Proof of Sohrab's Proposition 2.2.39 (a) | Upper & Lower Limits

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the proof of Proposition 2.2.39 (a) from Houshang H. Sohrab's "Basic Real Analysis," focusing on the definitions and properties of upper and lower limits in the context of sequences. Participants seek a formal and rigorous proof, exploring various approaches and clarifications related to the proposition.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Peter requests a formal proof of Proposition 2.2.39 (a) and expresses difficulty in following earlier explanations.
  • Some participants suggest that the proof involves re-labeling sequences and using properties of limits, but the details remain unclear to Peter.
  • One participant proposes using the infimum sequence \( u_n \) and argues that if \( a \leq u_n \) for all \( n \), then \( a \) should be less than or equal to the limit of \( u_n \). They explore the implications of this relationship.
  • There is a discussion about the validity of treating a constant \( a \) as a sequence, with Peter questioning how this analogy holds in the proof.
  • Another participant emphasizes the importance of epsilon management and suggests a proof by contradiction to show that \( a \) must be less than or equal to the limit of the sequence, but acknowledges the complexity of the argument.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of understanding and agreement on the proof's details. There is no consensus on the best approach or resolution of the proof, and multiple interpretations of the argument exist.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the need for clarity on the treatment of constants as sequences and the implications of limit properties, indicating that some assumptions may need further exploration.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students and educators in real analysis, particularly those studying sequences, limits, and the nuances of formal proofs in mathematical analysis.

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I am reading Houshang H. Sohrab's book: "Basic Real Analysis" (Second Edition).

I am focused on Chapter 2: Sequences and Series of Real Numbers ... ...

I need help with the proof of Proposition 2.2.39 (a)Proposition 2.2.39 (plus definitions of upper limit and lower limit ... ) reads as follows:
View attachment 9243

Can someone please demonstrate a formal and rigorous proof of Part (a) of Proposition 2.2.39 ...Help will be appreciated ... ...

Peter
 

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I think I covered (a) at the end of my post
https://mathhelpboards.com/analysis-50/upper-lower-linits-lim-sup-lim-inf-sohrab-proposition-2-2-39-b-26469-new.html

where I said "This is another basic property of limits"

you just need to re-label one of the sequences to be a or b... (which is an isolated point / peculiar sequence but it doesn't change any of the intuition or epsilon management)
 
steep said:
I think I covered (a) at the end of my post
https://mathhelpboards.com/analysis-50/upper-lower-linits-lim-sup-lim-inf-sohrab-proposition-2-2-39-b-26469-new.html

where I said "This is another basic property of limits"

you just need to re-label one of the sequences to be a or b... (which is an isolated point / peculiar sequence but it doesn't change any of the intuition or epsilon management)
Hi steep ...

Thanks for the help ,,, but ... having trouble following you on this one ...

Sorry to be slow ... but can you give more details of the proof for (a) ...

Thanks again fr your help ...

Peter
 
so using $u_n$ as the inf sequence, we know

$a \leq u_n$ for all $n$ and we know (monotone convergence) that $u_n \to L_u \geq a$ I'm going to reuse that other argument almost verbatim to make a point
====
(This is another basic property of limits... if you aren't familiar, argue by contradiction that $a - L_u = c \gt 0$, now select something easy, say $\epsilon := \frac{c}{10}$ which implies there is some $N$ such that for all $n\geq N$

you have $\vert u_n - L_u\vert \lt \epsilon$ and by optional analogy with before $\vert a - a\vert =0\lt \epsilon$ but this implies $a \gt u_n$ which is a contradiction -- sketching this out is best... it implies that $u_n \lt L_u + \frac{1}{10}c \lt L_u + \frac{9}{10}c = L_u + c - \frac{1}{10}c = a- \frac{1}{10}c \lt a$

but we are told $a \leq u_n$ holds for all n
 
steep said:
so using $u_n$ as the inf sequence, we know

$a \leq u_n$ for all $n$ and we know (monotone convergence) that $u_n \to L_u \geq a$ I'm going to reuse that other argument almost verbatim to make a point
====
(This is another basic property of limits... if you aren't familiar, argue by contradiction that $a - L_u = c \gt 0$, now select something easy, say $\epsilon := \frac{c}{10}$ which implies there is some $N$ such that for all $n\geq N$

you have $\vert u_n - L_u\vert \lt \epsilon$ and by optional analogy with before $\vert a - a\vert =0\lt \epsilon$ but this implies $a \gt u_n$ which is a contradiction -- sketching this out is best... it implies that $u_n \lt L_u + \frac{1}{10}c \lt L_u + \frac{9}{10}c = L_u + c - \frac{1}{10}c = a- \frac{1}{10}c \lt a$

but we are told $a \leq u_n$ holds for all n

Thanks again for your help steep ...

After reflecting on what you have written ...

... I think the essence of your suggested proof of $$a \leq \underline{lim} (x_n)$$ is as follows ...... now ... $$u_n = \text{inf} \{ x_k \ : \ k \geq n \}$$ and $$a \leq u_n \leq b$$ ...

If we accept that $$(u_n)$$ is increasing (or at least non-decreasing) then given that $$(u_n)$$ is also bounded above by b, we then have, by the Monotone Convergence Theorem, that $$(u_n)$$ is convergent ...... that is $$(u_n) \longrightarrow L_u$$ where $$L_u$$ is some real number ... and of course $$L_u = \underline{lim} (x_n)$$Then ... to prove $$a \leq \underline{lim} (x_n)$$ ... I think you do something like the following ...

... let $$a = (a,a,a, ... ... )$$ and so given that $$a \leq u_n \ \forall \ n \in \mathbb{N}$$ we have ...

... $$\lim_{ n \to \infty } (a) \leq \lim_{ n \to \infty } (u_n )$$

$$\Longrightarrow a \leq \underline{lim} (x_n)$$ ... BUT ...... how do we justify treating a real number (viz. $$a$$) like a sequence ...

... that is how is it valid that $$a = (a,a,a, ... ... )$$
Is the above correct ...

Can you help further ... ?

Peter
 
Peter said:
...
Then ... to prove $$a \leq \underline{lim} (x_n)$$ ... I think you do something like the following ...

... let $$a = (a,a,a, ... ... )$$ and so given that $$a \leq u_n \ \forall \ n \in \mathbb{N}$$ we have ...

... $$\lim_{ n \to \infty } (a) \leq \lim_{ n \to \infty } (u_n )$$

$$\Longrightarrow a \leq \underline{lim} (x_n)$$ ... BUT ...... how do we justify treating a real number (viz. $$a$$) like a sequence ...

... that is how is it valid that $$a = (a,a,a, ... ... )$$
Is the above correct ...

Can you help further ... ?

Peter

That is the essence of it. The underlined part is what worries me because it is technically a fine question, but I inadvertently created this as an issue... because I wanted to stress that the intuition (and epsilon management) is basically the same as in your other question. Now kindly forget the fact that I made that analogy. And let's take another look at the problem.

Consider $u_n$ as a sequence. and $a$ is just some constant real number that is a lower bound on $u_n$. How do I know that $a \leq u_n$ for all n? because your book tells me this is true for the specific sequence involved.

so copying and pasting from what I wrote before, with minor adjustments (to make the point that the epsilon management is about the same) I would say:

= = = = =
argue by contradiction that $a - L_u = c \gt 0$, now select something easy, say $\epsilon := \frac{c}{10}$ which implies there is some $N$ such that for all $n\geq N$

you have $\vert u_n - L_u\vert \lt \epsilon$ but this implies that

$u_n \lt L_u + \frac{1}{10}c \lt L_u + c = a$

but we are told $a \leq u_n$ holds for all n which is a contradiction
 
Last edited:
steep said:
That is the essence of it. The underlined part is what worries me because it is technically a fine question, but I inadvertently created this as an issue... because I wanted to stress that the intuition (and epsilon management) is basically the same as in your other question. Now kindly forget the fact that I made that analogy. And let's take another look at the problem.

Consider $u_n$ as a sequence. and $a$ is just some constant real number that is a lower bound on $u_n$. How do I know that $a \leq u_n$ for all n? because your book tells me this is true for the specific sequence involved.

so copying and pasting from what I wrote before, with minor adjustments (to make the point that the epsilon management is about the same) I would say:

= = = = =
argue by contradiction that $a - L_u = c \gt 0$, now select something easy, say $\epsilon := \frac{c}{10}$ which implies there is some $N$ such that for all $n\geq N$

you have $\vert u_n - L_u\vert \lt \epsilon$ but this implies that

$u_n \lt L_u + \frac{1}{10}c \lt L_u + c = a$

but we are told $a \leq u_n$ holds for all n which is a contradiction
Thanks for all your help on this problem, steep ...

... it is is much appreciated ...

Peter
 

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