Chapter 1

Limit of sequence
 chapter 1

Outline
1. Definitions

2. Properties

3. Operations
4. Criterion

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1 、 Definitions
A function with domian N ( all Natural numbers) is called a
sequence, denoted by xn  f (n), or  xn .
xn is called the general
item.
Example Let S be the area of a disk with radius r , let An
. be the area of regular polygon inscribed in this disk, then as
n becomes more and more big, An is more and more closed
to S . As you could see the picture, we have

An  n r 2 sin  cos  n
n n r
( n  3, 4 , 5,  )
 1 2 3 n n
Examples ： , , , , , xn 
2 3 4 n 1 n 1

1 4 3 n  (1) n1 n  (1) n1

2 , , , , , , xn 
2 3 4 n n

2 , 4 , 8 ,  , 2n ,  xn  2 n

1 ,  1 , 1 ,  , (1) n1 ,  xn  (1) n 1

 The sequence {xn} converges to a constant a if the
general term xn of {xn} approaches the constant a as n
increases to infinity.
•Analysis

As n gets infinitely larger, xn gets infinitely closer to a .

As n gets infinitely larger, |xn-a| gets infinitely closer to 0 .
As n gets infinitely larger, |xn-a| will be arbitrarily small.
when n increases to a certain degree, |xn-a| will be less
than any given (small) positive number.
 If the sequence  xn  approches to a constant a, as n  
then we call the sequence  xn  converges ，a is called
the limit of this sequence.

 n 
See  xn  ,
n  1
as n approches to infinity ，xn approches


to 1. If we take a very small positive number  (as measure

of then when the distance between xn and 1, i.e.
x  1 , is ，
proximity)
n less than  . That is to say,
xn is very closed to 1, under the measure of 

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Definition:
If the sequence  xn  and constant a satisfies:

   0 , there exists N, such that for all n > N , we have

xn  a  

we call a is the limit of  x n  denoted by

lim xn  a or xn  a (n  )
n 
In this case, the sequence is called convergence, a    xn  a  
otherwise, the sequence is called divergence. (n  N )
xn  ( a ,  )
Geomoerty meaning: (n  N )
i.e.
( )
a   x N 1 a x N  2 a  
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Ex1. To show the limit of  xn  C is C ，
i.e. lim C  C
n 

pf:    0 , there exists n  N , such that

| xn  C || C  C | 0   ,

i.e. lim C  C
n 

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 (1) n lim xn  0 .
Ex2. Let xn  , to show
(n  1) 2 n 
pf: (1) n 1 1
xn  0  2
0  2     (0 ,1) ,
(n  1) (n  1) n 1
1
if we want xn  0   , we only need to ask   , i.e.
1 n  1
n   1. Then we should take N  [ 1  1] , so as n  N
 
we have xn  0   , n
(1)
hence lim xn  lim 2
0 since x  0  1
n  n  ( n  1) n ( n 1) 2
Notice: N is related to  , but not take N   1  1 
unique.
n 
we don’t xhave 0 
to 1  1,
find the
n 1 n 故也可取
samllest N . N  [ 1]

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Ex3. Let q  1 , to show that the limit of the geometric
2 n 1
sequence 1 , q , q , , q , is 0.
n 1
pf: xn  0  q
n 1
0  q    (0 ,1) ,
n 1
If we want xn  0   , we only need ask q   , i.e.
ln 
(n  1) ln q  ln  , that is n  1  .
ln q
 ln  
so, take N  1  , as n > N , we have
 ln q 
n 1
q 0 
n 1
so lim q 0
n 
 Ex4. Show that lim n a  1 , a  0.
n 

pf: (1) if a > 1, a  1.   0 (0    a  1) ,

n

lg a
if we want | a  1| a  1   , we need n 
n n .
lg(1   )
 lg a 
so, take N    , as n > N , we have
 lg(1   ) 
| n a  1|  .
i.e. lim n a  1 , a  1.
n 

(2) if a = 1 , n  N , a  1 . is
n
constant
sequence ，
so lim n a  1 , a  1.
n 

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 1
(3) if 0<a <1, let a  , then b>1,we know
b
1 1  n
b
| a  1| n  1  n
n
| n b  1| .
b b
(1)   0 , exists N   lg b     lg a   N
 lg(1   )   lg(1   ) 
shows ，    
s.t. n  N , we have | n a  1 | n b  1   ,

i.e. lim n a  1 , 0<a  1.

n 

Hence lim n a  1 , a  0.
n 

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2.Properties
Th.1. If the limit exists then it must be b a b a
2 2
unique.
a ab b
pf: (we proof by contradiction.) 2

Suppose lim xn  a and lim xn  b , but a  b.

n  n 
Take   b2 a , since lim xn  a , so there exists N1 , s.t.
n 
when n > N1 , xn  a  b  a , so xn  a 2 b
2

Also, since lim xn  b , so there exists N2 , s.t, when n > N2

n 
xn  b  ba , x  a b
2 so n 2

Take N = max{N1,N2}, then for any n > N , xn satisfies both

b  a  x  b  bbaa a ab
3aabbx x 3b

inequation. n a
2 Impossible! 22 22 nn 22
 n 1
Ex.4. show that xn  (1) (n  1, 2 ,  ) divergence.
pf: we proof by contradiction.
If  xn  convergence, then its limit a is unique.
take   12 , there exists N , s.t. for all n > N , we have

a  1  xn  a  1
2 2 a1 a a 1
2 2

but xn is either 1 or -1 , but 1 and -1 can not stay in

( a  1 , a  1 ) in the same time, so it must be divergence.

2 2
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