Sequences limits and cauchy sequences

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the properties of sequences, specifically focusing on Cauchy sequences and their limits. Participants are examining conditions under which certain sequences can be classified as Cauchy based on given limits and inequalities.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to prove or refute two statements regarding sequences and their convergence properties. The first statement involves the limit of the difference between terms, while the second concerns a specific inequality between consecutive terms. There is a focus on finding counterexamples and exploring the behavior of slowly growing functions.

Discussion Status

Some participants are actively seeking counterexamples to support or refute the claims made in the homework statements. There is a suggestion to consider functions that grow very slowly, and participants are discussing the implications of bounding sums related to the second statement. The conversation reflects a mix of interpretations and approaches without a clear consensus on the outcomes.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention constraints such as the inability to use certain functions in their current coursework, which limits their exploration of counterexamples. There is also a reference to specific sequences that may serve as counterexamples, indicating ongoing consideration of various mathematical properties.

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Homework Statement


prove or refute:

if lim(a(2n)-a(n)=o , then a(n) is a cauchy sequence


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I need to prove that for every m,n big enough a(m)-a(n)<epsilon
so I know for all m and n I can say m=l*n, lim(a(m)-a(n))=lim(a(n*l)-a(n*l/2) +a(n*l/2) -a(n*l/4)...+a(2n)-a(n)), which is the sum of a lot of zeros, though if I take m to be 2^n or something like that, I get an inifinite amount of zeros, so I don't know what I can do with that.
so I tried to find a sequence which contredicts it, though couldn't find any




Homework Statement


prove or refute:
if |a(n+1)-a(n)|<9/10*|a(n)-a(n-1)|
then a(n) is a cauchy sequence


Homework Equations






The Attempt at a Solution


well fromt he equation I can get:
(|a(n+1)-a(n)|)/(|a(n)-a(n-1))<9/10<1
so what it gives me is that all that in the power of n is going to zero, which means is a cauchy sequence, thoguh I don't see how it helps me =\
 
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Yes, you want a counterexample for the first one. It's going to have to be a function that grows REALLY slowly. What kind of functions can you think of that do that? For the second one for n<m, a(n)-a(m)=(a(n)-a(n+1))+(a(n+1)-a(n+2))+(a(n+2)-a(n+3))+ ... (a(m-1)-a(m)). Think you can maybe bound that sum by a geometric series?
 
Dick said:
Yes, you want a counterexample for the first one. It's going to have to be a function that grows REALLY slowly. What kind of functions can you think of that do that? For the second one for n<m, a(n)-a(m)=(a(n)-a(n+1))+(a(n+1)-a(n+2))+(a(n+2)-a(n+3))+ ... (a(m-1)-a(m)). Think you can maybe bound that sum by a geometric series?

I know I need something that grows really really slow, but I couldn't find any
and we can't use functions yet in the course, so it'd have to be a sequence/series
the slowest one I could think of is 1/1+1/2+1/3+1/4+... which is good to refute the another question, which was "if lim(a(n+1)-a(n)=o , then a(n) is a cauchy sequence", though for this one it's not helpful.
 
a(n)=log(n) grows pretty slowly, but not quite slowly enough. Try sqrt(log(n)).
 

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