PC Intro To Sequences

Limits of Sequences of
Real Numbers
Sequences of Real Numbers

Limits through Rigorous Definitions
The Squeeze Theorem
Using the Squeeze Theorem
Monotonous Sequences
Sequences of Numbers
Definition A sequence  x1,x2 ,x3 , K  is a rule that assigns,
to each natural number n, the number xn.
 1 1 1 
Examples 1  1, , , ,K 
 2 4 8 
2  1,1.4,1.41,1.414,1.4142,K 
3  1, 3,5, 7,9,K 
Limits of Sequences
Definition A finite number L is the limit of the sequence
 x1,x2 ,x3 , K  if the numbers xn get arbitrarily close
to the number L as the index n grows.
If a sequence has a finite limit, then we say that the sequence is
convergent or that it converges. Otherwise it diverges and is
divergent.
 1 1 1 
Examples 1 The sequence 1, ,
 2 4 8 , , K  converges
 
and its limit is 0.
2 The sequence  1,1.4,1.41,1.414,1.4142, K  converges
and its limit is 2.
3 The sequence (1,-2,3,-4,…) diverges.
Notation lim xn  L
n 
Computing Limits of
Sequences
The limit of a sequence  x  (1)
can be often computed by inserting n  
n
in the formula defining the general term x . If this expression can be

n
evaluated and the result is finite, then this finite value is the limit of
the sequence. This usually requires a rewriting of the expression xn .
 1 1 1   1 
Examples 1 The limit of the sequence  1, 2 , 4 , 8 ,K    2n 1  is 0 because
   
1
inserting n   to the formula xn  n 1 one gets 0.
2 1
 n  1 1 
2
n 12
n 2
2 The limit of the sequence  2  is 1 because rewriting 2 
 n  1  n  1 1
1 2
n
and inserting n   one gets 1.
Computing Limits of
Sequences
Examples continued
3 The limit of the sequence  

n  1  n is 0 because of the rewriting
n 1 n
 n 1 n  n 1 n 
n 1 n

 n  1  n 
1
.
n 1 n n 1 n
Insert n   to get the limit 0.

Computing Limits by Maple
Maple commands Limit and
limit
Calling Limit(f,x=a,dir) and

Sequence limit(f,x=a,dir)
This command computes the limit of the expression f as the

variable x approaches the value a. The optional argument dir
can be used to define the direction from which the variable x
approaches the value a.
When computing limits of sequences, f is the general term of the
sequence and the variable x takes only positive integer values
and approaches the infinity.
Formal Definition of Limits of
Sequences
Definition A finite number L is the limit of the sequence
 x1,x2 ,x3 , K  if
  0 : n such that n  n  L  xn   .
1
Example lim  0 since if   0 is given, then
n  n
1 1 1
0    if n   n .
n n 
Limit of Sums
Theorem Assume that the limits lim xn  x and lim y n  y 
n  n 
are finite. Then lim  xn  y n   x  y  .

n 
Proof Let   0 be given.

We have to find a number n with the property
n  n  xn  y n  x  y    .

To that end observe that also  0.
2
Hence there are numbers n1 and n2 such that
  By the
n  n1  xn  x  and n  n2  y n  y   .
2 2 Triangle
Let now n =max  n1, n2  . We have Inequality
 
n  n  xn  y n  x  y   xn  x  y n  y     .
2 2
Limits of Products
The same argument as for sums can be used to prove the following
result.
Theorem Assume that the limits lim xn  x and lim y n  y 

n  n 
are finite. Then lim xn y n  x y  .

n 
Remark Observe that the limits lim xn y n and lim  xn  y n  may exist
n  n 
and be finite even if the limits lim xn and lim y n do not exist.
n  n 
1
Examples Let xn   1 n and y n 
n
2
. Then lim y n  0 and
n n 
the limit lim xn does not exist. However, lim xn y n  0.

n  n 
Squeeze Theorem for
Sequences
Theorem Assume that n : x  y  z and that
n n n
lim xn  lim zn  a.
n  n 
Then the limit lim y n exists and

n 
lim y n  lim xn  lim zn .

n  n  n 
Proof Let   0. Since lim xn  lim zn  a, nx  nz such

n  n 
that n  nx  xn  a   and n  nz  zn  a   .
Let ny  max  nx , nz  . Then
n  ny  a  y n  max  a  xn , a  zn    .
This follows since xn  y n  zn n.

n!
Example Compute lim .
n  nn
Solution This is difficult to compute using the standard methods

because n! is defined only if n is a natural number.
So the values of the sequence in question are not given by an
elementary function to which we could apply tricks like L’Hospital’s
Rule.
n!
Observe that 0< n for all n  0. Here each term k/n < 1.
n
Next observe that
n ! 12 3L  n  1 n 1 2 3 n  1 n 1 n! 1
    L   . Hence 0  n
 .
n n
n n n L n n n n n n n n n n
1 n!
Since lim  0, also lim n  0 by the Squeeze Theorem.
n  n n  n
 sin(n ) 
Problem Does the sequence   converge?
 n  cos(n ) 
If it does, find its limit.
Solution
We have  1  sin( n )  1 and  1  cos(n )  1 for all n  2,3,4,K .
1 sin(n ) 1
Hence    .
n  1 n  cos(n ) n  1
1  1 
Since lim  lim     0 we conclude that the sequence
n  n - 1 n 
 n - 1
 sin(n )  sin(n )
  converges and that lim  0.
 n  cos(n )  n  n  cos(n )
Definition A sequence (a1,a2,a3,…) is increasing if an ≤ an+1 for all n.
The sequence (a1,a2,a3,…) is decreasing if an+1 ≤ an for all n.
The sequence (a1,a2,a3,…) is monotonous if it is either increasing or

decreasing.
The sequence (a1,a2,a3,…) is bounded if there are numbers M and
m such that m ≤ an ≤ M for all n.
Theorem A bounded monotonous sequence always has a

finite limit.
Observe that it suffices to show that the theorem for increasing

sequences (an) since if (an) is decreasing, then consider the
increasing sequence (-an).
Theorem A bounded monotonous sequence always has a finite limit.
Proof Let (a1,a2,a3,…) be an increasing bounded sequence.
Then the set {a1,a2,a3,…} is bounded from the above.
By the fact that the set of real numbers is complete,

s=sup {a1,a2,a3,…}
is finite.
Claim lim an  s.
n 
Theorem A bounded monotonous sequence always has a finite limit.
Proof Let (a1,a2,a3,…) be an increasing bounded sequence.
Let s=sup {a1,a2,a3,…}.
Claim lim an  s.
n 
Proof of the Claim Let   0.
We have to find a number n with the property that n  n  an  s   .
Since s  sup  an  , there is an element an such that s    an  s.

Since  an  is increasing n  n  s    an  an  s.
Hence n  n  an  s   . This means that lim an  s.
n 

PC Intro To Sequences

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PC Intro To Sequences

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What are sequences and limits of sequences?

What are sequences and limits of sequences?

What is the squeeze theorem and how is it used?

What is the squeeze theorem and how is it used?

Limits of Sequences of

Sequences of Real Numbers

in the formula defining the general term x . If this expression can be

3 The limit of the sequence  

Insert n   to get the limit 0.

Calling Limit(f,x=a,dir) and

This command computes the limit of the expression f as the

are finite. Then lim  xn  y n   x  y  .

Proof Let   0 be given.

Theorem Assume that the limits lim xn  x and lim y n  y 

are finite. Then lim xn y n  x y  .

the limit lim xn does not exist. However, lim xn y n  0.

Then the limit lim y n exists and

lim y n  lim xn  lim zn .

Proof Let   0. Since lim xn  lim zn  a, nx  nz such

This follows since xn  y n  zn n.

Solution This is difficult to compute using the standard methods

We have  1  sin( n )  1 and  1  cos(n )  1 for all n  2,3,4,K .

The sequence (a1,a2,a3,…) is decreasing if an+1 ≤ an for all n.

The sequence (a1,a2,a3,…) is monotonous if it is either increasing or

Theorem A bounded monotonous sequence always has a

Observe that it suffices to show that the theorem for increasing

Proof Let (a1,a2,a3,…) be an increasing bounded sequence.

Then the set {a1,a2,a3,…} is bounded from the above.

By the fact that the set of real numbers is complete,

Proof Let (a1,a2,a3,…) be an increasing bounded sequence.

Let s=sup {a1,a2,a3,…}.

Proof of the Claim Let   0.

We have to find a number n with the property that n  n  an  s   .

Since s  sup  an  , there is an element an such that s    an  s.

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