Cauchy sequence in fixed point theory

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of Cauchy sequences within the context of fixed point theory. Participants explore the notation and implications of subsequences, particularly focusing on the distance between terms in a sequence and the conditions under which a sequence is considered Cauchy.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion about the notation ${x}_{n(i)}$ and ${x}_{n(i+1)}$, questioning their meaning in the context of subsequences.
  • Another participant explains that ${x}_{n(i)}$ and ${x}_{n(i+1)}$ refer to terms in a subsequence, which need not be consecutive, and provides an example of how subsequences can be formed.
  • There is a discussion about whether the distance between arbitrary points in the sequence can be greater than epsilon, with some participants suggesting that this is a necessary assumption when proving a sequence is not Cauchy.
  • Some participants clarify that the notation $d\left({x}_{n(i)},{x}_{n(i+1)}\right)\ge \varepsilon$ is used to express the negation of the Cauchy criterion, indicating that there exists a subsequence where the distance between terms exceeds epsilon.
  • Questions arise regarding the implications of the indices $n(i)$ and $n(i+1)$, with some participants asserting that these indices do not have to represent consecutive terms in the original sequence.
  • There is a repeated emphasis on understanding the definitions and the reasoning behind the use of specific notations and inequalities in the context of Cauchy sequences.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants exhibit a mix of understanding and confusion regarding the notation and implications of subsequences in Cauchy sequences. While some points are clarified, there remains uncertainty about the necessity and meaning of certain expressions, indicating that the discussion is not fully resolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying levels of familiarity with the definitions and implications of Cauchy sequences, leading to questions about the assumptions underlying the proofs being discussed. The discussion highlights the complexity of understanding subsequences and their properties in relation to Cauchy sequences.

ozkan12
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İn some articles, I see something...

For example,

Let we define a sequence by ${x}_{n}=f{x}_{n}={f}^{n}{x}_{0}$$\left\{{x}_{n}\right\}$. To show that $\left\{{x}_{n}\right\}$ is Cauchy sequence, we suppose that $\left\{{x}_{n}\right\}$ is not a Cauchy sequence...For this reason, there exists a subsequence $\left\{{x}_{n\left(i\right)}\right\}$ of $\left\{{x}_{n}\right\}$ such that $d\left({x}_{n\left(i\right)},{x}_{n\left(i+1\right)}\right)\ge\varepsilon$...İn there, I didnt understant what is the ${x}_{n(i)}$ and ${x}_{n(i+1)}$...These terms are consecutive terms, that is distinction between these terms equal to 1...I didnt understand...Can you help me ? Thank you so much, best wishes
 
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That's a "subsequence" notation. Imagine a sequence $\{1,2,3,4,5,\dots\}$. In this case, $x_1=1, x_2=2, x_3=3,\dots$. You can pick a subsequence out of this sequence, which preserves the order, but is a subset: $\{2,4,6,8,\dots\}$. Here, you could notate it as $x_{n(0)}=2, x_{n(1)}=4, x_{n(2)}=6,\dots$. This subsequence, of course, is "every other", but you could pick your subsequence however you like. I should point out that another very common notation for subsequence is $x_{n_i}$. So you'd have $x_{n_1}, x_{n_2}, x_{n_3},\dots$.
 
Dear Ackbach,

From this, can we say that the distance between two arbitrary points is bigger than epsilon?

For example, $d\left({x}_{5},{x}_{14}\right) > \varepsilon$

And why do we use $d\left({x}_{n(i)},{x}_{n(i+1)}\right)\ge \varepsilon$ ? What is mean of this ? I ask this...
 
ozkan12 said:
Dear Ackbach,

From this, can we say that the distance between two arbitrary points is bigger than epsilon?

For example, $d\left({x}_{5},{x}_{14}\right) > \varepsilon$

In the context of the proof so far, you're assuming the sequence is NOT Cauchy. Thus, the statement above is an assumption, presumably leading to a contradiction as per the usual method of proof by contradiction.

And why do we use $d\left({x}_{n(i)},{x}_{n(i+1)}\right)\ge \varepsilon$ ? What is mean of this ? I ask this...

You're in the subsequence, and you're assuming a statement that is the direct negation of the sequence being Cauchy. In a Cauchy sequence, once you're beyond a certain term depending on a given epsilon, the distance between two elements of the sequence is smaller than epsilon. What would the negation of that be? That there is a subsequence where the distance between two elements is greater than epsilon.
 
n(i) and n(i+1) ...Why we examine distance between these terms...Very strange...I didnt understand...
 
Dear,

My question is not this...My question is "what is the n(i) and n(i+1)" can we say that $n(i) \le n(i+1)-1$
 
ozkan12 said:
Dear,

My question is not this...My question is "what is the n(i) and n(i+1)" can we say that $n(i) \le n(i+1)-1$

Yes, I think you can say the last inequality. Basically, your last inequality says that the "index distance" between two elements in the subsequence is at least one, and that the sequence $n(i)$ is monotone increasing. That's certainly what you'd expect for indices.
 
Dear,

That is, we can say

for example n(i)=5 i n(i+1)=12 etc...that is, n(i) and n(i+1) are arbitrary points...We can't say that always these are consecutive terms, isn't it ?
 
ozkan12 said:
We can't say that always these are consecutive terms, isn't it ?
No, they don't have to be consecutive.

One of the definitions of Cauchy sequence is the following.
\[
\forall\varepsilon\,\exists m\,\forall n>m\;|x_m-x_n|<\varepsilon
\]
Its negation is
\[
\exists\varepsilon\,\forall m\,\exists n>m\;|x_m-x_n|\ge\varepsilon.\qquad(*)
\]
Take an $\varepsilon$ whose existence is guaranteed by (*). Take $m=1$ and define $n(1)=1$. Then there exists an $n>1$ such that $|x_m-x_n|\ge\varepsilon$. Take any such $n$ and call it $n(2)$. Then we have $|x_{n(1)}-x_{n(2)}|\ge\varepsilon$.

As a next step, take $m=n(2)$; then there exists some $n>m$ such that $|x_m-x_n|\ge\varepsilon$. Take one such $n$ and call it $n(3)$. Then we have $|x_{n(2)}-x_{n(3)}|\ge\varepsilon$, and so on.
 
  • #10
Dear Evgeny Makarov,

What is the presentation of $d\left({x}_{n(i)},{x}_{n(İ+1)}\right)\ge \varepsilon$ ? Can you explain ? Why distance between them don't have to consecutive ? I didnt understand this ?
 
  • #11
ozkan12 said:
What is the presentation of $d\left({x}_{n(i)},{x}_{n(İ+1)}\right)\ge \varepsilon$ ?
I am not sure what you mean. I wrote the definition of a Cauchy sequence of real numbers, where the distance between $x$ and $y$ is $|x-y|$. In a metric space the distance is $d(x,y)$.

ozkan12 said:
Why distance between them don't have to consecutive ?
The negation of the definition says $\forall m\,\exists n>m\;d(x_m,x_n)\ge\varepsilon$. The claim is that there exists an $n$ and that it is strictly greater than $m$. It does not follow that $n=m+1$ necessarily, though it can be.

ozkan12 said:
I didnt understand this ?
Are you asking or stating the fact that you don't understand? (Smile)
 
  • #12
What I didnt understand is why we use $d\left({x}_{{n(i)}},{x}_{n(i+1)}\right)\ge\varepsilon$ ? This recall consecutive terms for me...:)
 
  • #13
ozkan12 said:
What I didnt understand is why we use $d\left({x}_{{n(i)}},{x}_{n(i+1)}\right)\ge\varepsilon$ ?
This holds by definition of $n(i+1)$.

ozkan12 said:
This recall consecutive terms for me.
$x_{n(i)}$ and $x_{n(i+1)}$ are indeed consecutive terms of the subsequence $x_{n(k)}$, $k=1,2,\dots$.

If you have further questions, please confirm that you understand my explanation in post #9.
 
  • #14
Dear,

I understand this,but why we use $d\left({x}_{n\left(i\right)},{x}_{n(i+1)}\right)\ge \varepsilon$...I didnt understand this
 
  • #15
ozkan12 said:
I understand this,but why we use $d\left({x}_{n\left(i\right)},{x}_{n(i+1)}\right)\ge \varepsilon$...I didnt understand this
Because it's a true proven statement under current assumptions (that the sequence is not Cauchy). In mathematics, we are allowed to write and use any statement that has been properly proved. The question: "Why we use it?" is not mathematical, strictly speaking. The only legitimate question is, "Why is it true?" And you seem to agree with my explanation that is it true.
 
  • #16
ozkan12 said:
Dear,

I understand this,but why we use $d\left({x}_{n\left(i\right)},{x}_{n(i+1)}\right)\ge \varepsilon$...I didnt understand this

If you look carefully at Evgeny's Post #9, the expression $d\left({x}_{n\left(i\right)},{x}_{n(i+1)}\right)\ge \varepsilon$ is the last portion of the negation of the Cauchy criterion. So that's why it is what it is: you're negating the Cauchy criterion as an assumption, and then presumably you're going to derive a contradiction somewhere, which would show that the sequence is Cauchy.
 
  • #17
Look Dear :),

I understand these definitions but how always we say that n(i) and n(i+1) is not consecutive, how I get this from definitions...I didnt understand this...I am sorry...
 
  • #18
ozkan12 said:
I understand these definitions but how always we say that n(i) and n(i+1) is not consecutive, how I get this from definitions...
I assume there is some statement whose proof you don't understand. Please write this statement without words, using only formulas.
 
  • #19
Dear

İf you accept it, I can send article your email address ? Are you okay ? İn this area, we can't talk this topic :)
 
  • #20
I am only prepared to discuss your questions on the forum. Feel free to take a photo or scan the relevant portion of the article page and post it here as a picture, though writing questions as text with LaTeX formulas is preferred.
 
  • #21
Dear,

İndeed, I didnt understand only why w9e write $d\left({x}_{n(i)},{x}_{n(i+1)}\right)\ge\varepsilon$ ? İn post 9 we write n(1)=1 but can we write n(2)=9 or n(2)=15 or etc...?
 
  • #22
ozkan12 said:
İn post 9 we write n(1)=1 but can we write n(2)=9 or n(2)=15 or etc...?

Evgeny.Makarov said:
Then there exists an $n>1$ such that $|x_m-x_n|\ge\varepsilon$. Take any such $n$ and call it $n(2)$.
Yes, $n(2)$ could be 9 or 15, but not always.
 
  • #23
That is, we can choose arbitrary points such that $d\left({x}_{n(i)},{x}_{n(i+1)}\right)\ge\varepsilon$...this is the answer of my question
 

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