Harvard Limsup Slides
Harvard Limsup Slides
Limits of ±∞
Definition
Let {sn } be a sequence of real numbers. If
For all real M there is an integer N where sn ≥ M whenever
n≥N
then we write
sn → +∞
If
For all real M there is an integer N where sn ≥ M whenever
n≤N
then we write
sn → −∞
Upper and Lower Limits
Some Special Sequences
Definition
Let {sn } be a sequence of real numbers. Let E be the set of x (in
the extended real number system) such that snk → x for some
subsequence {snk }. (So E has all subsequential limits of {sn } plus,
possibly, −∞ or +∞). Let
s ∗ = sup E
s∗ = inf E
s ∗ is the upper bound of {sn } and s∗ is the lower bound of {sn }.
We write
lim sup sn = s ∗
n→∞
lim inf sn = s∗
n→∞
Upper and Lower Limits
Some Special Sequences
Theorem
Let {sn } be a sequence of real numbers, let s ∗ = limn→∞ sup sn
and let E be the set of subsequential limits of {sn }. Then
(a) s ∗ ∈ E
(b) If x > s ∗ , then there is an integer N such that n ≥ N implies
sn < x.
Further s ∗ is the only extended real number satisfying properties
(a) and (b).
Examples
(−1)n
(b) Let sn = 1+(1/n) Then
Theorem
If sn ≤ tn for n ≥ N where N is fixed then
Squeeze Theorem
Special Limits
Theorem
1
(a) If p > 0 then limn→∞ np =0
√
(b) If p > 0 then limn→∞ n p=1
√
(c) limn→∞ n n = 1
nα
(d) If p > 0 and α is real, then limn→∞ (1+p)n =0
(e) If |x| < 1 then limn→∞ xn =0