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Converging Sequences: by J.K. Gondwe

The document provides an overview of converging sequences including: - Defining a converging sequence as one where the terms approach a certain number L as n approaches infinity. - Explaining that if a sequence converges it has a limit, and if a limit exists the sequence converges. - Giving examples of determining if sequences converge and computing their limits, including dividing the numerator and denominator by the highest power of n. - Listing theorems about limits of sums, differences, and products of converging sequences.

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31 views19 pages

Converging Sequences: by J.K. Gondwe

The document provides an overview of converging sequences including: - Defining a converging sequence as one where the terms approach a certain number L as n approaches infinity. - Explaining that if a sequence converges it has a limit, and if a limit exists the sequence converges. - Giving examples of determining if sequences converge and computing their limits, including dividing the numerator and denominator by the highest power of n. - Listing theorems about limits of sums, differences, and products of converging sequences.

Uploaded by

michaelsimba choruma
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 19

CONVERGING

SEQUENCES
Lecture
by
J.K. Gondwe

Aug 13, 2020 seq/3 1


LECTURE OBJECTIVES
• Understand what a converging sequence is
• Define limit of a sequence
• Compute limit of a sequence

Aug 13, 2020 seq/3 2


Converging Sequence

Looking at the following sequence



1
 2
 n n 1
The terms in the sequence can be listed as :
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
 2 , 2 , 2 , 2 , 2 , 2 , 2 ,................
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 
i.e.  1, 0.25, 0.11, 0.063, 0.04, 0.03, 0.02,.............
Aug 13, 2020 seq/3 3
Cont’d
• Since a sequence is a function defined
only on integers we can plot the points to
graph this sequence i.e. y=f(n)
0.16

0.12

0.08

0.04

5 10 15 20

seq/3
4
Aug 13,
2020
Cont’d

As n gets larger and larger, the terms


of the sequence get closer and closer or approach
“some number” i.e. a limiting value (zero in the example
above)
This “some number” is called the LIMIT of the sequence.

Aug 13, 2020 seq/3 5


Cont’d

Zero is the limit of the sequence as n tends


to infinity.
If the sequence has a limit, then the sequence
converges to that limit.
This is written as follows :
1
lim an  lim 2  0
n  n  n

Aug 13, 2020 seq/3 6


Converging Sequence –defn.

Defn :
These are sequences such that as n approaches infinity,
a n approaches a certain number L.
i.e. the sequence  a n  n1  L
Note : If a sequence converges then it has
a limit. OR
If the limit exist then the sequence
converges.
Aug 13, 2020 seq/3 7
Theorems
Suppose that  a  and  b 
 
n n  n0 n n  n0 both converges.
Then :
1 lim  an  bn   lim an  lim bn
n  n  n 

 2 nlim  an  bn   lim an  lim bn


anbn    lim an lim bn 
 n  n 

 3 nlim

 n  n 

 4 nlim an lim
 b
 n 
an
lim bn

....... assuming lim bn  0
n 

n
n 
Aug 13, 2020 seq/3 8
Examples

Determine whether the following sequences


converge or not. If they do , find the limit.

1 
 a  
 n n 1

 5n  7 
 b  
 3n - 5 n 1

Aug 13, 2020 seq/3 9


(a) Solution

1 
 a  
 n n 1
Listing the terms in the sequence gives;
 1 1 1 1 1
1, , , , ,............... 
 2 3 4 5 
Note : The terms are getting smaller as n is
getting bigger, so the sequence seems
to converge at least.

Aug 13, 2020 seq/3 10


(a) Solution
As n approaches ,
 i.e. the denominator approaches   , the
entire expression converges to zero.
1
Note :  0

 the sequence converges
the limit is 0

Aug 13, 2020 seq/3 11


Solution (b)

 5n  7 
 b  
 3n - 5 n 1
12 17 22 27 
Listing the terms gives :  , , ,...... 
- 2 1 4 7 
Note that listing the terms gives an

indeterminate form

Aug 13, 2020 seq/3 12


Cont’d

In the above example, you can operate with limits of


a sequence just as was done with limits of continous
functions.
 5n  7 
an   
 3n  5 
 5n  7 
 lim  
n  3n  5
 

Aug 13, 2020 seq/3 13


Solution (b)

To take limits of a sequence of the


above form, use the simpler method
of dividing the numerator and denominator
by the highest power of n which appears
in the denominator

Aug 13, 2020 seq/3 14


Solution (b)

 b   5n  7 
 3n - 5 n 1

Dividing the numerator and denominator by the highest power of n


which appears in the denominator

 5n  7   5n  7 
   lim  
 3n - 5  n 1 n  3n - 5 
 7
 5  
 lim  n
n  5 
 3- 
 n

Aug 13, 2020 seq/3 15


(b) Solution cont’d
  1 
 5  7   n  
lim   

 3 - 5   1  
n 

  n  
5 1
 (note lim  0)
3 n  n

 the sequence converges


5
the limit is
3
Aug 13, 2020 seq/3 16
Cont’d
graphically the function looks as follows:
4

The sequence tends to some limit closer to 2


Aug 13, 2020 seq/3 17
Class Exercise
Determine whether the following sequences
converge or not. If they do , find the limit.

 a   4 
 3  n  n 1

 b   2n 2- 1
 n n 1

 n 2  1
 c  
 n  1 n 1

 n 
 d  
 n  1n 1

 2 
 e  
Aug 13, 2020
 n  n 1 seq/3 18
Solutions to class Exercise

Qn Converges limit
a √ 0
b √ 0
c X -
d √ 1
e √ 0

Aug 13, 2020 seq/3 19

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