Prove that if a sequence is unbounded, then the sequence is not Cauchy












0














So far:



If a sequence is unbounded, therefore it is a monotonic, divergent, sequence. Choosing $epsilon = frac12$, and $Ninmathbb{N}$. Assume n, m $geq N$.
Then $left| a_n - a_{N} right|
< epsilon$
cannot be true, because...



I understand that if the sequence is unbounded, then the difference between $a_n$ and $a_N$ will eventually become greater than $epsilon$, but I'm not sure how to write it out using the language of mathematics.










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  • 1




    The sequence $1,-2,3,-4,5,-6,ldots$ is unbounded, but not monotonic.
    – José Carlos Santos
    Nov 20 '18 at 19:28
















0














So far:



If a sequence is unbounded, therefore it is a monotonic, divergent, sequence. Choosing $epsilon = frac12$, and $Ninmathbb{N}$. Assume n, m $geq N$.
Then $left| a_n - a_{N} right|
< epsilon$
cannot be true, because...



I understand that if the sequence is unbounded, then the difference between $a_n$ and $a_N$ will eventually become greater than $epsilon$, but I'm not sure how to write it out using the language of mathematics.










share|cite|improve this question




















  • 1




    The sequence $1,-2,3,-4,5,-6,ldots$ is unbounded, but not monotonic.
    – José Carlos Santos
    Nov 20 '18 at 19:28














0












0








0







So far:



If a sequence is unbounded, therefore it is a monotonic, divergent, sequence. Choosing $epsilon = frac12$, and $Ninmathbb{N}$. Assume n, m $geq N$.
Then $left| a_n - a_{N} right|
< epsilon$
cannot be true, because...



I understand that if the sequence is unbounded, then the difference between $a_n$ and $a_N$ will eventually become greater than $epsilon$, but I'm not sure how to write it out using the language of mathematics.










share|cite|improve this question















So far:



If a sequence is unbounded, therefore it is a monotonic, divergent, sequence. Choosing $epsilon = frac12$, and $Ninmathbb{N}$. Assume n, m $geq N$.
Then $left| a_n - a_{N} right|
< epsilon$
cannot be true, because...



I understand that if the sequence is unbounded, then the difference between $a_n$ and $a_N$ will eventually become greater than $epsilon$, but I'm not sure how to write it out using the language of mathematics.







sequences-and-series proof-explanation cauchy-sequences






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edited Nov 21 '18 at 0:18









Tianlalu

3,09621038




3,09621038










asked Nov 20 '18 at 19:23









soyfroggy

133




133








  • 1




    The sequence $1,-2,3,-4,5,-6,ldots$ is unbounded, but not monotonic.
    – José Carlos Santos
    Nov 20 '18 at 19:28














  • 1




    The sequence $1,-2,3,-4,5,-6,ldots$ is unbounded, but not monotonic.
    – José Carlos Santos
    Nov 20 '18 at 19:28








1




1




The sequence $1,-2,3,-4,5,-6,ldots$ is unbounded, but not monotonic.
– José Carlos Santos
Nov 20 '18 at 19:28




The sequence $1,-2,3,-4,5,-6,ldots$ is unbounded, but not monotonic.
– José Carlos Santos
Nov 20 '18 at 19:28










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

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0














It's simpler to, as Federico has done, assume it's Cauchy and prove that it's bounded, but if you want to assume that it's unbounded and prove that's not Cauchy, you just have to use the definition of "unbounded". Unbounded means that for all $M$, there exists $n$ such that $|a_n|>M$. For this to occur, at least one of the following must be true: "$forall M exists n: a_n>M$" or "$forall M exists n: a_n<-M$". WLOG, we can assume the former. So simply choose $M=a_N+epsilon$ and then you can use the triangle inequality to show that $|a_n-a_N|>epsilon$.



So this shows that for all $a_N$ and $epsilon$, there is some $a_n$ that is more than $epsilon$ away from $a_N$. Technically, that's not quite enough to show this isn't Cauchy, as we need $n>N$. However, unboundedness requires an infinite number of terms, so it's not possible that all of the terms larger than $M$ have index less than $N$. To be rigorous, we could take $M$ to be the maximum of $a_n+epsilon$ for $n leq N$.






share|cite|improve this answer























  • @Federico I said in my first line that if we just want a proof of the claim, your proof is simpler. But I was addressing how the OP could continue their current line of thinking to a proof. And $N$ is the index of an arbitrary term.
    – Acccumulation
    Nov 21 '18 at 16:05












  • Sorry, I misread the first line. Really sorry :)
    – Federico
    Nov 21 '18 at 16:06



















3














By contradiction, let $(a_n)_{ninmathbb N}$ be Cauchy. There is $n_0$ such that $|a_n-a_{n_0}|leq1$ for $ngeq n_0$. But then
$$
|a_n| leq max{|a_1|,dots,|a_{n_0-1}|,|a_{n_0}|+1}, quad forall ninmathbb N,
$$

so the sequence is bounded.






share|cite|improve this answer





















  • @Acccumulation I don't understant. I provided an upper bound for $|a_n|$, so it's both an upper bound and a lower bound for $a_n$.
    – Federico
    Nov 21 '18 at 16:17











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2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes








2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









0














It's simpler to, as Federico has done, assume it's Cauchy and prove that it's bounded, but if you want to assume that it's unbounded and prove that's not Cauchy, you just have to use the definition of "unbounded". Unbounded means that for all $M$, there exists $n$ such that $|a_n|>M$. For this to occur, at least one of the following must be true: "$forall M exists n: a_n>M$" or "$forall M exists n: a_n<-M$". WLOG, we can assume the former. So simply choose $M=a_N+epsilon$ and then you can use the triangle inequality to show that $|a_n-a_N|>epsilon$.



So this shows that for all $a_N$ and $epsilon$, there is some $a_n$ that is more than $epsilon$ away from $a_N$. Technically, that's not quite enough to show this isn't Cauchy, as we need $n>N$. However, unboundedness requires an infinite number of terms, so it's not possible that all of the terms larger than $M$ have index less than $N$. To be rigorous, we could take $M$ to be the maximum of $a_n+epsilon$ for $n leq N$.






share|cite|improve this answer























  • @Federico I said in my first line that if we just want a proof of the claim, your proof is simpler. But I was addressing how the OP could continue their current line of thinking to a proof. And $N$ is the index of an arbitrary term.
    – Acccumulation
    Nov 21 '18 at 16:05












  • Sorry, I misread the first line. Really sorry :)
    – Federico
    Nov 21 '18 at 16:06
















0














It's simpler to, as Federico has done, assume it's Cauchy and prove that it's bounded, but if you want to assume that it's unbounded and prove that's not Cauchy, you just have to use the definition of "unbounded". Unbounded means that for all $M$, there exists $n$ such that $|a_n|>M$. For this to occur, at least one of the following must be true: "$forall M exists n: a_n>M$" or "$forall M exists n: a_n<-M$". WLOG, we can assume the former. So simply choose $M=a_N+epsilon$ and then you can use the triangle inequality to show that $|a_n-a_N|>epsilon$.



So this shows that for all $a_N$ and $epsilon$, there is some $a_n$ that is more than $epsilon$ away from $a_N$. Technically, that's not quite enough to show this isn't Cauchy, as we need $n>N$. However, unboundedness requires an infinite number of terms, so it's not possible that all of the terms larger than $M$ have index less than $N$. To be rigorous, we could take $M$ to be the maximum of $a_n+epsilon$ for $n leq N$.






share|cite|improve this answer























  • @Federico I said in my first line that if we just want a proof of the claim, your proof is simpler. But I was addressing how the OP could continue their current line of thinking to a proof. And $N$ is the index of an arbitrary term.
    – Acccumulation
    Nov 21 '18 at 16:05












  • Sorry, I misread the first line. Really sorry :)
    – Federico
    Nov 21 '18 at 16:06














0












0








0






It's simpler to, as Federico has done, assume it's Cauchy and prove that it's bounded, but if you want to assume that it's unbounded and prove that's not Cauchy, you just have to use the definition of "unbounded". Unbounded means that for all $M$, there exists $n$ such that $|a_n|>M$. For this to occur, at least one of the following must be true: "$forall M exists n: a_n>M$" or "$forall M exists n: a_n<-M$". WLOG, we can assume the former. So simply choose $M=a_N+epsilon$ and then you can use the triangle inequality to show that $|a_n-a_N|>epsilon$.



So this shows that for all $a_N$ and $epsilon$, there is some $a_n$ that is more than $epsilon$ away from $a_N$. Technically, that's not quite enough to show this isn't Cauchy, as we need $n>N$. However, unboundedness requires an infinite number of terms, so it's not possible that all of the terms larger than $M$ have index less than $N$. To be rigorous, we could take $M$ to be the maximum of $a_n+epsilon$ for $n leq N$.






share|cite|improve this answer














It's simpler to, as Federico has done, assume it's Cauchy and prove that it's bounded, but if you want to assume that it's unbounded and prove that's not Cauchy, you just have to use the definition of "unbounded". Unbounded means that for all $M$, there exists $n$ such that $|a_n|>M$. For this to occur, at least one of the following must be true: "$forall M exists n: a_n>M$" or "$forall M exists n: a_n<-M$". WLOG, we can assume the former. So simply choose $M=a_N+epsilon$ and then you can use the triangle inequality to show that $|a_n-a_N|>epsilon$.



So this shows that for all $a_N$ and $epsilon$, there is some $a_n$ that is more than $epsilon$ away from $a_N$. Technically, that's not quite enough to show this isn't Cauchy, as we need $n>N$. However, unboundedness requires an infinite number of terms, so it's not possible that all of the terms larger than $M$ have index less than $N$. To be rigorous, we could take $M$ to be the maximum of $a_n+epsilon$ for $n leq N$.







share|cite|improve this answer














share|cite|improve this answer



share|cite|improve this answer








edited Nov 21 '18 at 16:21

























answered Nov 20 '18 at 19:48









Acccumulation

6,8062617




6,8062617












  • @Federico I said in my first line that if we just want a proof of the claim, your proof is simpler. But I was addressing how the OP could continue their current line of thinking to a proof. And $N$ is the index of an arbitrary term.
    – Acccumulation
    Nov 21 '18 at 16:05












  • Sorry, I misread the first line. Really sorry :)
    – Federico
    Nov 21 '18 at 16:06


















  • @Federico I said in my first line that if we just want a proof of the claim, your proof is simpler. But I was addressing how the OP could continue their current line of thinking to a proof. And $N$ is the index of an arbitrary term.
    – Acccumulation
    Nov 21 '18 at 16:05












  • Sorry, I misread the first line. Really sorry :)
    – Federico
    Nov 21 '18 at 16:06
















@Federico I said in my first line that if we just want a proof of the claim, your proof is simpler. But I was addressing how the OP could continue their current line of thinking to a proof. And $N$ is the index of an arbitrary term.
– Acccumulation
Nov 21 '18 at 16:05






@Federico I said in my first line that if we just want a proof of the claim, your proof is simpler. But I was addressing how the OP could continue their current line of thinking to a proof. And $N$ is the index of an arbitrary term.
– Acccumulation
Nov 21 '18 at 16:05














Sorry, I misread the first line. Really sorry :)
– Federico
Nov 21 '18 at 16:06




Sorry, I misread the first line. Really sorry :)
– Federico
Nov 21 '18 at 16:06











3














By contradiction, let $(a_n)_{ninmathbb N}$ be Cauchy. There is $n_0$ such that $|a_n-a_{n_0}|leq1$ for $ngeq n_0$. But then
$$
|a_n| leq max{|a_1|,dots,|a_{n_0-1}|,|a_{n_0}|+1}, quad forall ninmathbb N,
$$

so the sequence is bounded.






share|cite|improve this answer





















  • @Acccumulation I don't understant. I provided an upper bound for $|a_n|$, so it's both an upper bound and a lower bound for $a_n$.
    – Federico
    Nov 21 '18 at 16:17
















3














By contradiction, let $(a_n)_{ninmathbb N}$ be Cauchy. There is $n_0$ such that $|a_n-a_{n_0}|leq1$ for $ngeq n_0$. But then
$$
|a_n| leq max{|a_1|,dots,|a_{n_0-1}|,|a_{n_0}|+1}, quad forall ninmathbb N,
$$

so the sequence is bounded.






share|cite|improve this answer





















  • @Acccumulation I don't understant. I provided an upper bound for $|a_n|$, so it's both an upper bound and a lower bound for $a_n$.
    – Federico
    Nov 21 '18 at 16:17














3












3








3






By contradiction, let $(a_n)_{ninmathbb N}$ be Cauchy. There is $n_0$ such that $|a_n-a_{n_0}|leq1$ for $ngeq n_0$. But then
$$
|a_n| leq max{|a_1|,dots,|a_{n_0-1}|,|a_{n_0}|+1}, quad forall ninmathbb N,
$$

so the sequence is bounded.






share|cite|improve this answer












By contradiction, let $(a_n)_{ninmathbb N}$ be Cauchy. There is $n_0$ such that $|a_n-a_{n_0}|leq1$ for $ngeq n_0$. But then
$$
|a_n| leq max{|a_1|,dots,|a_{n_0-1}|,|a_{n_0}|+1}, quad forall ninmathbb N,
$$

so the sequence is bounded.







share|cite|improve this answer












share|cite|improve this answer



share|cite|improve this answer










answered Nov 20 '18 at 19:28









Federico

4,709514




4,709514












  • @Acccumulation I don't understant. I provided an upper bound for $|a_n|$, so it's both an upper bound and a lower bound for $a_n$.
    – Federico
    Nov 21 '18 at 16:17


















  • @Acccumulation I don't understant. I provided an upper bound for $|a_n|$, so it's both an upper bound and a lower bound for $a_n$.
    – Federico
    Nov 21 '18 at 16:17
















@Acccumulation I don't understant. I provided an upper bound for $|a_n|$, so it's both an upper bound and a lower bound for $a_n$.
– Federico
Nov 21 '18 at 16:17




@Acccumulation I don't understant. I provided an upper bound for $|a_n|$, so it's both an upper bound and a lower bound for $a_n$.
– Federico
Nov 21 '18 at 16:17


















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