Do Cauchy Sequences Imply Convergent Differences?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the implications of Cauchy sequences and their relationship to convergent differences in the context of real analysis. Participants are examining specific sequences to explore whether the properties of Cauchy sequences guarantee convergence of their differences.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are analyzing definitions and properties of Cauchy sequences, questioning the implications of specific examples. They are considering whether certain sequences can serve as counterexamples to the original statement.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing examples and counterexamples to test the validity of the original claim. Some guidance has been offered regarding the use of the triangle inequality and the conditions under which the sequences are evaluated.

Contextual Notes

There is a focus on the existential quantifier in the premise, leading to discussions about the choice of constants in the sequences. Participants are also considering the implications of strict versus non-strict inequalities in their examples.

Bptrhp
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Homework Statement
Let ##(x_n)## and ##(y_n)## be Cauchy sequences in ##\mathbb{R}## such as ##x_n-y_n\rightarrow 0##. Prove that if exists ##K>0## such as ##|x_n|\leq K,\forall \,n\in\mathbb{N}##, then there exists ##n_0\in\mathbb{N}## such as ##|y_n|\leq K, \forall \,n>n_0## .
Relevant Equations
##|x_n|\leq K,\forall \,n\in\mathbb{N}##
I've started by writing down the definitions, so we have

$$x_n-y_n\rightarrow 0\, \Rightarrow \, \forall w>0, \exists \, n_w\in\mathbb{N}:n>n_{w}\,\Rightarrow\,|x_n-y_n|<w $$
$$(x_n)\, \text{is Cauchy} \, \Rightarrow \,\forall w>0, \exists \, n_0\in\mathbb{N}:m,n>n_{0}\,\Rightarrow\,|x_m-x_n|<w $$
$$(y_n) \,\text{is Cauchy} \, \Rightarrow \,\forall w>0, \exists \, n_0\in\mathbb{N}:m,n>n_{0}\,\Rightarrow\,|y_m-y_n|<w $$

I tried using properties of the absolute value and the only vaguely useful result I got is ##|x_n-t_n|\leq C+|t_n|##. I can't see how to use this to prove the desired result.
Any hints? I appreciate any help!
 
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What about ##x_n=K## for all n, ##y_n = K+1/n##? It seems to prove the statement false. Is the inequality supposed to be strict?
 
What if ##x_n=1=K## and ##y_n=1+\dfrac{1}{n}##?
 
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Office_Shredder said:
What about ##x_n=K## for all n, ##y_n = K+1/n##? It seems to prove the statement false. Is the inequality supposed to be strict?

fresh_42 said:
What if ##x_n=1=K## and ##y_n=1+\dfrac{1}{n}##?

Your example is not a counter-example: The quantifier in the premise is existential, so if K = 1 doesn't work you should take a larger value of K. In this case K \geq 2 and n_0 = 1 works.

@Bptrhp: You have a bound on |x_n| and you need to find a bound on |y_n|. So use the triangle inequality in the form <br /> \begin{align*}<br /> |y_n| &amp;= |y_n - x_n + x_n| \\ &amp;\leq |y_n - x_n| + |x_n|. \end{align*}
 
pasmith said:
Your example is not a counter-example: The quantifier in the premise is existential, so if K = 1 doesn't work you should take a larger value of K. In this case K \geq 2 and n_0 = 1 works.

@Bptrhp: You have a bound on |x_n| and you need to find a bound on |y_n|. So use the triangle inequality in the form <br /> \begin{align*}<br /> |y_n| &amp;= |y_n - x_n + x_n| \\ &amp;\leq |y_n - x_n| + |x_n|. \end{align*}
You don't get to pick K. It says if there exists ##K## such that ##K\geq |x_n|## then stuff about it is true. We gave an example of such a K, so the stuff about it should be true.
 
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pasmith said:
Your example is not a counter-example: The quantifier in the premise is existential, so if K = 1 doesn't work you should take a larger value of K. In this case K \geq 2 and n_0 = 1 works.
I don't see that at all.
 
Office_Shredder said:
What about ##x_n=K## for all n, ##y_n = K+1/n##? It seems to prove the statement false. Is the inequality supposed to be strict?
Even with strict inequality we have: ##x_n = 1 - \frac 1 n## and ##y_n = 1 + \frac 1 n##.
 
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