Prove: Cauchy sequences are converging sequences

In summary, the goal is to prove that if a sequence a[n] is Cauchy and has a convergent subsequence, then a[n] itself must converge. This can be done by using the fact that all Cauchy sequences are bounded, any subsequence of a bounded sequence is also bounded, and any monotone bounded sequence converges. By combining these pieces of information, it can be shown that a[n] converges to the limit of the subsequence.
  • #1
Mathematicize
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Homework Statement


I want to prove that if a sequence a[n] is cauchy then a[n] is a converging sequence


Homework Equations


What I know is:
  1. a[n] is bounded
  2. any subsequence is bounded
  3. there exists a monotone subsequence
  4. all monotone bounded sequences converge
  5. there exists a convergent subsequence by the above
 
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  • #2
Mathematicize said:

Homework Statement


I want to prove that if a sequence a[n] is cauchy then a[n] is a converging sequence

Homework Equations


What I know is:
  1. a[n] is bounded
  2. any subsequence is bounded
  3. there exists a monotone subsequence
  4. all monotone bounded sequences converge
  5. there exists a convergent subsequence by the above

I assume your sequence is real-valued, since you are talking about monotone subsequences.

What you have done so far is fine, assuming you have proofs for each claim. So now you need to prove that any Cauchy sequence which has a convergent subsequence must converge.

Let [itex]L[/itex] be the limit of the subsequence [itex](a_{n_k})[/itex]. Given [itex]\epsilon > 0[/itex], there exists a natural number [itex]N[/itex] such that [itex]|a_{n_k} - L| < \epsilon[/itex] for all [itex]n_k \geq N[/itex]. There also exists a natural number [itex]M[/itex] such that [itex]|a_n - a_m| < \epsilon[/itex] whenever [itex]n,m \geq M[/itex]. How can you combine these two pieces of information to conclude that [itex]a_n[/itex] converges to [itex]L[/itex]?
 

What is a Cauchy sequence?

A Cauchy sequence is a sequence of numbers in which the terms become increasingly closer to one another as the sequence progresses. In other words, for any given positive number, there exists a point in the sequence after which all terms are within that distance from each other.

What does it mean for a sequence to converge?

A sequence converges if it approaches a single value as the number of terms in the sequence increases. In other words, the terms in the sequence get closer and closer together and eventually approach a limit.

How do you prove that a Cauchy sequence is converging?

To prove that a Cauchy sequence is converging, we must show that the sequence satisfies the definition of convergence. This means that for any positive number, there exists a point in the sequence after which all terms are within that distance from the limit.

What is the importance of proving that Cauchy sequences are converging?

Proving that Cauchy sequences are converging is important because it allows us to make mathematical statements and predictions about the behavior of a sequence. It also helps us to understand the properties and limitations of different types of sequences.

Can a Cauchy sequence converge to a value other than its limit?

No, a Cauchy sequence can only converge to its limit. This is because the definition of a Cauchy sequence requires the terms to get arbitrarily close to the limit, and any other value would not satisfy this requirement.

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