Problem 3.

(15 points)

We say that a sequence {an } of real numbers is contractive if there exists a

constant C with 0 < C < 1 such that |an+2 −an+1 | ≤ C|an+1 −an | for all n ∈ N.

(i) Show that every contractive sequence is a Cauchy sequence and hence
convergent.

Proof:

Claim: (which we will prove by induction)

|an+2 − an+1 | ≤ C n |a2 − a1 |

Let n=1. |a3 −a2 | ≤ C|a2 −a1 | By definition of a contractive sequence. Hence
true for n=1.

Let n = k and assume that |ak+2 − ak+1 | ≤ C k |a2 − a1 |.

It follows that C|ak+2 − ak+1 | ≤ C k+1 |a2 − a1 | and |ak+3 − ak+2 | ≤ C|ak+2 − ak+1 |,

By transistivity, it follows that |ak+3 − ak+2 | ≤ C k+1 |a2 − a1 |. So true for

n = k+1

By induction, it follows that for all natural n, |an+2 − an+1 | ≤ C n |a2 − a1 |.

As stated in week 3 lecture 3, given arbitrary x and y with x > y

x−1 x−1
C i−1
P P
|ax − ay | ≤ |ai+1 − ai | ≤ |a2 − a1 |
i=y i=y

x−1
C y−1 (1−C x+y )
C i−1 =
P
Note that by geometric series formula, 1−C .
i=y

It follows from the above and the fact that 1 − C k ≤ 1 that

|a2 −a1 |(C y−1 )(1−C x+y ) |a2 −a1 |C y−1
|ax − ay | ≤ 1−C ≤ 1−C

1
 1
Since C is a real number in the interval (0,1) , C is a real number greater
than 1.

By the archimedian property,

(∀ϵ > 0)(∃n0 ∈ N ) such that (∀x, y ≥ n0 ) |a1−C

2 −a1 |
< ϵ(C 1−y )

|a2 −a1 |C y−1

so 1−C < ϵ and |ax − ay | < ϵ

Therefore, (∀ϵ > 0)(∃n0 ∈ N ) such that (∀x, y ≥ n0 )|ax − ay | < ϵ

But this means that the sequence is Cauchy. Hence we have proven that
for any contractive sequence, it is Cauchy. Since every Cauchy sequence
converges (in a complete space), every contractive sequence is Cauchy
and hence convergent.