Lecture - 7 (9)

Absolute Value and Limit

Theorem - 2.3 : Suppose ( x n ) is a convergent sequence then

(a) lim ( x n ) = x if and only if lim ( xn − x )= 0

(b) lim ( x n ) = 0 if and only if lim ( xn )=0
(c) ( xn ) is convergent and lim ( xn )= lim( x n ) ( Converse is not true in general )

Proof : (a) lim ( x n ) = x  for every   0 there exist a natural number K ( ) such that

the terms x n satisfy xn − x   , for all n  K (  ) .

Now xn − x − 0 = xn − x   , for all n  K (  ) .

This asserts that lim ( xn − x )= 0 .

(b) Take x = 0 in part (a) .

(c) lim ( x n ) = x  for every   0 there exist a natural number K ( ) such that

the terms x n satisfy xn − x   , for all n  K (  ) .

Now xn − x  xn − x   , for all n  K (  ) .

This asserts that lim ( xn )= x .

Examples : ( Converse is not true in general )

(1) Consider the sequence ( x ) = ( (−1) ) . Then we see that the sequence ( x ) = ( 1 )
n
n
n

is convergent but the sequence ( x ) is not convergent .

n

(2) Consider the sequence ( x ) = ( (−1) 5 ) . Then we see the sequence ( x ) = ( 5 ) is

n
n
n

convergent but the sequence ( x ) is not convergent .

n

(10)
 (3) Consider the sequence ( x ) = (Cos (−1)  ) = ( − 1 ,
n
n
−1 , −1 , −1, ... ) . Then
we see that the sequence ( xn ) = ( 1 ) is convergent and the sequence ( x ) is also n

convergent.
 (−1) n 
(4) Consider the sequence ( )  n
=

xn  . Then we see that the sequence

( xn ) =  1n 
is convergent and the sequence ( x n ) is also convergent .

• If the sequence ( xn ) is divergent then the original sequence ( x ) is always

n

divergent .

This is just a contrapositive statement of the fact that

“ If a sequence ( x n ) is convergent then the sequence ( xn ) is also convergent “ .

Sometime we use this statement to show a sequence to be divergent.

Examples : (1) The sequence ( x n ) = ( ( −1)n n2 ) is divergent.

Proof : Consider its absolute value sequence ( xn ) = ( n ) . Since it is an unbounded
2

sequence hence it is divergent . Therefore the original sequence ( x n ) is also divergent .

(2) The sequence ( x n ) = ( ( − 5 ) n ) is divergent.

Proof : Consider its absolute value sequence ( xn ) = ( 5 ) . Since it is an unbounded
n

sequence hence it is divergent . Therefore the original sequence ( x n ) is also divergent .

(3) The sequence ( x n ) = ( (−1) n

3n +1 ) is divergent .
Proof : Consider its absolute value sequence ( xn )= ( 3n +1 ) . Since it is an
unbounded as 3n +1  3n  n , for all n

Hence it is a divergent sequence. Therefore the original sequence ( x n ) is also divergent .

(11)
  n2 
(4) The sequence ( x n ) =  ( −1)n  is divergent.
 n −1 

 n2 
Proof : Consider its absolute value sequence ( xn ) =  . Since it is an unbounded
 n −1 
n2 n2
sequence as  = n , for all n2
n −1 n

Hence it is divergent . Therefore the original sequence ( x n ) is also divergent .

Tails of Sequences
Definition : If ( x n ) = ( x1 , x 2 , x 3 , x 4 , . . . ) is a sequence of real numbers and if ‘ m ’ is a
given

natural number, then the m - tail of the sequence denoted by ( x m + n ) is the sequence given by

( xm + n ) : = ( xm + n : n  ) = ( xm +1 , xm + 2 , xm + 3 , xm + 4 , . . . )

For example , the 3-tail of the sequence ( x n ) = ( 2 , 4 , 6 , 8 , 10 , . . . , 2n , . . . ) is the

sequence ( x 3 + n ) = ( x 4 , x 5 , x 6 , . . . ) = ( 8 , 10 , 12 , . . . , 2 n + 6 , . . . )

Theorem – 2.4 : ( Convergence of Tail of Sequence )

Let ( x n ) be a sequence of real numbers and let m  . Then the m - tail ( x m + n ) of the

sequence ( x n ) converges  the sequence ( x n ) converges and lim ( x m + n ) = lim ( x n ) .

 1 1 
Example : (1) Show that lim  − =0
 n n +1

 1   1
Solution : Since the sequence   is the 1-Tail of the sequence   , therefore
 n +1  n
 1   1  1 
lim   exists and lim   = lim   = 0 . Hence the result.
 n + 1   
n  n + 1 
 (12)

1
(2) Consider the inductive sequence x1 = 2 , xn + 1 = xn + 2 , for n  1 , find out its limit ?
2

Solution : Let lim ( x n ) = L , since the 1- Tail sequence ( x n + 1 ) converges to same limit ‘L’

1
Therefore applying n →  we get L = L + 2  L = 4.
2

Exercises
(1) Write the first five terms in each of the following sequences with nth term x n :

( −1)
n

x n : = 1 + ( −1) xn :=
n
(i) (ii)
n

1 1
(iii) xn := (iv) xn :=
n ( n + 1) n +1
2

(2) The first few terms of a sequence ( x n ) are given below. Write the nth term x n :

1 −1 1 − 1
(i) 5, 7, 9, 11, . . . (ii) , , , ,...
2 4 8 16

1 2 3 4
(iii) , , , ,... (iv) 1 , 4 , 9 , 16 , . . .
2 3 4 5

(3) Write the first five terms in each of the following inductively defined sequences :

1  2 
(i) x1 : = 1 , x n + 1 : = 3 x n + 1 (ii) y1 : = 2 , y n + 1 : =  y n + 
2  y n 

zn +1 + zn
(iii) z 1 : = 1 , z 2 : = 2 , z n + 2 : = (iv) s1 : = 3 , s 2 : = 5 , s n + 2 : = s n + 1 + s n
zn +1 − zn
 (13)

(4) Use the definition of the limit of a sequence to establish the following limits.

 n2 − 1  1
(i) lim  =
 2n + 3  2
2
(ii) lim ( n2 + 1 − n )=0
 ( −1) n n   1 
(iii) lim  2 = 0 (iv) lim 
 =3
 n +1   n + 7 

(5) Show that the following sequences diverges

 1− n   n2 + 7 
(i) ( x n ) =   (ii) ( y n ) =  
  8n + 3 
 n 

 3n − 5n 
(iii) ( z n ) =  n  (iv) ( wn ) = (e )n

 4 

( Hint ! Show that each sequence is unbounded . )

(6) Show that the following sequences converges and find their limits

 Sin ( n )   Sin ( n ) 
(i) ( xn ) =   (ii) ( yn ) =  
 1+ e   n 
n

 Cos ( n )   (−1)n n 
(iii) ( zn ) =   (iv) ( wn ) =  2 
 n   n −1 
2