MHB Confirm Answers on Homework Sheet: Subsequence Convergence

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the properties of sequences and their subsequences in real analysis. The participant confirms that statement (i) is false, as the sequence {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6...} lacks a convergent subsequence. Statement (ii) is also false, demonstrated by the sequence {-1/2, 1/4, -1/8, 1/16, -1/32...}, which diverges despite having a convergent subsequence. Statement (iii) is true, supported by the Bolzano-Weierstrass theorem, asserting that every bounded sequence has a convergent subsequence. Statement (iv) is false, as shown by the unbounded sequence {1, 1, 2, 1/2, 3, 1/3...} that contains a convergent subsequence.

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Carla1985
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Question from my homework sheet. Can someone confirm I've got these correct.

Let (an)n∈N be any sequence of real numbers. Which of the following statements are true?
Give precise references to the results in the Lecture Notes for those which are true. Construct counter examples for those that are false.
(i) Every sequence (an)n∈N has a convergent subsequence.
(ii) If (an)n∈N has a convergent subsequence, then (an)n∈N is convergent.
(iii) If (an)n∈N is bounded, then (an)n∈N has a convergent subsequence.
(iv) If (an)n∈N has a convergent subsequence, then (an)n∈N is bounded.

My answers:
i) False: {1,2,3,4,5,6...) has no convergent subsequence.
ii) False: {-1/2, 1/4, -1/8, 1/16, -1/32...} diverges but has subsequence {1/4, 1/16, 1/64...} which converges
iii) True (Bolzano Weierstrass theorem)
iv) False: {1, 1, 2, 1/2, 3, 1/3...} is unbounded but has subsequence {1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4...} which converges

 
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Looks good to me.

[EDIT] See Evgeny.Makarov's post below for a correction.
 
Last edited:
Carla1985 said:

ii) False: {-1/2, 1/4, -1/8, 1/16, -1/32...} diverges but has subsequence {1/4, 1/16, 1/64...} which converges
Does -1/2, 1/4, -1/8, 1/16, -1/32, ... really diverge?
 
Evgeny.Makarov said:
Does -1/2, 1/4, -1/8, 1/16, -1/32, ... really diverge?


So maybe try flipping what the alternating terms are doing:
{-1/2, 1/2, -1/4, 1, -1/8, 2, -1/16, 4, ...}
 

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