SEQUENCES

INFINITE SEQUENCE: Infinite sequence of real numbers is a function

a: N R and it is denoted by {an } where an = a(n), n N. Ex1: an = . {an } = = 1, a1 a2 a3 a4 .. Ex2: bn = (-1)n+1 {bn } = (-1)n+1 = 1, -1, 1, -1, ( n N ) b1 b2 b3 b4 Ex3: cn = K. {cn } = K= K, K, K, K, K ( n N ) c1 c2 c3 c4 c5 .. It is called a Constant Sequence where K is an arbitrary constant. Sequences are often defined recursively. Ex: a1 = 1 and an = an-1 + 1 then a2 = a1 +1 = 1+1=2 a3 = a2 +1 = 2+1=3 The sequence is 1, 2, 3,.

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Convergence and divergence:

The sequence of real numbers {an} converges to a number L if for every > 0 there exists a natural number N such that | an L | < for all n N. We say that {an} diverges if no such number L exists. If {an} converges to L then we write call L the limit of the sequence {an}. A sequence { an } diverges to infinity if for every number M there is a natural number N such that an > M for all n N. this holds then write an = or an as n . A sequence { an } diverges to negative infinity if for every number m there is a natural number N such that an < m for all n N. this holds then write an = - or an - as n . Ex: 1) {an} = If n=1 If n=2 If n=3 If n i.e, { } = a1 = 1 a2 = a3 = 1/3 an = = 0. 0. ( as n , ) an = L or an L as n and

Therefore { } is a convergent sequence and it converges to 0.

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2) {bn} = If n=1 If n=2 If n=3 If n

is a sequence. b1 = b2 = b3 = bn = . =

i.e, { } = 1, ( as n , ) Therefore { } is a divergent sequence and it diverges to .

3) {cn } = - n2 is a sequence. If n=1 c1 =-1 If n=2 c2 = -4 If n=3 c3 = -9 If n cn = - ( )2 = i.e, {- n2} = - 1, - 4, - 9,..( as n , {- n2} {- n2} is a divergent sequence and it diverges to - .

.)

4) {dn} = (- 1 )n+1 is a sequence. If n=1 d1 =+1 If n=2 d2 = -1 If n=3 d3 = +1 If n=4 d4 = -1 as n we cant say that =1 or = -1 i.e, {(-1)n+1} = 1, -1, 1, -1,.. Therefore (- 1 )n+1 is a divergent sequence and it oscillates finitely between -1 and 1.

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5) {en} = (- 1)n+1 n2 If n=1 e1 =1 If n=2 e2 = -4 If n=3 e3 =9 If n=4 e4 =-16 {en} = (- 1) n+1 n2 = 1, - 4, 9,- 16,.. It is a divergent sequence and oscillates infinitely. Convergent Sequence Divergent Sequence Converges to a Finite Value ( Ex. 1 ) may diverge to ( Ex. 2 ) may diverge to ( Ex. 3 ) Oscillates finitely ( Ex. 4 ) Oscillates infinitely ( Ex. 5 )

Boundedness of a sequence:
A sequence {an} of real numbers is bounded above if there exists a number M such that an M n. The number M is an upper bound for {an}. A sequence {an} of real numbers is bounded below if there exists a number m such that m an n. The number m is an lower bound for {an}. A sequence {an} of real numbers is bounded if it is both bounded above and bounded below, i.e, if there exist numbers m and M such that m an M n. A number M is the least upper bound(lub or supremum ) for {an} if M is an upper bound for {an} and no number less than M is an upper bound for {an}.

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A number m is the greatest lower bound(glb or infimum) for {an} if m is a lower bound for {an} and no number greater than m is a lower bound for {an}. Ex1: {an} = -3 -2 -1 0 2/3 4/5,1 2 3 4 5

Ex2: {an} =

6 5 4 3 2 1

0 -1 -2 -3 -4

Ex3: {an} = n= 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 . .-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 .. The above sequence is bounded below by 1 but not bounded above and no supremum. Therefore it is not a bounded sequence.
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Ex4: {an} = - n = -1, -2, -3, -4 . .-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 .. The above sequence is bounded above by -1 but not bounded below and no infimum. Therefore it is not a bounded sequence.

Ex5: {an} = ( -1 ) n+1 = 1, - 1, 1, - 1, 1, - 1 a divergent sequence. -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5

The above sequence is bounded below by -1 and bounded above by 1. Therefore it is a bounded sequence. ( But it is a divergent sequence.)

Every convergent sequence is bounded but bounded sequence need not be convergent.
Note: (m) (M) in any sequence.

Non-decreasing and Non- increasing sequence:

Let {an} be a sequence of real numbers. {an} is said to be a non decreasing sequence if an n+1 for all n N. {an} is said to be a non -increasing sequence if an an+1 for all n N.
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A sequence of real numbers is said to be a Monotonic sequence if it is either Non-decreasing or non-increasing.

Ex:

{K} = K, K, K,.. is a non-decreasing and non -increasing sequence.

Note: Every constant sequence is both non-increasing and non-decreasing.

Non-decreasing sequence:
Let {an} be a non-decreasing sequence. ( a1 .. a3 a2 a1 1. It is bounded below by a1 (first term of the sequence) and g.l.b. or Infimum is a1. 2. If it is bounded above, then it is bounded and then it converges to its l.u.b. or supremum. 3. If non-decreasing sequence is not bounded above then it has no supremum and it diverges to .
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a2

a3 .. )

Non-increasing sequence:
Let {an} be a non-increasing sequence. ( a1 a1 a2 a3 . 1. It is bounded above by a1 ( first term of the sequence ) and l.u.b. or supremum is a1. 2. If it is bounded below, then it is bounded and converges to its g.l.b. or infimum. 3. If non-increasing sequence is not bounded below, then it diverges to a2 a3 .. )

A monotonic sequence of real numbers is convergent if and only if it is bounded. How to check the given sequence is convergent or not?
Apply limit to the given sequence. 1. If it is a finite value L , then the sequence converges to L. 2. If it is not a finite value or limit does not exists, then the given sequence diverges. Ex1: {an} = = 0. ( finite value ) converges to 0.
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Therefore the sequence {

Ex2:

{an} = ( = = form ) ( L Hopitals Rule ) = 1 ( finite value ) converges to 1.

Therefore the sequence { Ex3: {an} =

( Therefore the sequence { Ex4: {an} = =

form ) then } diverges to .

Therefore the sequence { Ex 5: {an} =

} diverges to

does not exist. Therefore the sequence { } is a divergent sequence.

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Ex 6:

{an} =

First we have to rationalize the given sequence. X =0 = ( finite value) } converges to 0. =

Therefore the sequence {

Remember the following formulae:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

=0 =1 = 1 where x > 0 = 0 where |x| < 1 = = 0 for any x for any x

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Subsequence:
If {an} is a sequence and {nk} is a sequence of natural numbers such that n1 < n2 < n3 < . Then the sequence {ank} is called a Subsequence of {an}. Note: 1. The sequence {an} converges to L if and only if every subsequence of {an} converges to L. 2. If subsequences {a2n-1} and {a2n} of a sequence {an} converge to the same limit L, Then the sequence {an} converges to L. Ex: {an} = {a 2n-1} = 1, , {a2n} = - ,,, = , , , ,

, converges to 0 , converges to 0. also converges to 0.

The subsequences are converging to 0. Therefore the given sequence {an} =

3. If subsequences {a2n-1} and {a2n} of a sequence {an} converge to different limits L1 L2, Then the sequence {an} diverges. Ex: {an} = = 1, -1, 1, -1, 1, -1,.. {a 2n-1} = 1, 1, 1, 1, . Converges to 1. {a2n} = -1, -1, -1, -1,converges to -1. The subsequences are converging to two different limits 1 -1. Therefore the given sequence {an} = is a divergent sequence.

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The sandwich theorem for Sequences:

Let {an} , {bn} and {cn} be sequences of real numbers and an bn cn for all n beyond some index N. if an = cn = L, then bn = L. Ex: {an} = We know that -1 cos n 1 for all n. = 0 and = 0 then b converges to 0. =0

Therefore the given sequence {an} =

It is not the matter, how many number of breathes we have been taking. It is the matter how many breathless moments we are passing through.

Jaya Krishna Reddy. M.

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