Math 2401 SOLUTIONS FOR ASSIGNMENT 1 04/10/2018

 
67 69 67 69 67 69
1(a). We have (an ) = , , , , , , . . . . The subsequence (a1 , a3 , a5 , . . .) is
4 4 4 4 4 4
 
67 67 67 67
, , , ,...
4 4 4 4

This subsequence converges to 67/4. The subsequence (a2 , a4 , a6 , . . .) is

 
69 69 69 69
, , , ,...
4 4 4 4

This subsequence converges to 69/4. Since (an ) has subsequences converging to two distinct
values, it is not possible that (an ) converges. [2]

...........................................................................................

1(b). We show that (an ) → 17. Let  > 0, choose N so large that N > 1/4, and let n be
given. If n > N then n > 1/4, hence
1
<n
4
1
<
4n
 
 (−1)n 
 
 4n  < 
  
 (−1)n 
 17 + − 17 < 
 4n

In summary, if n > N then |an − 17| < . Then (an ) → 17. [3]

2. Let  > 0, choose N so large that N > e1/ − 1, and let n be given. If n > N then

n > e1/ − 1
n + 1 > e1/
1
log(n + 1) >

1
>
log(n + 1)
 
1  1 
Thus <  and hence  − 0 < . In summary, if n > N then |an − 0| < .
log(n + 1) log(n + 1)
Then (an ) → 0. [2]
3. Since (an ) → 7 and 0.05 is positive, there is some N such that |an − 7| < 0.05 for all n > N .
Then if n > N we have −0.05 < an − 7 < 0.05. Adding 7 throughout gives 6.95 < an < 7.05.
In particular, if n > N then an > 6.95. [2]

4. Suppose, for the sake of contradiction, that L > 4. Since (an ) → L and L − 4 is positive,
there is some N such that |an − L| < L − 4 whenever n > N . Obviously, N + 1 > N . Then,
on one hand, |aN +1 − L| < L − 4. Thus −L + 4 < aN +1 − L < L − 4. Adding L throughout
gives 4 < aN +1 < 2L − 4. In particular, aN +1 > 4. On the other hand, since an ≤ 4 for all n
we have aN +1 ≤ 4. Since it is not possible to have aN +1 > 4 and aN +1 ≤ 4, it is not true that
L > 4. Thus L ≤ 4. [3]

5. Since (bn ) is bounded, there is some M such that |bn | ≤ M for all n. Let  > 0. Since
(an ) → 0 and /M is positive, there is some N such that |an − 0| < /M whenever n > N .
Thus if n > N we have |an | < /M . Furthermore, if n > N then


|an bn − 0| = |an bn | = |an | |bn | < (M ) = 
M

In summary, if n > N then |an bn − 0| < . Then (an bn ) → 0. [3]