# Math Help - subsequences and convergence.

1. ## subsequences and convergence.

This is a question that seems obvious except my method doesn't look quite right.

Suppose we have a sequence $a_n$ and are trying to prove that it converges. Assume that we have shown that the subsequences $(a_{2n})$ and $(a_{2n+1})$ both converge to the same limit a. Prove that $(a_n) \rightarrow a$ converges.
Here's what i've done so far:

$a_{2n} \rightarrow a$
$a_{2n+1} \rightarrow a$

N.T.S (need to show) $a_n$ converges.

$(a_{2n})^\infty_{n=1}$:

$a_2

$(a_{2n+1})^ \infty_{n=1}$

$a_3

$a_2+a_3

$\frac{a_2+a_3}{2}<\frac{a_4+a_5}{2}<\frac{a_6+a_7} {2}<.....<\frac{a_{2n}+a_{2n+1}}{2}

From here i'm not sure where to proceed. I'm not even sure if this is the right way of doing it!

I have noticed that I can get all the terms except for $a_1$. However, I can't see a way of connecting the two subsequences apart from adding them together.

I was thinking of making $a_n=\frac{a_{2n}+a_{2n+1}}{2}$ and then I would have a nice increasing sequence that has a limit a. Otherwise i'm having some difficulty in seeing what to do next.

Could someone please give me a nudge in the right direction? I would be grateful if they could!

EDIT: I've just noticed that you can get a_1 if youmake n=0 for the second subsequence. I can't actually see how this helps unless I can somehow see the property that a_{2n+1} is less than a_n. Even then I would have trouble justifying the order a_1<a_2_a_3......etc

2. Originally Posted by Showcase_22
This is a question that seems obvious except my method doesn't look quite right.

Here's what i've done so far:

$a_{2n} \rightarrow a$
$a_{2n+1} \rightarrow a$

N.T.S (need to show) $a_n$ converges.

$(a_{2n})^\infty_{n=1}$:

$a_2

$(a_{2n+1})^ \infty_{n=1}$

$a_3

$a_2+a_3

$\frac{a_2+a_3}{2}<\frac{a_4+a_5}{2}<\frac{a_6+a_7} {2}<.....<\frac{a_{2n}+a_{2n+1}}{2}

From here i'm not sure where to proceed. I'm not even sure if this is the right way of doing it!

I have noticed that I can get all the terms except for $a_1$. However, I can't see a way of connecting the two subsequences apart from adding them together.

I was thinking of making $a_n=\frac{a_{2n}+a_{2n+1}}{2}$ and then I would have a nice increasing sequence that has a limit a. Otherwise i'm having some difficulty in seeing what to do next.

Could someone please give me a nudge in the right direction? I would be grateful if they could!

EDIT: I've just noticed that you can get a_1 if youmake n=0 for the second subsequence. I can't actually see how this helps unless I can somehow see the property that a_{2n+1} is less than a_n. Even then I would have trouble justifying the order a_1<a_2_a_3......etc
i am probably oversimplifying this, but it seems to me you can do this

Since $a_{2k} \to a$, we have that given $\epsilon > 0$, $\exists N_1 \in \mathbb{N}$ such that $2k > N_1$ implies $|a_{2k} - a| < \epsilon$

similarly, we have for $\{ a_{2k + 1} \}$, there is an $N_2 \in \mathbb{N}$ such that $2k + 1 > N_2$ implies $|a_{2k + 1} - a| < \epsilon$.

Choose $N = \text{max} \{ N_1, N_2 \}$. then, $n > N$ implies $|a_n - a| < \epsilon$. (since $n$ is either even or odd, and in either case, $|a_n - a| < \epsilon$ by the two previous convergences)

3. When I was in a lecture I noticed there was a fundamental flaw with what I had written. I had only acknowledged the situation where a is an upper bound!

I have an alternative method but it is still longer than yours.

Have you made n=2k and then used the relationship n>N to generate $
|a_{2k} - a| < \epsilon
$
? The same goes for the second inequality.

If so, that's a really good way of thinking about it. I'll remember that for some other horrible question!

4. Originally Posted by Showcase_22
When I was in a lecture I noticed there was a fundamental flaw with what I had written. I had only acknowledged the situation where a is an upper bound!

I have an alternative method but it is still longer than yours.

Have you made n=2k and then used the relationship n>N to generate $
|a_{2k} - a| < \epsilon
$
? The same goes for the second inequality.

If so, that's a really good way of thinking about it. I'll remember that for some other horrible question!
yes, n can be odd or even, so i took turns making n = 2k and then n = 2k + 1. and we know about the subsequences with subscripts like that. so we use that information