MATH 277

CHAPTER THREE

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD)

KNUST

July 17, 2022

 SEQUENCES

DEFINITION
A sequence is a function whose domain is the set N of natural numbers,
which is denoted by (sn ), hsn : n ∈ Ni or hsn i and also by listing the
elements (s1 , s2 , s3 , ...) or hs1 , s2 , s3 i, i.e. a sequence assigns a point sn to
each positive integer n ∈ N:

The image Sn or S(n) of n ∈ N is called the nth element of the sequence.

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 2 / 54

 Example 3.1
The sequence:
1. (sn ) = (1,3,5,...)
2.tn =(− 12 , 14 , − 18 , 16
1
, ...),
3.un =(1,0,1,0,...) can be defined respectively by the formula as:
1. s(n) = 2n - 1,
(−1)n
2. t(n) = 2n ,
(
1 1 if n is odd
3. u(n) = 2 (1 + (−1)n+1 ) =
0 if n is even

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 3 / 54

 Other examples of sequence
1. Consider the sequence (sn ) given by sn = 1 + (−1)n . Writing out the
first few elements of the sequence, we obtain (2,0,2,0,...) and the pattern
to be followed for the element is clear. Formally, the sequence is a function
(
1 if n is odd
sn = (1 + (−1)n ) =
0 if n is even

2. The sequence sn = 2n, that is (2,4,6,8,10,...) is precisely a function

which shows that the set of positive even integers is denumerable.
1 3 5 9 17
3. The sequence given by sn = 1 + n can be written as ( , , , , ...)
2 2 4 8 16

Sometimes we may wish to change the domain of a sequence from N ∩ {0}

or {n ∈ N : n ≥ m}. That is, we may want to start with so or sm , for some
m ∈ N.
In this case, we write (sn )∞ ∞
n=0 or (sn )n=m respectively. If no mention is
made to the contrary, we assume that the domain is just N.
YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 4 / 54
 Some Examples of Sequence
1. 1,0,1,0,1,0,... (oscillating sequence)

2. 1,4,9,16,25,36,45,...

3. 1, 21 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 71 ,...

4. 1,-1,2,-2,3,-3,4,-4,...

5. 3,3,3,3,3,...

6. 6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,...

7.0,1,0,2,0,3,0,4,...

8. 10 21 , 10 34 , 10 78 , ...

9. -2,-4,-6,-8,-10,...

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 5 / 54

 SEQUENCE PROPERTIES

Monotonicity
A sequence is monotonic if it is increasing or decreasing and either strictly
or weakly.

DEFINITION
A sequence sn is weakly increasing if and only if ∀n ∈ N;sn+1 ≥ sn .

A sequence sn is strictly increasing if and only if ∀n ∈ N;sn+1 > sn .

A sequence sn is weakly decreasing if and only if ∀n ∈ N;sn+1 ≤ sn .

A sequence sn is strictly decreasing if and only if ∀n ∈ N;sn+1 < sn .

A sequence sn is monotonic if and only if it is increasing or decreasing.

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 6 / 54

 Sequence Properties: boundness and convergence

Definition
The sequence sn is bounded above if and only if ∃M ∈ R: ∀n ∈ R, sn ≤ M
The sequence sn is bounded below if and only if ∃M ∈ R: ∀n ∈ R, M < sn

Definition
The sequence (sn ) is bounded if and only if ∃ M > 0: ∀n ∈ N, |sn | ≤ M

Definition
A sequence (sn : n ∈ N) is said to be bounded if its range {sn : n ∈ N} is a
bounded set, that is, if there exists an M ≥ 0, such that |sn | ≤ M ∀n ∈ N

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 7 / 54

 Example 3.2
Determine the range of each sequence:
1 1 1 1
1. (1, , 1, , 1, , 1, , ...)
2 3 4 5
2. (1, 0, −1, 0, 1, 0, −1, 0, 1, 0, −1, 0, ...) and 3. (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, ...)

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 8 / 54

 CONVERGENT SEQUENCE

Definiton
A sequence (sn ) is said to converge to the real number s provided that for
each ε > 0, ∃ a number N: ∀n ∈ N, n ≥ N , implies that |sn − s| < ε . If
sn converges to s then s is called the limits of sequence (sn ) and we write

lim sn = s
n→∞

If a sequence does not converge to a real number it is said to diverge.

Observe that |sn − s| < ε means that

s − ε < sn < s + ε
or equivalently that sn belongs to the open interval (s - ε, s + ε) containing
s.

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 9 / 54

 Definition
sn converges to s iff : ∀ ε > 0 ∃ N ∈ R : ∀ n > N, |sn − s | < ε.

Restate the definition

A sequence (sn ) converges to s if every open set containing s contains
almost all, i.e. all but a finite number, of the element of the sequence.

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 10 / 54

 EXAMPLE 3.3
Constant sequence ha0 , a0 , a0 , ...i such as h1, 1, 1... i h−3, −3, −3i
converges to a0 since each open set containing a0 contains every
element of the sequence.
D E D E
Each of the sequence 1, 21 , 31 , 14 , ... , 1, 0, 21 , 0, 31 , 0, 14 , ... ,
D E
1, − 21 , 13 , − 14 , ... converges to 0 since any open interval containing 0
contains almost all of the elements in each of the sequences.
D E
1 1 3 1 3 1 15
Consider the sequence 2 , 4 , 4 , 8 , 8 , 16 , 16 , ... i.e The sequence:

1

 (n+2) if n is even
2
 2
an =
1
 1− if n is odd

 (n+2)
2 2

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 11 / 54

 CONVERGENT SEQUENCE

THEOREM 3.1
Let sn and (an ) be sequences of real numbers and let s ∈ R if for some k
> 0 and some m ∈ N we have |sn − s| ≤ k|an |, ∀ n > m.
and if
lim an = 0
n→∞

Then it follows that lim sn = s

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 12 / 54

 THEOREM 3.2
Every convergent sequence is bounded. [the converse is not always true]
Not every bounded sequence is convergent.
Natural numbers are unbounded.

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 13 / 54

 Convergent Sequence

While every convergent sequence is bounded not every bounded sequence

is convergent.
There exist bounded sequences which are divergent.
Every unbounded sequence is divergent.

THEOREM 3.3
If a sequence converges, it’s limit is unique.

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 14 / 54

 Example 3.4
3n−1
A sequence has its nth element given by Sn = 4n+5
a. Write the 1st,50th,10th,100th,1000th,10000th and 100,000th elements
of the sequence in decimal form.
Make a guess as to a limit of this sequence as n → ∞
b. Using the definition of the limit verify that the guess in (a) is actually
correct.

Example 3.5
Prove that limn→∞ ncp = 0 where c 6= 0 and p > 0 are constants
independent of n.

Example 3.6
1+2(10n ) 2
Prove that the limits 5+3(10n ) = 3

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 15 / 54

 LIMITS THEOREMS
Suppose that (sn ) and (tn ) are convergent sequences with

lim sn = s (1)
n→∞

and
lim tn = t (2)
n→∞

Then:
1 lim(sn + tn ) = lim sn + lim tn = s + t
2 lim(ksn ) = k lim sn = k · s
3 lim(k + sn ) = lim k + lim sn = k + s ∀k ∈ R
4 lim(sn · tn )= lim sn · lim tn = s · t
5 lim( stnn ) = lim sn
lim tn = s
0 provided t 6= 0

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 16 / 54

 Theorem 3.4
Supposed that sn and tn are convergent sequences with lim sn = s and
lim tn = t
If sn ≤ tn for n∈ N, then s ≤ t

Corollary
If (tn ) converges to t and tn > 0
∀n ∈ N, then t ≥ 0

Theorem 3.5
Suppose that sn is a sequence of positive elements and that the sequence
of ratio ( sn+1
sn ) converges.
A sequence converges if and only if the limit exists as a real number −∞
and + ∞ are not real numbers to L . If L < 1 then lim sn = 0

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 17 / 54

 Infinite Limits

Definition
A sequence (sn ) is said to diverge to +∞, and we write

lim sn = +∞ (3)
n→∞

provided that energy m ∈ R , ∃ a number N such that n > N implies

sn > M. Similarly, (sn ) is said to diverge to −∞ provided that
.....
for every m ∈ R ∃ a number N ∃ n > N implies that sn < M.

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 18 / 54

 Theorem 3.6
Suppose that (sn ) and (tn ) are sequences such sn ≤ tn ∀n ∈ N
a. If lim sn + ∞; then limtn = +∞
b. If lim tn = −∞; then lim sn = −∞

Theorem
let sn be sequence of positive numbers then limn→∞ sn = +∞ if and only
if limn→∞ ( s1n ) = 0

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 19 / 54

 Corollary
1
1. If k is a positive constant then ( nk ) → 0. If |k|>1 then ( k1n ) → 0
Assume that (an ) and (cn ) are sequence that converge to the same limits l,
if (bn ) is a sequence such that an ≤ bn ≤ cn for every n>N, then (bn ) also
converges to L. This is always called the sandwich or sequence Theorem
. If an = f (n), then the sequence (an ) converges to L if f(n) converges to
L as n → ∞

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 20 / 54

 Theorem 3.7 (Binomial Theorem)
For a ∈ R, n ∈ N
n
! ! ! ! !
n
X n k n n n 2 n n
(1 + a) = a = + a+ a + ... + a
k=0
k 0 1 2 n

n
n!
where k = is the binomial coefficient
(n − k)!k!

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 21 / 54

 Theorem 3.8
1
(a) If p > 0, then limn→∞ =0
np
√
(b) If p > 0, then limn→∞ n p = 1
√
(c) limn→∞ n n = 1
nα
(d) If p > L and α is real, then limn→∞ =0
pn
(e) If |p| < 1, then limn→∞ p n = 0
pn
(f) For all p ∈ R, limn→∞ =0
n!

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 22 / 54

 Example 3.7
Explain exactly what is meant by the statements
a.limn→∞ 32n+1 = ∞
b.limn→∞ (1 − 2n) = −∞

Example 3.8
In each case show that the sequence (Xn ) is convergent
3
4n −n +5n 2
a. Xn = 2n 3 +6n2 −11
√ √
b.Xn = n + k − n
1·3·5....(2n−1)
c. Xn = 2·4·6...2n
d.Xn = (−1)n ( n12 )
e. Xn = (cos nn )e −n

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 23 / 54

 MONOTONE SEQUENCE AND CAUCHY SEQUENCE

Theorem 3.9(Monotone Convergence Theorem)

A monotone sequence is convergent if and only if it is bounded.

Example
√
Let s1 = 1 and sn+1 = 1 + sn for n ≥ 1 .Show that sn is bounded
increasing sequence . Determine the limit of the sequence.

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 24 / 54

 Theorem 3.10
If s is an unbounded increasing sequence then

lim sn = +∞ (4)
n→∞

If s is an unbounded decreasing sequence then

lim sn = −∞ (5)
n→∞

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 25 / 54

 Definition(Cauchy Sequence)
A sequence of (sn ) of real numbers is a cauchy sequence. iff
∀ε>0∃M ∈R :
∀n, m > N, |sn − sm | < ε

Definition
A sequence is a cauchy sequence iff the elements of the sequence become
arbitrarily close to each other as n gets large.

THEOREM 3.11 (Cauchy)

Every Cauchy sequence of real numbers converges to a real number.

LEMMA
Every convergent sequence is a Cauchy sequence.

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 26 / 54

 LEMMA
Every cauchy sequence is bounded.

Theorem:Cauchy Covergence Criterion

A sequence of real numbers is convergent iff it is a cauchy sequence.

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 27 / 54

 SUBSEQUENCES
Let (sn )∞ ∞
n=1 be a sequence and let (nk )k=1 be any sequence that
n1 < n2 < n3 ... the sequence (nk )k=1 is called a subsequence of (sn )∞
∞
n=1 .

EXAMPLE
(1) sn = (1, 12 , 13 , 41 ...) has for example, (tk ) = ( 15 , 16 , 71 ...) and (uk ) =
( 21 , 14 , 61 ) are subsequences but (vk ) = ( 13 , 21 , 51 , 14 , 71 , 16 , ...) is not a
subsequence of sn .This is because it is not sequential (or it is not in the
same order).

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 28 / 54

 Question
Consider a sequence (an ) = (−1)n−1 (2n − 1) = (1, 3, 5, -7, 9, -11, 13,
-15,...)
Determine whether or not each of the following sequence is a subsequence
of (an ).
.
1 (bn ) = {1, 5, −3, −7, 9, 13, −11, −15, ...}
2 (cn ) = {1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, ...}
3 (dn ) = {−3, −7, −11, −15, −19, −23, ...}

THEOREM 3.12
If a sequence (sn ) converges to a real number s. Then every subsequence
of (sn ) also converges to s.

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 29 / 54

 Example 3.9
sn = (−1)n = (-1,1,-1,-1,1,-1,...)
s2n = (−1)2 = (1,1,1,1,1,...)
s2n−1 = (−1)2n−1 = (-1,-1,-1,...)

LEMMA
If the range of the sequence is finite, then the sequence has a convergent
subsequence.

THEOREM 3.13
Every unbounded sequence contains a monotone subsequence that has
either −∞ or +∞ as a limit.

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 30 / 54

 THEOREM 3.14: [BOLZANO WEIERSTRESS]
Every bounded sequence of real numbers contains a convergent
subsequence.

THEOREM 3.15
Every Cauchy sequence of Real numbers is bounded.

THEOREM 3.16
Let (an ) be a Cauchy sequence if a subsequence (am ) of (an ) converges to
a point b then the Cauchy sequence itself converges to b.

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 31 / 54

 COMPLETENESS
A set A of real numbers is said to be complete if every Cauchy sequence
{an ∈ A : n ∈ N} of points in A converges to a point in A.

Question
If A is a subset of the real line R and A contains each rational number
which of the following must be true?
1 If A is open then A = R
2 If A is closed then A = R
3 If A is uncountable then A = R
4 If A is uncountable then A is open.
5 If A is uncountable, then A is closed.

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 32 / 54

 Example under completeness

(1) The set z = (...-2,-1,0,1,2,...) of integers is complete.

EXAMPLE :
A cauchy sequence han : n ∈ Ni of points in Z is of the form.
(a1 , a2 ..., an0 , b1 b2 , ...)
Which converges to the point b ∈ z
(2) The set Q of rational numbers is not complete. For we can choose a
sequence of rational√numbers such as (1, 1.41, 1.412, ...) which converges
to the real number 2 which is not rational i.e which does not belong to
Q.

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 33 / 54

 LIMIT SUPERIOR AND LIMIT INFERIOR

Definition
Let (sn ) be a bounded sequence. A subsequential limit of (sn ) is any real
number that is the limit of some subsequence of sn . If s is the set of all
subsequential limits of (sn ), then we define the limit superior (or
upper limit) of (sn ) to be
lim sup sn = sup s.
similarly, we define the limit inferior (or lower limit) of (sn ) to be
lim inf sn = inf s.

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 34 / 54

 Example 3.10
Let sn = (−1)n + 1/n. We see that |sn ≤ (−1)n + 1/n| ≤ 2 for all n, so
the sequence (sn ) is bounded. The first few terms are

3 2 5 4 7 6
0, , − , , − , , − , ...
2 3 4 5 6 7
The subsequence (s2n ) is seen to converge to 1, and the subsequence
s2n−1 converges to -1. Since these are the only possible subsequential
limits, we have lim sup sn = 1 and lim inf sn = -1.

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 35 / 54

 If (sn ) is bounded and m = lim sup sn , then no number larger than m can
be a subsequential limit of (sn ). Thus, given any ε > 0, there can only be
finitely many terms as large as m + ε. (If there were infinitely many terms
as large as m + ε), then a subsequence of these terms would have a limit
greater than m. On the other hand, if we consider m − ε. (For otherwise
no subsequence could have a limit greater than m − ε, and m − ε would be
an upper bound for the set of subsequential limits.)

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 36 / 54

 THEOREM 3.17
Let sn be a bounded sequence and M = lim sup (sn ). Then, the following
properties hold:
(a) ∀ > 0 ∃ N ∈ R : n ≥ N
=⇒ sn < m + ε

(b) ∀ ε and ∀ i in n; ∃ an integer k > i such that sk > m - ε

Furthermore if m is a real number satisfying properties (a) and (b), then m

= lim Sup(sn ).

COROLLARY
Let sn be a bounded sequence and m = lim sup (sn ). Then m ∈ s, where
s is a set of subsequential limit of (sn ). That is there exists a
subsequential limit of (sn ) that converges to m.

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 37 / 54

 THEOREM 3.18
Suppose that (rn ) converges to a positive number r and (sn ) is a bounded
sequence then
lim Sup(rn )(sn ) = r .limSup(sn ).

Example 3.11
Let sn = (−1)n + n1 . Find the set of subsequential limits. The limit
superior and the limit inferior.

Example 3.12
Let (sn ) = ( 12 , 12 , − 12 , 13 , 32 , − 23 , 14 , 43 , − 34 , 51 , 54 , − 45 , ...).
Find the set s of subsequential limits, the limit superior and the limit
inferior of (sn ).

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 38 / 54

 Example 3.13
Let sn = nsin2 nπ
2 . Find the set s of subsequential limits, the limit superior
and the limit inferior of sn .

Example 3.14
Find the (i) LUB (ii) GLB (iii) lim Sup (iv) lim inf for the sequence
2,-2,1,-1,1,-1,1,-1,-1,1,-1,...

Example 3.15
Find the (a) LUB (b) GLB (c) lim sup (d) lim inf for the following
sequence.
n−1
1 2,1.9,1.8,1.7,... 2 - 10
2 1, -1, 1, -1, ..., n−1
(−1) ...
1 (−1)n−1
3
2, − 13 , 14 , − 51 , ...,
n+1
4 0.6, 0.66, 0.666, ... 3 (1 − 101n ),
2
...
5 -1,2,-3,4,-5, ..., (−1)n n.
YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 39 / 54
 Exercises
1. Mark each statement True or False. Justify each answer.
(a) If (sn ) is a sequence and sj , then i = j.
(b) If sn =⇒ s, then for every ε > 0 there exists N ∈ N such that n ≤ N
implies |sn − s| < ε.
(c) If sn =⇒ k and tn =⇒ k, then sn = tn for all n ∈ N.
(d) Every convergent sequence is bounded.

2. Mark each statement True or False. Justify each answer.

(a) If sn =⇒ 0, then for every ε > 0 there exists N ∈ N such that n ≥ N
implies sn < ε.
(b) If for every ε > 0 there exists N ∈ N such that n ≥ N implies sn < ε,
then sn =⇒ 0.
(c) Given sequence (sn ) and (an ), if for some s ∈ R, k > 0 and m ∈ N we
have |sn − s| ≤ k|an | for all n > m, then lim sn = s.
(d) If sn =⇒ s and sn =⇒ t, then s = t.

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 40 / 54

 Exercises
3. Write out the first seven terms of each sequence.
(a) an = n2
(−1)n
(b) bn =
n
nπ
(c) cn = cos
3
2n + 1
(d) dn =
3n − 1

4. Find k > 0 and m ∈ N so that 6n3 + 17n ≤ kn3 for all integers n ≤ m.

5.Find k > 0 and m ∈ N so that n3 − 7n ≥ kn3 for all integers n ≥ m.

6. Using only Definition of convergence of sequence. Prove the following.

(a) For any real number k, limn→∞(k/n)=0 .
(b) For any real number k > 0, limn→∞(1/nk ) = 0.
4n + 1
(c) lim =4
n+3
YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 41 / 54
 Exercise
sin n
(d) lim =0
n
n+3
(e) lim 2 =0
n − 13
n+2
(f) lim 2 = 0.
n +n−3
7. Using any of the results in this section, prove the following.
1
(a) lim =0
2 + 3n
5n2 − 6
(b) lim 3
2n − 7n
6n2 + 3n
(c) lim =3
2n2 − 5
√
n
(d) lim =0
n+1

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 42 / 54

 Exercise
n2
(e) lim =0
n!
(f) If |x | < 1. then limn→∞ x n = 0.
8. Show that each of the following sequences is divergent.
(a) an = 2n
(b) bn = (−1)n .
nπ
(c) cn = cos
3
(d) dn = (−n)2

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 43 / 54

 Exercise
1. Mark each statement True or False. Justify each answer.
(a) If a monotone sequence is bounded.
(b) If a bounded sequence is monotone, then it is convergent.
(c) If a convergent sequence is monotone
2. Mark each statement True or False. Justify each answer.
(a) If a convergent sequenceis bounded, then it is monotone.
(b) If (sn ) is an unbounded increasing sequence, then it is monotone.
(c)The Cauchy convergence criterin holds in Q, the ordered field of
rational numbers.

3. Prove that each sequence is monotone and bounded. Then find the
limit.
1
(a) s1 = 1 and sn+1 = (sn + 7) for n ≥ 1.
5
(b) If (sn ) is an unbounded increasing sequence, then lim sn = +∞.
1
(c) s1 = 2 and sn+1 = (2sn+7 ) for n ≤ 1
YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST)
4 MATH 277 July 17, 2022 44 / 54
 Exercise
√
(d) s1 = 1 and sn+1 = 2sn + 2 for n ≤ 1.
√
(e) s1 = 5 and sn+1 = 4sn + 1 for n ≤ 1.

4. Find an example of a sequence of real numbers satisfying each set of

properties.
(a) Cauchy, but not monotone
(b) Monotone, but not Cauchy
(c) Bounded, but not Cauchy

5. Let (an ) and (bn ) be monotone sequences. Prove or give a

counterexample.
(a) The sequence (cn ) given by cn = kan is monotone for any k ∈ R.
(b) The sequence (cn ) given by cn = an · bn is monotone.

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 45 / 54

 Exercise
6. Let (an ) and bn be monotone sequences. Prove or give a
counterexample.
(a) The sequence (cn ) given by cn = kan is monotone for any k ∈ R.
(b) The sequence (cn ) given by cn = an /bn is monotone, where bn 6= 0 for
all n ∈ N.
r
√ q √ q √
7. Let s1 = 6, s2 = 6 + 6, s3 = 6 + 6 + 6, and in general
√
define sn+1 = 6 + sn . Prove that (sn ) converges and find its limit.

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 Exercise
1. Mark each statement True or False. Justify each answer.
(a) A sequence (sn ) converges to s iff every subsequence of (sn ) converges
to s.
(b)Every bounded sequence is convergent.
(c) Let (sn ) be a bounded sequence. If sn oscillates, then the set S of
subsequential limits of sn contains at least two points.
(d) Let (sn ) be a bounded sequence and let m = lim sup sn . Then for
every ε > 0 there exists N ∈ N such that n ≤ N implies that sn > m − ε.
(e) If (sn ) is unbounded above, then (sn ) contains a subsequence that has
+∞ as limit.

2. Mark each statement True or False. Justify each answer.

(a) Every sequence has a convergent subsequence.
(b) The set of subsequential limits of a bounded sequence is always
nonempty.

YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 47 / 54

 Exercise
(c) (sn ) converges to s iff lim inf sn = lim sup sn = s.
(d) Let (sn ) is unbounded above, then lim inf sn = lim sup sn = +∞.
(e) Let (sn ) be a bounded sequence and let m = lim supsn . Then for every
ε > 0 there are infinitely many terms in the sequence greater than m − ε.

3. For each sequence, find the set S of subsequential limits, the limit
superior, and the limit inferior.
(a) sn = 1 + (−1)n
1 2 1 4 1 6
 
(b) (tn ) = 0, , , , , , , ...
2 3 4 5 6 7
(c) un = n [−1 + (−1)n ]
2
nπ
(d) vn = n sin
2

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 Exercise
4. For each sequence, find the set S of subsequential limits, the limit
superior, and the limit inferior.
(−1)n
(a) wn =
n
(b) (xn ) = (0, 1, 2, 0, 1, 3, 0, 1, 4, ...)
(c) yn = n[2 + (−1)n ]
(d) zn = (−1)n
5. Prove or give a counterexample.
(a) Every oscillating sequence has a convergent subsequence.
(b) Every oscillating sequence diverges.
(c) Every divergent sequence oscillates.
(d) Every bounded sequence has a Cauchy subsequence.
(e) Every monotone sequence has a bounded sequence.
(f) Every convergent sequence can be represented as the sum of two
oscillating sequences.
YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 49 / 54
 Exercise
7. For sn by the following formulas, determine the convergence or
divergence of the sequence (sn ). Find any limits that exist.
3 − 2n
(a) sn =
1+n
(−1)n
(b) sn =
n+3
(−1)n n
(c) sn =
2n − 1
n2
(d) sn =
n!
8. For each of the following, prove or give a counterexample.
(a) If (sn ) and (tn ) are divergent sequences, then (sn + tn ) diverges.
(b) If (sn ) and (tn ) are divergent sequences, then (sn tn )
(c) If (sn ) and (sn + tn ) ae convergent sequences, then (tn ) converges.
(d) If (sn ) and (sn tn ) are convergent sequences, then (tn ) converges.

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 9. Give an example of an unbounded sequence that does not diverge to
+∞ or to −∞.
1 1
 
10. Prove that lim − = 0.
n n+1
11. Prove the following.
√ √
(a) lim( n + 1 − n) = 0.
√
(b)lim( n2 + 1 − n) = 0
√ 1
(c) lim( n2 + n − n) =
2
10. Mark each statement True or False. Justify each answer.
(a) If (sn ) and (tn ) are convergent sequence with sn =⇒ s and tn =⇒ t,
then lim(sn + tn ) = s + t and lim(sn tn ) = st.
(b) If (sn ) converges to s and sn > 0 for all n ∈ N, then s > 0.
(c) The sequence (sn ) converges to s iff lim sn = s.
(d) lim sn = +∞ iff lim(1/sn ) = 0.

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 Exercise
11. Mark each statement True or False. Justify each answer.
(a) If lim sn = s and lim tn = t, then lim(sn tn )=st.
(b) If lim sn = +∞, then (sn ) is said to converge to +∞.
(c) Given sequences (sn ) and (tn ) for all n ∈ N, if lim sn = +∞, then
lim tn = +∞.
(d) Suppose (sn ) is a sequence such that the sequence of ratios (sn+1 /sn )
converges to L. If L < 1, then lim sn = 0.
12. Mark each statement True or False. Justify each answer.
(a) Every nonempty subset of N contains a minimum.
(b) Every nonempty subset of N contains a maximum.
(c) If x and y are irrational, then xy is irrational.
(d) Between any two unequal irrational numbers there is a rational
number.
(f) The rational and irrational numbers alternate, one than the other.
(e) Between any two unequal irrational numbers there is a rational number
YAO ELIKEM AYEKPLE(PhD) (KNUST) MATH 277 July 17, 2022 52 / 54
 13. For each subset of R, give its supremum and its maximum, if they
exist. Otherwise, write "none".
(a) {1, 3}
(b) {π, 3}
(c) [0,4]
(d) (0,4)
1
 
(e) :n∈N
2n
1
 
(f) 1 − : n ∈ N
n
n
 
(g) :n∈N
n+1
(−1)n
 
(h) n + :n∈N
n
1
 
n
(i) (−1) (1 + ) : n ∈ N
n
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 (j) (∞, 4)
(k) {r ∈ Q : r < 5}
(l) {r ∈ Q : r 2 ≤ 5}
1 1
 
T∞
(m) n=1 1 − ,1 +
n n
1 1
 
S∞
(n) n=1 ,2 −
n n
14. Let S be a nonempty bounded subset of R and let m = sup S. Prove
that m ∈ S iff m= max S.

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