Lecture 4: Sequences

Department of Mathematics
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati

Jul – Nov 2025

Instructor: Rajen Kumar Sinha

Example: x1 = 1, xn+1 = 31 (xn + 1) for all n ∈ N. Then (xn ) is
1
convergent and lim xn = .
n→∞ 2
Example: x1 = 1, xn+1 = 31 (xn + 1) for all n ∈ N. Then (xn ) is
1
convergent and lim xn = .
n→∞ 2
1 1 1
Ex. Let xn = n+1 + n+2 + · · · + n+n for all n ∈ N.
Is (xn ) convergent?
Example: x1 = 1, xn+1 = 31 (xn + 1) for all n ∈ N. Then (xn ) is
1
convergent and lim xn = .
n→∞ 2
1 1 1
Ex. Let xn = n+1 + n+2 + · · · + n+n for all n ∈ N.
Is (xn ) convergent?

Subsequence: Let (xn ) be a sequence in R. If (nk ) is a sequence of

positive integers such that n1 < n2 < n3 < · · · , then (xnk ) is called
a subsequence of (xn ).
Example: x1 = 1, xn+1 = 31 (xn + 1) for all n ∈ N. Then (xn ) is
1
convergent and lim xn = .
n→∞ 2
1 1 1
Ex. Let xn = n+1 + n+2 + · · · + n+n for all n ∈ N.
Is (xn ) convergent?

Subsequence: Let (xn ) be a sequence in R. If (nk ) is a sequence of

positive integers such that n1 < n2 < n3 < · · · , then (xnk ) is called
a subsequence of (xn ).
Examples: Think of some divergent sequences and their
convergent subsequences.
Example: x1 = 1, xn+1 = 31 (xn + 1) for all n ∈ N. Then (xn ) is
1
convergent and lim xn = .
n→∞ 2
1 1 1
Ex. Let xn = n+1 + n+2 + · · · + n+n for all n ∈ N.
Is (xn ) convergent?

Subsequence: Let (xn ) be a sequence in R. If (nk ) is a sequence of

positive integers such that n1 < n2 < n3 < · · · , then (xnk ) is called
a subsequence of (xn ).
Examples: Think of some divergent sequences and their
convergent subsequences.
Ex. (a) (xn ) with xn = (−1)n , (b) (xn ) with xn = sin(nπ/2).
Result: If a sequence (xn ) converges to `, then every subsequence
of (xn ) must converge to `.
Result: If a sequence (xn ) converges to `, then every subsequence
of (xn ) must converge to `.
So, if (xn ) has a subsequence (xnk ) such that xnk 6→ `, then xn 6→ `.
Result: If a sequence (xn ) converges to `, then every subsequence
of (xn ) must converge to `.
So, if (xn ) has a subsequence (xnk ) such that xnk 6→ `, then xn 6→ `.
Also, if (xn ) has two subsequences converging to two different
limits, then (xn ) cannot be convergent.
Result: If a sequence (xn ) converges to `, then every subsequence
of (xn ) must converge to `.
So, if (xn ) has a subsequence (xnk ) such that xnk 6→ `, then xn 6→ `.
Also, if (xn ) has two subsequences converging to two different
limits, then (xn ) cannot be convergent.

Example: Let xn = (−1)n (1 − n1 ) for all n ∈ N. Then xn 6→ 1.

Result: If a sequence (xn ) converges to `, then every subsequence
of (xn ) must converge to `.
So, if (xn ) has a subsequence (xnk ) such that xnk 6→ `, then xn 6→ `.
Also, if (xn ) has two subsequences converging to two different
limits, then (xn ) cannot be convergent.

Example: Let xn = (−1)n (1 − n1 ) for all n ∈ N. Then xn 6→ 1.

In fact, (xn ) is not convergent.
Result: If a sequence (xn ) converges to `, then every subsequence
of (xn ) must converge to `.
So, if (xn ) has a subsequence (xnk ) such that xnk 6→ `, then xn 6→ `.
Also, if (xn ) has two subsequences converging to two different
limits, then (xn ) cannot be convergent.

Example: Let xn = (−1)n (1 − n1 ) for all n ∈ N. Then xn 6→ 1.

In fact, (xn ) is not convergent.
Ex. Let (xn ) be a sequence such that x2n → ` and x2n−1 → `.
Show that xn → `.
Result: If a sequence (xn ) converges to `, then every subsequence
of (xn ) must converge to `.
So, if (xn ) has a subsequence (xnk ) such that xnk 6→ `, then xn 6→ `.
Also, if (xn ) has two subsequences converging to two different
limits, then (xn ) cannot be convergent.

Example: Let xn = (−1)n (1 − n1 ) for all n ∈ N. Then xn 6→ 1.

In fact, (xn ) is not convergent.
Ex. Let (xn ) be a sequence such that x2n → ` and x2n−1 → `.
Show that xn → `.
Example: The sequence (1, 12 , 1, 23 , 1, 43 , ...) converges to 1.
Ex. Can you find a convergent subsequence of ((−1)n n2 )?
Ex. Can you find a convergent subsequence of ((−1)n n2 )?

Result: Every sequence in R has a monotone subsequence.

Ex. Can you find a convergent subsequence of ((−1)n n2 )?

Result: Every sequence in R has a monotone subsequence.

Bolzano-Weierstrass Theorem: Every bounded sequence in R has a

convergent subsequence.
Ex. Can you find a convergent subsequence of ((−1)n n2 )?

Result: Every sequence in R has a monotone subsequence.

Bolzano-Weierstrass Theorem: Every bounded sequence in R has a

convergent subsequence.

Cauchy sequence: A sequence (xn ) is called a Cauchy sequence if

for each ε > 0, there exists n0 ∈ N such that |xm − xn | < ε for all
m, n ≥ n0 .
Ex. Can you find a convergent subsequence of ((−1)n n2 )?

Result: Every sequence in R has a monotone subsequence.

Bolzano-Weierstrass Theorem: Every bounded sequence in R has a

convergent subsequence.

Cauchy sequence: A sequence (xn ) is called a Cauchy sequence if

for each ε > 0, there exists n0 ∈ N such that |xm − xn | < ε for all
m, n ≥ n0 .

Result: A Cauchy sequence in R is bounded.

Ex. Can you find a convergent subsequence of ((−1)n n2 )?

Result: Every sequence in R has a monotone subsequence.

Bolzano-Weierstrass Theorem: Every bounded sequence in R has a

convergent subsequence.

Cauchy sequence: A sequence (xn ) is called a Cauchy sequence if

for each ε > 0, there exists n0 ∈ N such that |xm − xn | < ε for all
m, n ≥ n0 .

Result: A Cauchy sequence in R is bounded.

Cauchy’s criterion: A sequence in R is convergent iff it is a Cauchy

sequence.
Ex. Can you find a convergent subsequence of ((−1)n n2 )?

Result: Every sequence in R has a monotone subsequence.

Bolzano-Weierstrass Theorem: Every bounded sequence in R has a

convergent subsequence.

Cauchy sequence: A sequence (xn ) is called a Cauchy sequence if

for each ε > 0, there exists n0 ∈ N such that |xm − xn | < ε for all
m, n ≥ n0 .

Result: A Cauchy sequence in R is bounded.

Cauchy’s criterion: A sequence in R is convergent iff it is a Cauchy

sequence.
1 1 1
Ex. Let xn = 1 + 1! + 2! +···+ n! for all n ∈ N. Show that (xn ) is
convergent.
Ex. Let (xn ) satisfy either of the following conditions:
(i) |xn+1 − xn | ≤ αn for all n ∈ N
(ii) |xn+2 − xn+1 | ≤ α|xn+1 − xn | for all n ∈ N,
where 0 < α < 1.
Show that (xn ) is a Cauchy sequence.
Ex. Let (xn ) satisfy either of the following conditions:
(i) |xn+1 − xn | ≤ αn for all n ∈ N
(ii) |xn+2 − xn+1 | ≤ α|xn+1 − xn | for all n ∈ N,
where 0 < α < 1.
Show that (xn ) is a Cauchy sequence.
Ex. Let x1 = 1 and let xn+1 = xn1+2 for all n ∈ N. Show that (xn )
is convergent and find lim xn .
n→∞
Ex. Let (xn ) satisfy either of the following conditions:
(i) |xn+1 − xn | ≤ αn for all n ∈ N
(ii) |xn+2 − xn+1 | ≤ α|xn+1 − xn | for all n ∈ N,
where 0 < α < 1.
Show that (xn ) is a Cauchy sequence.
Ex. Let x1 = 1 and let xn+1 = xn1+2 for all n ∈ N. Show that (xn )
is convergent and find lim xn .
n→∞

Ex. Let xn = 1 + 12 + · · · + 1
n for all n ∈ N. Test whether or not
(xn ) is a Cauchy sequence.
Ex. Let (xn ) satisfy either of the following conditions:
(i) |xn+1 − xn | ≤ αn for all n ∈ N
(ii) |xn+2 − xn+1 | ≤ α|xn+1 − xn | for all n ∈ N,
where 0 < α < 1.
Show that (xn ) is a Cauchy sequence.
Ex. Let x1 = 1 and let xn+1 = xn1+2 for all n ∈ N. Show that (xn )
is convergent and find lim xn .
n→∞

Ex. Let xn = 1 + 12 + · · · + 1
n for all n ∈ N. Test whether or not
(xn ) is a Cauchy sequence.
Ex. Show that both the following sequences are convergent with
limit 1.
1 1
(i) (α n ), where α > 0 (ii) (n n )
Ex. Let (xn ) satisfy either of the following conditions:
(i) |xn+1 − xn | ≤ αn for all n ∈ N
(ii) |xn+2 − xn+1 | ≤ α|xn+1 − xn | for all n ∈ N,
where 0 < α < 1.
Show that (xn ) is a Cauchy sequence.
Ex. Let x1 = 1 and let xn+1 = xn1+2 for all n ∈ N. Show that (xn )
is convergent and find lim xn .
n→∞

Ex. Let xn = 1 + 12 + · · · + 1
n for all n ∈ N. Test whether or not
(xn ) is a Cauchy sequence.
Ex. Show that both the following sequences are convergent with
limit 1.
1 1
(i) (α n ), where α > 0 (ii) (n n )

*** End ***