What is the Convergence Criterion for a Bounded Sequence with a Common Limit?

In summary, it is possible to prove that a bounded sequence a_n, where every convergent subsequence converges to the same limit a, must converge to a by using a proof by contradiction. By assuming that a_n does not converge to a, it can be shown that there must exist a subsequence that also does not converge to a. This is a contradiction, as it is stated that every convergent subsequence of a_n converges to a. Therefore, a_n must converge to a.
  • #1
cragar
2,552
3

Homework Statement


Assume [itex] a_n [/itex] is a bounded sequence with the property that every convergent sub sequence of [itex] a_n [/itex] converges to the same limit a. Show that
[itex] a_n [/itex] must converge to a.

The Attempt at a Solution


Could I do a proof by contradiction. And assume that [itex] a_n [/itex] does not converge
to a. but then this would imply that there would be a sub sequence that did not converge
to a and this is a contradiction because I could pick a sub sequence that converged to the same thing that [itex] a_n [/itex] did
 
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  • #2
Yes, that will work. Just fill in the details- why does the fact that [itex]a_n[/itex] does not converge to a imply that there exist a subsequence that does not converge to a? You will need to look at several cases- the sequence does not converge or it converges to some number other than a.
 
  • #3
Could I say that eventually a sub sequence will have the same end behavior as
[itex] a_n [/itex] Or I could take 2 sub sequences that when put together would equal
[itex] a_n [/itex] Sub sequences aren't like subsets in the sense that a sub set could equal the set itself.
 

Related to What is the Convergence Criterion for a Bounded Sequence with a Common Limit?

What is the definition of convergence of a sequence?

The convergence of a sequence is the idea that the terms of the sequence eventually get closer and closer to a specific value, known as the limit, as the sequence progresses to infinity.

How can I tell if a sequence converges?

One way to determine if a sequence converges is to plot its terms and see if they approach a specific value as the sequence progresses. Another way is to use the mathematical definition of convergence, which states that for any positive number ε, there exists a term in the sequence after which all subsequent terms are within ε of the limit value.

What is the difference between convergence and divergence of a sequence?

Convergence and divergence are two opposite concepts. Convergence of a sequence means that the terms of the sequence approach a specific value, while divergence means that the terms do not approach any specific value and may become infinitely large or oscillate between different values.

Can a sequence converge to more than one limit?

No, a sequence can only converge to one limit. This is because the mathematical definition of convergence states that for any positive number ε, there exists a term in the sequence after which all subsequent terms are within ε of the limit value. If a sequence were to converge to more than one limit, this definition would not hold true.

What are some real-life applications of convergence of a sequence?

Convergence of a sequence is a fundamental concept in calculus and is used in many real-life applications. For example, it is used in physics to study the behavior of particles as they approach a certain value, in economics to model the growth of a population, and in computer science to analyze the efficiency of algorithms. It is also used in many other fields, such as engineering, finance, and statistics.

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