9.

2 MONOTONE SEQUENCES
 TERMINOLOGY
9.2.1 definition A sequence {an} n=1 is called
strictly increasing if a1 < a2 < a3 < ··· < an < ···
Increasing if a1 ≤ a2 ≤a3 ≤ ··· ≤an ≤···
strictly decreasing if a1 > a2 > a3 > ··· > an > ···
decreasing if a1 ≥ a2 ≥ a3 ≥···≥an ≥···

A sequence that is either increasing or decreasing is said

to be monotone, and a sequence that is either strictly
increasing or strictly decreasing is said to be strictly
monotone.
 Testing for Monotonicity
Differences
Ratio of
between Conclusion
successive terms
successive terms
an+1 − an > 0 an+1 / an > 1 Strictly Increasing
an+1 − an < 0 an+1 / an < 1 Strictly Decreasing
an+1 − an ≥ 0 an+1 / an ≥ 1 Increasing
an+1 − an ≤ 0 an+1 / an ≤ 1 Decreasing
 EXAMPLE
Use the difference an+1 − an to show that the given
sequence{an}is strictly increasing or strictly
decreasing.
1.

Answer:

, so it is strictly decreasing
 EXAMPLE
2.

Answer:
an+1 − an = (n +1 − 2 n+1)−(n−2n)
=1−2n < 0 for n ≥ 1
Thus, it is strictly decreasing.
 EXAMPLE
Use the ratio an+1 / an to show that the given
sequence {an} is strictly increasing or strictly
decreasing.
1.

Answer:

, thus it is strictly increasing

 PROPERTIES THAT HOLD
EVENTUALLY

If discarding finitely many terms from the

beginning of a sequence produces a sequence
with a certain property, then the original
sequence is said to have that property eventually.
PROPERTIES THAT HOLD EVENTUALLY

For example, the sequence

9, −8 , −17 , 12 , 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ,…

is strictly increasing from the fifth term on, but

the sequence as a whole cannot be classified as
strictly increasing because of the erratic behavior
of the first four terms.
 THEOREM
If a sequence {an} is eventually increasing, then
there are two possibilities:
a) There is a constant M, called an upper
bound for the sequence, such that an ≤ M
for all n, in which case the sequence
converges to a limit L satisfying L ≤ M.
b) No upper bound exists, in which case
 THEOREM
If a sequence {an} is eventually decreasing, then
there are two possibilities:
a) There is a constant M, called a lower bound
for the sequence, such that an≥ M for all n, in
which case the sequence converges to a limit
L satisfying L ≥ M.
b) No lower bound exists, in which case
 EXAMPLE
Show that the given sequence is eventually
strictly increasing or eventually strictly
decreasing.
1.

Answer:

, thus it is eventually strictly decreasing.

 EXAMPLE
2.

Answer:

, thus it is eventually strictly increasing