Convergence of inverse of a null sequence

Alejandro Mascort

October 25, 2024

This is a proof that the inverse of a null sequence is not convergent.

Be (an)R(a_n) \subset \mathbb{R} a null sequence, that is, limnan=0\lim_{n \to \infty} a_n = 0. We want to prove that the sequence (1an)(\frac{1}{a_n}) is not convergent.

As we know that (an)(a_n) is a null sequence, we know that for all ϵ>0\epsilon > 0 there exists an n0Nn_0 \in \mathbb{N} such that for all nNn \in \mathbb{N} with nn0n \geq n_0 we have that an<ϵ|a_n| < \epsilon.

Now, let’s consider the sequence (1an)(\frac{1}{a_n}), (suppose that an0a_n \neq 0 for all nNn \in \mathbb{N}) we know that an<ϵ|a_n| < \epsilon, then we can say that 1an>1ϵ\frac{1}{|a_n|} > \frac{1}{\epsilon}. So for each ϵR,ϵ>0\epsilon \in \mathbb{R}, \epsilon > 0, we can find an n1Nn_1 \in \mathbb{N} such that for all nNn \in \mathbb{N} with nn1n \geq n_1 we have that 1an>1ϵ\frac{1}{|a_n|} > \frac{1}{\epsilon}. Therefore, (1/an)(1/a_n) is not bounded, and so it is not convergent.

Glossary

Bibliography

  1. M. Spivak, A. (2008). Calculus. Reverté.
  2. Adams, R. A., (2009). Calculus. Pearson Addison Wesley.
  3. Delgado Pineda, M. (2024). Análisis Matemático: Cálculo Diferencial en una Variable. Sanz y Torres.

Further Readings

  1. Bartle, R. G., & Sherbert, D. R. (2011). Introduction to Real Analysis (4th ed.). Wiley.
  2. Rudin, W. (1976). Principles of Mathematical Analysis (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill.
  3. OpenStax. "Sequences and Series"