Thread: Real analysis: Limit superior proof

[note: also under discussion in s.o.s. math board]

Originally Posted by kingwinner

[note: also under discussion in s.o.s. math board]

Since we have that we have that for every there exists an such that more pertinently we have that . But, so that

Originally Posted by Drexel28

Since we have that we have that for every there exists an such that more pertinently we have that . But, so that

Sorry, I don't understand your meaning of b_n. (otherwise the proof makes sense to me)

Let (a_n) be a sequence of real numbers.
We have sup{a_n: n≥k} = sup{a_k,a_k+1,a_k+2,...} = b_k
and
lim sup{a_n: n≥k} = lim sup a_n
k->infinity

So you mean b_n = sup{a_n: n≥n} ??

Originally Posted by kingwinner

Sorry, I don't understand your meaning of b_n. (otherwise the proof makes sense to me)

Let (a_n) be a sequence of real numbers.
We have sup{a_n: n≥k} = sup{a_k,a_k+1,a_k+2,...} = b_k

So b_n = sup{a_n: n≥n} ??

I'm sorry. I guess I'm just so used to using n as a subscript. Change it to k.

Originally Posted by Drexel28

I'm sorry. I guess I'm just so used to using n as a subscript. Change it to k.

OK, then I think I understand your proof. Thank you!
But now I have a general question about the way lim sup is usually defined.

Let (a_n) be a sequence of real numbers. Then we define lim sup to be
lim [sup{a_n: n≥k}] = lim sup a_n = b_k
k->∞
Here, my understanding is that the indices n and k are independent.

But I have seen some textbooks doing the following:
Let (a_n) be a sequence of real numbers. Then they define lim sup to be
lim [sup{a_m: m≥n}] = lim sup a_n = b_n
n->∞
i.e. they are using the same subscript "n", but "n" is the subscript in the original sequence (a_n), so they can't be independent.
Is it correct to do this?

If we use the latter definition, would this ruin our proof? (becuase at the end, I don't think we'll get the same conclusion...)

Originally Posted by kingwinner

OK, then I think I understand your proof. Thank you!
But now I have a general question about the way lim sup is usually defined.

Let (a_n) be a sequence of real numbers. Then we define lim sup to be
lim [sup{a_n: n≥k}] = lim sup a_n = b_k
k->∞
Here, my understanding is that the indices n and k are independent.

But I have seen some textbooks doing the following:
Let (a_n) be a sequence of real numbers. Then they define lim sup to be
lim [sup{a_m: m≥n}] = lim sup a_n = b_n
n->∞
i.e. they are using the same subscript "n", but "n" is the subscript in the original sequence (a_n), so they can't be independent.
Is it correct to do this?

If we use the latter definition, would this ruin our proof? (becuase at the end, I don't think we'll get the same conclusion...)

That would make no sense if I understand what you're saying.

Supremum Limit -- from Wolfram MathWorld

This is the exact way you defined it, except they have n and k switched.