No problem, happy to help! (Glad to hear it)

In summary, the first sequence converges to 1, the second sequence diverges and has two convergent subsequences, the third sequence converges to -2, and the fourth sequence is not convergent and has no convergent subsequence.
  • #1
mathmari
Gold Member
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Hey! :eek:

I want to check which of the following sequences converges and from those that don't converge I want to check if it has a convergent subsequence.
  1. $\displaystyle{1, 1-\frac{1}{2}, 1, 1-\frac{1}{4}, 1, 1-\frac{1}{6}, \ldots}$
  2. $\displaystyle{1, \frac{1}{2}, 1, \frac{1}{4}, 1, \frac{1}{6}, \ldots}$
  3. $\displaystyle{c_n=\frac{2n+5}{3-n}, \ n\in \mathbb{N}}$
  4. $\displaystyle{d_n=\frac{n^2+1}{n+1}, \ n\in \mathbb{N}}$
I have done the following:
  1. $\displaystyle{1, 1-\frac{1}{2}, 1, 1-\frac{1}{4}, 1, 1-\frac{1}{6}, \ldots}$

    We have that
    \begin{equation*}a_n=\left\{\begin{matrix}
    1 & \text{ for odd } n \\
    1-\frac{1}{n} & \text{ for even } n
    \end{matrix}\right.\end{equation*} For odd $n$, $n=2k+1$, we have that $1$ converges to $1$, so the limit of $a_{2k+1}$ is $1$.

    For even $n$, $n=2k$, we have that $1-\frac{1}{n}$ converges to $1$, so the limit of $a_{2k}$ is $1$. The only limit point of the sequence $(a_n)_{n\in \mathbb{N}}$ is therefore $1$. We have that the sequence is bounded, since $1$ is a constant, $|1|\leq 1$ and $\displaystyle{0<\frac{1}{n}\leq 1 \Rightarrow -1\leq -\frac{1}{n}<0\Rightarrow 0\leq 1-\frac{1}{n}<1}$. Since the sequence is bounded and has one limit point, it is convergent and the limit is $1$.
  2. $\displaystyle{1, \frac{1}{2}, 1, \frac{1}{4}, 1, \frac{1}{6}, \ldots}$

    We have that
    \begin{equation*}b_n=\left\{\begin{matrix}
    1 & \text{ for odd} n \\\
    \frac{1}{n} & \text{ for even } n
    \end{matrix}\right.\end{equation*}

    For odd $n$, $n=2k+1$, we have that $1$ converges to $1$,so the limit of $b_{2k+1}$ is $1$.

    For even $n$, $n=2k$, we have that $\frac{1}{n}$ converges to $0$, so the limit of $b_{2k}$ is $0$. The limit points of the sequence $(b_n)_{n\in \mathbb{N}}$ are therefore $1$ and $0$. So, the sequence $(b_n)_{n\in \mathbb{N}}$ diverges, since it approximates no number, because it is between $0$ and $1$. The divergent sequence has two convergent subsequences $b_{2k+1}, b_{2k}$.

    The subsequence $(b_{2k+1})_{k\in \mathbb{N}}$ is bounded and its only limit point is $1$. So, the subsequence $(b_{2k+1})_{k\in \mathbb{N}}$ converges $1$.

    The subsequence $(b_{2k})_{k\in \mathbb{N}}$ is bounded and its only limit point is $0$. So the subsequence $(b_{2k})_{k\in \mathbb{N}}$ converges to $0$.
  3. $\displaystyle{c_n=\frac{2n+5}{3-n}, \ n\in \mathbb{N}}$

    We have that \begin{equation*}\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}c_n=\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}\frac{2n+5}{3-n}=\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}\frac{n\left (2+\frac{5}{n}\right )}{n\left (\frac{3}{n}-1\right )}=\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}\frac{2+\frac{5}{n}}{\frac{3}{n}-1 }=\frac{2+ 0}{0-1 }=-2\in \mathbb{R}\end{equation*}

    So, the sequence $(c_n)_{n\in \mathbb{N}}$ converges to $-2$.
  4. $\displaystyle{d_n=\frac{n^2+1}{n+1}, \ n\in \mathbb{N}}$

    We have that\begin{equation*}\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}d_n=\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}\frac{n^2+1}{n+1}=\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}\frac{n\left (n+\frac{1}{n}\right )}{n\left (1+\frac{1}{n}\right )}=\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}\frac{n+\frac{1}{n}}{1+\frac{1}{n}}=\frac{\infty+0}{1+0}=\infty\notin \mathbb{R}\end{equation*}

    So, the sequence $(d_n)_{n\in \mathbb{N}}$ is not convergent. How can we check if it has convergent subsequence? (Wondering)

Is everything else correct? (Wondering)
 
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  • #2
Hey mathmari! (Smile)

It all looks correct to me.

mathmari said:
We have that\begin{equation*}\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}d_n=\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}\frac{n^2+1}{n+1}=\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}\frac{n\left (n+\frac{1}{n}\right )}{n\left (1+\frac{1}{n}\right )}=\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}\frac{n+\frac{1}{n}}{1+\frac{1}{n}}=\frac{\infty+0}{1+0}=\infty\notin \mathbb{R}\end{equation*}

So, the sequence $(d_n)_{n\in \mathbb{N}}$ is not convergent. How can we check if it has convergent subsequence? (Wondering) )

Doesn't our limit calculation imply that however big we want a value of the sequence to be, we can find an $N$ such that for all $n>N$ each element $d_n$ of the sequence is bigger than that value? (Wondering)

In other words, there can be no convergent subsequence.
 
  • #3
I like Serena said:
It all looks correct to me.
Doesn't our limit imply that however big we want a value of the sequence to be, we can find an $N$ such that for all $n>N$ each element $d_n$ of the sequence is bigger than that value? (Wondering)

In other words, there can be no convergent subsequence.

Ah ok! Thank you very much! (Yes)
 

1. What is the definition of convergence of sequences?

The convergence of sequences is a concept in mathematics where a sequence of numbers approaches a specific value or limit as the number of terms increases. In other words, as the sequence progresses, the terms get closer and closer to a certain value.

2. How is convergence of sequences different from divergence?

Convergence and divergence are opposite concepts. While convergence refers to a sequence approaching a specific value, divergence means the sequence does not approach any value or approaches infinity.

3. What are the different types of convergence of sequences?

There are three main types of convergence of sequences: pointwise convergence, uniform convergence, and absolute convergence. Pointwise convergence refers to each term in the sequence approaching the limit value. Uniform convergence refers to the entire sequence approaching the limit value. Absolute convergence means the series formed from the sequence of terms converges.

4. How do you determine if a sequence is convergent or divergent?

To determine if a sequence is convergent or divergent, you can use various tests such as the ratio test, root test, or comparison test. These tests involve analyzing the behavior of the terms in the sequence to determine if they approach a specific value or diverge.

5. Why is the concept of convergence of sequences important in mathematics?

The concept of convergence of sequences is essential in mathematics as it helps us understand the behavior of infinite series and their limits. It is also used in various applications, such as finding the area under a curve, calculating probabilities, and solving differential equations.

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