Jump to content

Exercises: Subsequences, Accumulation points, and Cauchy sequences – "Math for Non-Geeks"

From Wikibooks, open books for an open world

Exercises: Subsequences

[edit | edit source]
Exercise (Subsequences of the e-sequence)
  1. Calculate the limit limn→∞(1+1n2)n2
  2. Calculate the limit limn→∞(1+12n)n
  3. Calculate the limit limn→∞(1+1n2)n using 1)
Solution (Subsequences of the e-sequence)

Subtask 1: As we know that the sequence (an)=((1+1n)n) has the limit limn→∞an=e, for the subsequence (ak2)k∈ℕ holds that: limk→∞ak2=limk→∞(1+1k2)k2=limn→∞(1+1n2)n2=e

Subtask 2: With (1+12n)n=(1+12n)2n⋅12=((1+12n)2n)12=(1+12n)2n and (a2n)=((1+12n)2n) being a subsequence of the sequence (an) from 1, we get limn→∞a2n=limn→∞(1+12n)2n=e. Using the computation rules for limits, we get limn→∞(1+12n)2n=limn→∞(1+12n)2n=limn→∞e

Subtask 3: For (bn)=((1+1n2)n) holds that bn=an2n with the sequence (an2)=((1+1n2)n2) from subtask 1.

As limn→∞an2=e, (an2) is bounded from above, there exists an M>0 (actually M>1) with an2≤M for all n∈ℕ. Therefore, Mn is an upper bound of (bn). We even get 1≤bn=(1+1n2)n≤Mn As limn→∞Mn=1, using the squeeze theorem we get limk→∞bn=limn→∞(1+1n2)n=1

Exercises: Accumulation points

[edit | edit source]
Exercise (Accumulation points)

Determine all accumulation points of the sequences (an)n∈ℕ,(bn)n∈ℕ with an=12n+(−1)n and bn=(1+(−1)nn)n.

How to get to the proof? (Accumulation points)
  • Regarding (an): As (12n) converges to 0, all of its subsequences converge to 0. The sequence ((−1)n) alternates between 1 and −1. Hence, its accumulation points are 1 and −1.
  • Regarding (bn): For even n-s, (bn) is a subsequence of the e-sequence (1+1n)n. For odd n-s, (bn) is a subsequence of the sequence (1−1n)n, which converges to 1e.
Solution (Accumulation points)
  • As a2k=122k+(−1)2k=14k+1→k→∞0+1=1, one accumulation point of (an) is 1.

Furthermore, we have a2k−1=122k−1+(−1)2k−1=24k−1−1→k→∞0−1=−1. Hence, another accumulation point of (an) is −1.

These are the only accumulation points of (an) because every other subsequence of (an) either diverges or converges to 1 or −1.

  • We have b2k=(1+12k)2k→k→∞e, as (1+1n)n→n→∞e. Thus, an accumulation point of (bn) is e.

Furthermore, we have b2k+1=(1−12k+1)2k+1→k→∞1e, as (1−1n)n→n→∞1e. Therefore, another accumulation point of (bn) is 1e.

These are the only accumulation points of (bn) because every other subsequence of (bn) either diverges or converges to e or 1e.

Exercises: Lim inf and Lim sup

[edit | edit source]
Exercise (Lim inf and Lim sup)

Determine Lim inf and Lim sup of the sequences (an)n∈ℕ,(bn)n∈ℕ with an=(32+(−1)n)n and bn={2+13nfor n=3k,3+n+2nfor n=3k+1,3for n=3k+2.

How to get to the proof? (Lim inf and Lim sup)
  • We start off investigating whether (an) is bounded from above/below. This sequence is bounded from below, but not from above. Hence, Lim inf equals the smallest accumulation point of (an). We can determine it looking at the subsequence, including the odd sequence elements. As the sequence is not bounded from above, Lim sup equals ∞.
  • As all of its subsequences are bounded, (bn) is bounded from above and below. In order to determine Lim sup and Lim inf of (bn), we need to find the limits of its subsequences.
Solution (Lim inf and Lim sup)
  • As 32+(−1)n≥0, we have an≥0. Hence, (an) is bounded from below. lim inf⁡an then equals the smallest accumulation point of the sequence (an). For the subsequence (a2k−1) holds that

limk→∞a2k−1=limk→∞(32+(−1)2k−1)2k−1=limk→∞(32−1)2k−1=limk→∞(12)2k−1=0 Therefore, 0 is an accumulation point of (an). There can't be other accumulation points, as all other subsequences of our sequence either converge to 0 or diverge. Hence, we have lim infn→∞an=0.

Alternative solution: We have (b~k)k∈ℕ=(inf⁡{an:n≥k})k∈ℕ=(0,0,0,0,…), as the odd sequence elements of (an)n∈ℕ monotonically decrease to 0. It follows that lim infn→∞an=limk→∞bk=0

With n=2k, we get a2k=(32+(−1)2k)2k=(32+1)2k=(52)2k=(254)k The Archimedean property then states that there exists a k∈ℕ with a2k=(254)k>S for all S>0. Therefore, (an) is not bounded from above and lim supn→∞an=∞.

  • Regarding (bn): We have

b3k=2+133k=2+127k→k→∞2+0=2b3k+1=3+3k+33k+1=3+1+23k+1→k→∞4+0=4,b3k+2=3→k→∞3.

Hence, (bn) only has the accumulation points 2,3 and 4. Furthermore, (bn) is bounded, as all subsequences are bounded as well. We get lim infn→∞bn=2 and lim supn→∞bn=4.

Exercise (Lim inf and Lim sup 2)
  1. Let (an)n∈ℕ be a sequence of positive real numbers. Prove the following inequalities: lim infn→∞an+1an≤lim infn→∞ann≤lim supn→∞ann≤lim supn→∞an+1an
  2. Let (an)n∈ℕ be a sequence with an={12n for n=2k−1,13n for n=2k Compute lim infn→∞an+1an, lim infn→∞ann, lim supn→∞ann and lim supn→∞an+1an.
  3. Derive the following statement from 1): Let (an)n∈ℕ be a sequence of positive real numbers with limn→∞an+1an=a∈ℝ. Then we have limn→∞ann=a.
  4. Prove the following limits: limn→∞1n!n=0  and limn→∞nn!n=e
Solution (Lim inf and Lim sup 2)
  1. Let (an) be a positive sequence with

    α=lim inf⁡an+1an,α′=lim inf⁡ann,β′=lim sup⁡ann,β=lim sup⁡an+1an

    We need to show the following inequalities:

    0≤α≤α′≤β′≤β≤∞

    W.l.o.g. let α>0 and β<∞. By definition, α is the smallest and β the largest accumulation point of the sequence (an+1an)n∈ℕ. Hence, for all ε>0 (<α) there exists an m∈ℕ with

    α−ε<ak+1ak<β+ε∀k≥m

    Applying the inequality (n−m) times setting k=m,…,n−1, for an arbitrary n∈ℕ with n−1≥m holds that:

    (α−ε)n−m<am+1am⋅am+2am+1⋅…⋅an−1an−2⋅anan−1<(β+ε)n−m

    The expression in the middle is a telescoping product. Except for the numerator an and the denominator am, everything cancels out.

    (α−ε)n−m<anam<(β+ε)n−m

    Multiplying am and taking the n-th root leads to

    amn⋅(α−ε)1−mn<ann<amn(β+ε)1−mn

    With limn→∞amn=1, the term on the left side converges to α−ε and the one on the right side converges to β+ε for n→∞. Therefore, we get

    α−ε≤lim inf⁡ann and lim sup⁡ann≤β+ε

    As ε can be chosen arbitrarily small, we get

    α≤α′     and     β′≤β

    As the inequality α′≤β′ holds by definition, the claim follows.
    • For all n∈ℕ we have an+1an≥0, as the numerator and denominator are always positive. Hence, 0 is a lower bound of the quotient sequence (an+1an). With n=2k−1 being odd and n+1=2k even, it follows that
    an+1an=a2ka2k−1=132k122k−1=22k−132k=22k2⋅32k=12⋅4k9k=12⋅(49)k→0 for k→∞ Hence, there exists a subsequence of the quotient sequence converging to zero. It follows that lim infn→∞an+1an=0
    • With n=2k being even and n+1=2k+1 being odd, we get
    an+1an=a2k+1a2k=122k+1132k=32k22k+1=32k2⋅22k=12⋅9k4k=12⋅(94)k→∞ for k→∞ Hence, the quotient series doesn't have an upper bound and lim supn→∞an+1an=∞
    • With n=2k−1 being odd, we have
    ann=a2k−12k−1=122k−12k−1=12 and n=2k being even leads to ann=a2k2k=132k2k=13 Hence, (ann) has the accumulation points 12 and 13. It follows that lim infn→∞ann=13 and lim supn→∞ann=12
  2. As limn→∞an+1an=a, we get lim infn→∞an+1an=lim supn→∞an+1an=a Using 1) and the squeeze theorem, we have lim infn→∞ann=lim supn→∞ann=a It follows that limn→∞ann=a.
  3. 1st limit: Let an=1n!. It follows that
    limn→∞an+1an=limn→∞1(n+1)!1n!=limn→∞n!(n+1)!=limn→∞n!(n+1)n!=limn→∞1n+1=0
    Using part 3, we have limn→∞ann=limn→∞1n!n=limn→∞1n!n=0.
    2nd limit: Let an=nnn!. It follows that
    limn→∞an+1an=limn→∞(n+1)n+1(n+1)!nnn!=limn→∞(n+1)n+1n!nn(n+1)!=limn→∞(n+1)n(n+1)n!nn(n+1)n!=limn→∞(n+1)nnn=limn→∞(n+1n)n=limn→∞(1+1n)n=e
    Again using 3. , we get limn→∞ann=limn→∞nnn!n=limn→∞nn!n=e.
Hint

Take a look at the inequalities proven in subtask 1. In subtask 2 even holds that lim infn→∞an+1an<lim infn→∞ann<lim supn→∞ann<lim supn→∞an+1an

Hint

Taking a look at the limits from subtask 4 and using reciprocals, we get: limn→∞n!n=∞  and limn→∞n!nn=1e

Exercises: Cauchy sequences

[edit | edit source]
Exercise (Cauchy criterion for sequences)
  1. Let 0<q<1 and (an)n∈ℕ be a sequence of real numbers with |an+1−an|≤q⋅|an−an−1| for all n∈ℕ. Show that the sequence (an)n∈ℕ converges.
  2. Let a0=0,a1=1 and an+1=12(an+an−1). Show that the sequence (an)n∈ℕ converges and compute its limit.
Solution (Cauchy criterion for sequences)

Subtask 1: We will show that (an) is a Cauchy sequence. The Cauchy criterion then states that (an) converges. Using the assumptions made, we have: |aj+1−aj|≤q⋅|aj−aj−1|≤q2⋅|aj−1−aj−2|≤…≤qj⋅|a1−a0|. If m,n∈ℕ and m>n, there exists a k∈ℕ with m=n+k. It follows that

|am−an|=|an+k−an|=|an+k−an+k−1+an+k−1−an+k−2+…+an+2−an+1+an+1−an|↓ generalized triangle inequality≤|an+k−an+k−1|+|an+k−1−an+k−2|+…+|an+2−an+1|+|an+1−an|=∑j=0k−1|an+j+1−an+j|↓ index shift=∑j=nn+k−1|aj−aj−1|

From the inequalities follows that

|am−an|≤∑j=nn+k−1|aj−aj−1|≤∑j=nn+k−1qj⋅|a1−a0|=|a1−a0|qn∑j=0k−1qj↓ geometric sum formula=|a1−a0|qn1−qk1−q↓ qk≥0⇒1−qk≤1≤|a1−a0|1−qqn

From the Archimedean axiom we can derive that for all ϵ>0 there exists an N∈ℕ such that for all n,m≥N holds |am−an|≤|a1−a0|1−qqn<ϵ Hence, (an) is a Cauchy sequence and therefore convergent.

Subtask 2: For the sequence (an) holds true that |an+1−an|=|12(an+an−1)−an|=|12an−1−12an|=12|an−an−1|. With q=12, the criterion from subtask 1 is met. Hence, (an) converges.

The limit can be computed as follows: Analogous to subtask 1 - but without taking the absolute values -, we have an+1−an=12(an+an−1)−an=12(an−1−an)=−12(an−an−1). Applying the formula n times leads to an+1−an=(−12)n(a1−a0). Hence, we get an+1−a0⏟=0=telescopingsum∑k=0n(ak+1−ak)=seeabove∑k=0n(−12)k(a1−a0)⏟=1−0=1=geometricsum formula1−(−12)n+11+12=1−(−12)n+132=23⋅(1−(−12)n+1). Using the computation rules for limits, we have limn→∞an+1=limn→∞an=limn→∞23⋅(1−(−12)n+1)=23⋅(1−limn→∞(−12)n+1)=23⋅(1−0)=23