MATH F214 (Elementary Real Analysis)

Prof. Sangita Yadav

Department of Mathematics
BITS Pilani
Pilani Campus BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus, Rajasthan
Module 3: Sequence of Real Numbers
Sequence
Definition
A sequence is a function f : N → R. We write
xn = f (n) and call xn the n-th term of the sequence.
We will usually denote f as {xn } or (xn ) or as an infinite
tuple (x1 , x2 , . . . , xn , . . .).

Example
1
xn = n2 , n∈N

Prof. Sangita Yadav (BITS Pilani) MATH F214 (Elementary Real Analysis) August 22, 2025 3 / 11
Sequence
Definition
A sequence is a function f : N → R. We write
xn = f (n) and call xn the n-th term of the sequence.
We will usually denote f as {xn } or (xn ) or as an infinite
tuple (x1 , x2 , . . . , xn , . . .).

Example
xn = n12 , n ∈ N
xn = (−1)n+1 , , n ∈ N

Prof. Sangita Yadav (BITS Pilani) MATH F214 (Elementary Real Analysis) August 22, 2025 3 / 11
Sequence
Definition
A sequence is a function f : N → R. We write
xn = f (n) and call xn the n-th term of the sequence.
We will usually denote f as {xn } or (xn ) or as an infinite
tuple (x1 , x2 , . . . , xn , . . .).

Example
xn = n12 , n ∈ N
xn = (−1)n+1 , , n ∈ N
= cos nπ


xn
√ 3 , n ∈N
xn = n n, n ∈ N

n
xn = 1 + n1 , n ∈ N
Prof. Sangita Yadav (BITS Pilani) MATH F214 (Elementary Real Analysis) August 22, 2025 3 / 11
Bounded Sequence
Definition (Bounded Sequence)
A sequence (xn ) is said to be bounded if the range
{xn : n ∈ N} is a bounded set.

Prof. Sangita Yadav (BITS Pilani) MATH F214 (Elementary Real Analysis) August 22, 2025 4 / 11
Bounded Sequence
Definition (Bounded Sequence)
A sequence (xn ) is said to be bounded if the range
{xn : n ∈ N} is a bounded set.
The above definition is equivalent to: “(xn ) is said to be
bounded if there exists a real number M > 0 such that
|xn | ≤ M for all n.”

Prof. Sangita Yadav (BITS Pilani) MATH F214 (Elementary Real Analysis) August 22, 2025 4 / 11
Bounded Sequence
Definition (Bounded Sequence)
A sequence (xn ) is said to be bounded if the range
{xn : n ∈ N} is a bounded set.
The above definition is equivalent to: “(xn ) is said to be
bounded if there exists a real number M > 0 such that
|xn | ≤ M for all n.”

Example
If xn = (−1)n , then (xn ) is bounded.

Prof. Sangita Yadav (BITS Pilani) MATH F214 (Elementary Real Analysis) August 22, 2025 4 / 11
Bounded Sequence
Definition (Bounded Sequence)
A sequence (xn ) is said to be bounded if the range
{xn : n ∈ N} is a bounded set.
The above definition is equivalent to: “(xn ) is said to be
bounded if there exists a real number M > 0 such that
|xn | ≤ M for all n.”

Example
If xn = (−1)n , then (xn ) is bounded.
If xn = (−1)n n, then (xn ) is not bounded.
Prof. Sangita Yadav (BITS Pilani) MATH F214 (Elementary Real Analysis) August 22, 2025 4 / 11
Convergence
Definition (7.1 Convergent Sequence)
A sequence (xn ) converges to a limit x if for every ε > 0
there is N ∈ N such that

|xn − x| < ε if n ≥ N. (1)

In this case, we say that (xn ) is convergent and write

lim xn = x or xn → x.
n→∞

Prof. Sangita Yadav (BITS Pilani) MATH F214 (Elementary Real Analysis) August 22, 2025 5 / 11
Convergence
Definition (7.1 Convergent Sequence)
A sequence (xn ) converges to a limit x if for every ε > 0
there is N ∈ N such that

|xn − x| < ε if n ≥ N. (1)

In this case, we say that (xn ) is convergent and write

lim xn = x or xn → x.
n→∞

A sequence that does not converge is said to diverge.

For geometrical view click here.
Prof. Sangita Yadav (BITS Pilani) MATH F214 (Elementary Real Analysis) August 22, 2025 5 / 11
Proving Convergence

1 Scratch Work: Start with |xn − x| < ε and find n.

This will give you a N to proceed for the proof of
xn → x.

Prof. Sangita Yadav (BITS Pilani) MATH F214 (Elementary Real Analysis) August 22, 2025 6 / 11
Proving Convergence

1 Scratch Work: Start with |xn − x| < ε and find n.

This will give you a N to proceed for the proof of
xn → x.
2 For actual proof, let ε > 0.

Prof. Sangita Yadav (BITS Pilani) MATH F214 (Elementary Real Analysis) August 22, 2025 6 / 11
Proving Convergence

1 Scratch Work: Start with |xn − x| < ε and find n.

This will give you a N to proceed for the proof of
xn → x.
2 For actual proof, let ε > 0.
3 Let N be the value obtained from the scratch work
and assume n > N.

Prof. Sangita Yadav (BITS Pilani) MATH F214 (Elementary Real Analysis) August 22, 2025 6 / 11
Proving Convergence

1 Scratch Work: Start with |xn − x| < ε and find n.

This will give you a N to proceed for the proof of
xn → x.
2 For actual proof, let ε > 0.
3 Let N be the value obtained from the scratch work
and assume n > N.
4 Redo the scratch work (without ε) and use the
value of N to show that |xn − x| < ε.

Prof. Sangita Yadav (BITS Pilani) MATH F214 (Elementary Real Analysis) August 22, 2025 6 / 11
 Lecture 11
August 22, 2025

Prof. Sangita Yadav (BITS Pilani) MATH F214 (Elementary Real Analysis) August 22, 2025 7 / 11
Recall
(Sequence) A real sequence is a function
f : N → R. It is usually denoted as (xn ) or {xn }.
(Range) Range of the sequence (xn ) is the set
{xn : n ∈ N}.
(Bounded) (xn ) is said to be bounded if there
exists a real number M > 0 such that
|xn | ≤ M for all n.
(Convergent Sequence) (xn ) converges to a limit
x if for every ε > 0 there is N ∈ N such that
|xn − x| < ε if n ≥ N.
Prof. Sangita Yadav (BITS Pilani) MATH F214 (Elementary Real Analysis) August 22, 2025 8 / 11
Theorem
The limit of a convergent sequence is unique.

Prof. Sangita Yadav (BITS Pilani) MATH F214 (Elementary Real Analysis) August 22, 2025 9 / 11
Theorem
The limit of a convergent sequence is unique.

Theorem (9.1)
A convergent sequence is bounded.

Prof. Sangita Yadav (BITS Pilani) MATH F214 (Elementary Real Analysis) August 22, 2025 9 / 11
Theorem
The limit of a convergent sequence is unique.

Theorem (9.1)
A convergent sequence is bounded.
Note: Converse of the above theorem is not true, i.e.,
every bounded sequence does not converge.

Prof. Sangita Yadav (BITS Pilani) MATH F214 (Elementary Real Analysis) August 22, 2025 9 / 11
Exercises

(−1)n
1 Check whether the sequence is convergent?
n
Is it bounded?
2 Let (an ) and (bn ) be two convergent sequences such
that lim an = a and lim bn = b. If an < bn for all n,
then either prove or disprove that a < b.

Prof. Sangita Yadav (BITS Pilani) MATH F214 (Elementary Real Analysis) August 22, 2025 10 / 11
Limit Theorems
Theorem (9.2-9.6)
Let
lim xn = x and lim yn = y, (2)
n→∞ n→∞
where x and y are finite. Then
a
lim (cxn ) = cx, where c ∈ R is a constant.
n→∞
b lim (xn + yn ) = x + y,
n→∞
c
lim (xn − yn ) = x − y
n→∞
d lim (xn yn ) = xy,
n→∞
xn x
e
lim = , if yn is nonzero for all n and y ̸= 0.
n→∞ yn y
Prof. Sangita Yadav (BITS Pilani) MATH F214 (Elementary Real Analysis) August 22, 2025 11 / 11