MAA 102

Chapter 1: Sequence
1.1

SEQUENCE

If for every positive integer n, there is an associated real number an, then the ordered set
a1 , a2 , a3 , , an ,
is said to define an infinite sequence. The important thing here is that each number in the set
has been labelled with an integer, so it is possible to talk about the first term a1 , the second
term a2 , etc. A formal definition is as follows:

A function f whose domain is the set of natural numbers is called an

DEFINITION 1.1.

infinite sequence. The image f (n ) which is usually denoted by an is called the nth term of
the sequence.
The symbols {an }n =1 or {an } means {a1 , a2 , a3 , , an , } . They are commonly used to

denote a sequence.

EXAMPLE 1.1.

1
Display the sequence .
n

SOLUTION.

1-1

List the first four terms and the tenth term of the sequence whose nth

EXAMPLE 1.2.

term an is as follows.
(a) an =

n
n +1

(c) an = ( 1)

n +1

(b) an = 2 + ( 0.1)

n2
3n 1

(d) an = 4

SOLUTION.

Four terms

Tenth term

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

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We are interested in knowing an when n is big enough. The symbol lim an = b means as n
n

increases without bound (i.e. n ), an approaches b (i.e. an b ).

Here, an approaches b means > 0 , it is possible to require that the distance between an
and b to be less than , i.e. an b < .

DEFINITION 1.2.

lim an = b if > 0 , integer M > 0 such that whenever n M ,

n

an b < .

When lim an exists, we say that the sequence {an } converges. Otherwise it diverges.
n

M denotes when the sequence index n achieve convergence. If the convergence value b does
not exist, then the sequence {an } diverges. The two possibilities of sequence divergence:
(i)

Value of an increases when n

Example:

(ii)

{ 2 } = { 2, 4, 6, 8, 16, 32, }
n

Value of the sequence {an } varies between two values.

Example:

{( 1) }= { 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, }
n

Figure 1.1 illustrates the geometric interpretation of lim an = b . It means that an is eventually
n

very close to b.

b+

These terms lie in (b-, b+)

a1, a2, a3, , aM , aM +1 , aM + 2 , aM +3 ,
Figure 1.1 Geometric interpretation of lim an = b
n

1-3

You may observe the similarity of the two definitions lim an = b and lim f ( x ) = b where f is
n

a function defined on

(here f (n ) = a n ).

( c, ) , c

EXAMPLE 1.3.

Show that lim 2 2 = 2 by using the definition of limit.

n
n

SOLUTION.

Given any > 0 , we need to find an integer M > 0 such that whenever

nM ,

2 2 2 < .
n

1
1

2 2 2 = 2
n
n

1
= 2
n

In order to have

1
1
1
< , we must have n 2 > , i.e. n >
.
2
n

> 0 , we choose integer M >

. Then whenever n M ,

1
1

2 2 2 = 2
n
n

1
( n M)
2
M
1
<
2
1

= .
1

Thus, we have proved that lim 2 2 = 2 .

n
n

1-4

EXAMPLE 1.4.

Show that lim

n + 1 n = 0 by using the definition of limit.

SOLUTION.

1-5

1
= 0 if > 0 .
n n

THEOREM 1.1.

lim

THEOREM 1.2.

Suppose {an } and {bn } are two sequences in

with lim an = and

n

lim bn = . Then
n

(i)

lim ( an + bn ) = + .

(ii)

lim ( an bn ) = .

(iii)

lim ( an bn ) = .

(iv)

a
lim n = if 0 .
n b
n

(v)

lim kan = k , k = constant.

EXAMPLE 1.5.

Solve the following.

10
n n

(a) lim

5n + 8
n
n

(b) lim

n2 + 1
n 2 n 3

(c) lim

SOLUTION.

(a)

(b)

(c)

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(Sandwich Theorem)

THEOREM 1.3.

If

{an } , {bn }

and

{cn }

are infinite sequences such that an bn cn for all n and if

lim an = lim cn = , then lim bn = .

n

EXAMPLE 1.6.

sin n
Find the limit of the sequence 2 .
n

SOLUTION.

THEOREM 1.4.

EXAMPLE 1.7.

If r < 1 , then lim r n = 0 .

n

1 n
Find the limit of the sequence .
4

SOLUTION.

THEOREM 1.5.

If lim an = 0 , then lim an = 0 .

n

1-7

THEOREM 1.6.

If lim

(LHpitals rule)

f ( x)
f ( x) 0
f ( x)
f '( x)
= or lim
= , then lim
= lim
, g '( x) 0 .
n g ( x )
n g ( x )
n g ' ( x )
0
g ( x)

EXAMPLE 1.8.

4n
(a) 2 n
e

Find the limit of the following sequence.

ln n
(b) 2
n

(c) {n3/ n }

SOLUTION.

(a)

(b)

(c)

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THEOREM 1.7.

If x > 0 and x

, then

xn
= 0 , x integer.
n n !

(i)

lim

(ii)

lim

(iii)

lim

(iv)

lim n1 n = 1 .

(v)

x
lim 1 + = e x .
n
n

(vi)

lim n p = 1 , p > 0.

1
= 0 , p > 0.
n n p
n

ln n
= 0.
n

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1.2

MONOTONIC SEQUENCE

A sequence {an } is said to be monotonic if successive terms are non-decreasing in the sense
that
a1 a2 a3 an
or non-increasing in the sense that
a1 a2 a3 an

DEFINITION 1.3.

A sequence {an } is said to be

(i)

strictly increasing if an < an +1 , n .

(ii)

increasing if an an +1 , n .

(iii) strictly decreasing if an > an +1 , n .

(iv) decreasing if an an +1 , n .

A sequence {an } is monotonic if it is either increasing or decreasing, and a sequence {an } is

strictly monotonic if it is either strictly increasing or strictly decreasing.

SEQUENCE

DESCRIPTION

1 2 3 4
, , , ,
2 3 4 5

Strictly increasing

1 1 1
, , ,
2 3 4

Strictly decreasing

1,

1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3,
1, 1,

1 1 1 1
, , , ,
2 2 3 3

1 1
1
1, , , ,
2 3
4

Increasing; not strictly increasing

Decreasing; not strictly decreasing

Strictly increasing

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Determine whether the following sequence is monotonic or not.

EXAMPLE 1.9.

{( 1) }

1
(a) 2 +
n

(b)

n
(c)

n + 1

2n
(d)
n!

SOLUTION.

(a)

1
2 +
n

(b)

{( 1) }

(c)

n + 1

(d)

2n

n!

1-11

DEFINITION 1.4.

A sequence {an } is said to be bounded if the values A and B such that

A an B, n

EXAMPLE 1.10.

Determine whether the following sequence is bounded or not.

1
(a) 2 +
n
(c)

{( 1) }
n

(b) {2n }
n2 + 1
(d)

SOLUTION.

(a)

1
2 +
n

(b)

{2 }

(c)

{( 1) }

(d)

n2 + 1

1-12

THEOREM 1.8.

If {an } converges, then {an } is bounded (implying that if {an } is not

bounded, then {an } diverges).

THEOREM 1.9.

If {an } is bounded and monotonic, then {an } converges.

1-13