CAPE PURE MATHEMATICS UNIT 2

Convergent and Divergent Sequences

Mr. Garth Reid

BSc Mathematics and Education (ongoing)
Student Ambassador of the University of Technology, Jamaica

April 24, 2021

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Definition of a Sequence

A sequence of real numbers is a bijective function f from the set of natural numbers (N) to
the set of real numbers(R).

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Worked Examples

Determine the function f : N → R which represents the sequence 12 , 23 , 34 , ....

Solution
n
f (n) = n+1 where, nεN

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Worked Examples

Determine the function f : N → R which represents the sequence 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, ....

Solution
(
1, n is odd
f (n) =
0, n is even

where, nεN

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Important Information

The convergent sequence < un > has a unique limit L. In other words, lim (un ) = L. If
n→∞
lim (un ) → ±∞ then the sequence < un > is divergent.
n→∞

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Worked Examples

8n2
Let un = 6n2 +3n+2
. Show that un converges to 43 .

Solution
 
8n2
lim (un ) = lim 6n2 +3n+2
n→∞ n→∞

8 4
Since the deg 8n2 = deg 6n2 + 3n + 2 it implies that the lim (un ) =



6 = 3
n→∞

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Worked Examples

n3
Determine whether the sequence un = 6n2 +1
is convergent.

Solution
 
n3
lim (un ) = lim 6n2 +1
n→∞ n→∞

Since the deg n3 > deg 6n2 + 1 it implies that the lim (un ) → ∞. Therefore, the



n→∞
sequence un is divergent.

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Worked Examples

1+n
Show that the sequence un = n2
converges to zero.

Solution
1+n


lim (un ) = lim n2
n→∞ n→∞

Since the deg (1 + n) < deg n2 it implies that the lim (un ) = 0


n→∞

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Worked Examples

q
4n−1
Is the sequence un = n+1 convergent ?

Solution
√
q r  
4n−1 4n−1
lim (un ) = lim n+1 = lim n+1 = 4=2
n→∞ n→∞ n→∞

Hence, the sequence un is convergent.

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Alternative Methods

There are alternative methods in Pure Mathematics to show convergence of a sequence such
as Cauchy’s General Principle or showing that the sequence is bounded and monotonically
increasing/decreasing. However, in my opinion these are too advanced for the CAPE level.

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Continuation

In another presentation we will continue to determine if a given sequence is convergent or

divergent with more difficult problems which requires the use of L’Hopital’s Rule.

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Thank You For Your Participation

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