Department of Mathematics

MTL 100: Calculus

2016-17: Semester I
Quiz 1 Solutions
1. Prove that a sequence {sn } of real numbers converges to a real number if and only
if it is a Cauchy sequence.
[5]
Solution. Suppose {sn } is a convergent sequence with limit `. Let  be any positive real
number. Then there exists a positive integer N such that |sn `| <  whenever n > N .
[ 12 ]
Now
|sm sn | = |(sm `) (sn `)| |sm `| + |sn `| <  +  = 2
whenever m, n > N . Thus the sequence {sn } is Cauchy.

[1]

Conversely suppose {sn } is a Cauchy sequence. Let  be any positive real number. Choose a
positive integer N such that |sm sn | <  whenever m, n > N .
[ 21 ]
This implies, in particular, that sn < sm +  for all m, n > N . Hence sm +  is an upper bound
for {sn : n > N }, and so vN = sup{sn : n > N } sm +  whenever m > N .
[1]
But now vN  is a lower bound for {sn : n > N }, and so vN  inf{sn : n > N } = uN .
Therefore
lim sup {sn } vN uN +  lim inf {sn } + .
[1]
Since this holds for all  > 0, we have lim sup {sn } lim inf {sn }. Since lim sup {sn }
lim inf {sn } always holds, we have lim sup {sn } = lim inf {sn }. This implies the sequence {sn }
is convergent.
[1]

2. Let a > 0. Discuss the convergence of the sequence {sn } defined by



1
a
sn+1 =
sn +
, n 1, s1 > a.
2
sn
If the sequence converges, determine the limit of {sn }.

[5]

Solution. Observe that s1 > 0. Assuming sn > 0, it is clear from the recurrence that sn+1 > 0.
Therefore sn > 0 for each n 1 by induction. Since sn+1 is the arithmetic mean of sn and
a/sn and since the arithmetic mean is greater than or equal to the geometric mean, we have

that sn+1 a for each n 1. Hence the sequence {sn } is bounded below.
[2]
Thus

1
a
1
a
sn sn+1 = sn
sn +
=
sn
0,
2
sn
2
sn
since s2n a and sn > 0. Hence the sequence {sn } is nonincreasing.

[1]

Therefore the sequence {sn } is convergent.

[ 12 ]

If {sn } `, then taking the limit as n tends to on both sides of the recurrence gives
1
a
`+
.
2
`


`=
Thus `2 = a, so that ` =

a since ` > 0.

[1+ 12 ]