaning that if the criteria for a sequence to diverge to infinity is met, then the criteria for the general definition is also met. However, the reverse implication does not hold, as oscillating sequences are a counterexample
  • #1
Mr Davis 97
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The general definition for a sequence to diverge is the negation of what it means for a sequence to converge: ##\forall L\in\mathbb{R}~\exists\epsilon>0~\forall N\in\mathbb{N}~\exists n\ge N##, ##|a_n - L| \ge \epsilon##. How does this general definition of divergence relate to the definition of a sequence diverging specifically to infinity, which is ##\forall M \in \mathbb{R} ~ \exists N \in \mathbb{N} \forall n \ge N##, ##a_n > M##?
 
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  • #2
The second is a sub-case of the first, so if the second criteria is met, so will the first be. That needs to be proved. It is not difficult. The reverse implication does not hold. Oscillating sequences are a counterexample.
 
  • #3
andrewkirk said:
The second is a sub-case of the first, so if the second criteria is met, so will the first be. That needs to be proved. It is not difficult. The reverse implication does not hold. Oscillating sequences are a counterexample.
How would I go about showing that the second criteria implies the first, out of curiosity? I tried to take a stab at it, but I got buried by the quantifiers...

EDIT: Actually, maybe I see how to do. If we argue by contradiction we see that ##a_n## must converge, and so is bounded. But that contradicts the fact that it is unbounded...
 
  • #4
Not quite formally: Let L be any real number and M any number M > L. Define ##M - L = \epsilon##. Then eventually all ##a_n > M## which certainly meets the condition ##|a_n - L| \geq \epsilon##
 

1. What is the definition of divergence?

Divergence is a mathematical concept that measures the tendency of a vector field to either converge or diverge at a particular point. It is represented by the symbol ∇ · F, where ∇ is the gradient operator and F is the vector field.

2. How is divergence calculated?

Divergence is calculated by taking the dot product of the gradient operator (∇) and the vector field (F) at a given point. This results in a scalar value that represents the rate at which the vector field is either expanding or contracting at that point.

3. What does a positive/negative divergence indicate?

A positive divergence indicates that the vector field is expanding at a given point, while a negative divergence indicates that the vector field is contracting. This can also be interpreted as a source (positive divergence) or a sink (negative divergence) of the vector field.

4. How is divergence used in physics and engineering?

In physics and engineering, divergence is used to analyze and understand the flow of fluids, heat, and other physical quantities. It is an important concept in fluid dynamics, electromagnetism, and other fields where vector fields are involved.

5. Is divergence the same as curl?

No, divergence and curl are two different mathematical concepts. While divergence measures the tendency of a vector field to either converge or diverge at a point, curl measures the tendency of a vector field to rotate around a point. Both are important in vector calculus and have different applications in physics and engineering.

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