Exploring Infinite Sequences, Part II

"Finite Changes to an Infinite Sequence Do Not Affect its Limit"
What is the limit of the sequence:
{1, 1, 1, .... 1, 2, 2, 2, ....}
(first billion terms are "1" and the rest are "2")

The limit of this seuqence equals _____ Why?____________________________________

What is the limit of the sequence whose first trillion terms are the corresponding digits of pi, and the rest of whose terms are 3.14, and why? ______________________________.

Suppose the limit of {an} is L, and the limit of {bn} is M.

Now let {cn} be such that cn=an for n=1,2,...1000 and such that cn= bn for n=1001,1002,... What is the limit of the sequence {cn}? Why?

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What if cn=an for n even, and cn=bn for n odd?

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What Theorem do these examples suggest? State your own theorem in your own (careful, mathematically precise) terms:

[Your name]:     _______________'s Theorem:

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The Sandwich Theorem: If the sequences {an} and {cn} both converge, both approach (converge to) the same limit L, and if for every n one has

an < bn < cn
(or "less than or equal to" signs above instead of each "<")

then (a) it's guaranteed that {bn} converges and (b) it will converge to L.

Let bn= sin(n)/n. Prove {bn} converges, and what it converges to, using the Sandwich Theorem.

Give a graph of your three functions (sequences):

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 -------------------------------------------------- x-axis
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How does this support your calculation? And how does it support the Sandwich Theorem more generally?

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Theorem on Monotone and Bounded Sequences

Use your books if necessary.

A sequence {an} is increasing if
____________________________________________________________
while it is said to be decreasing if
____________________________________________________________.

A sequence {an} is monotone if
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A sequence {an} is bounded above if
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while a sequence {an} is bounded below if
____________________________________________________________.

A sequence {an} is bounded if
____________________________________________________________.

Theorem:

If a sequence {an} is __________ and __________ then ____________________.

Application:

Prove that the sequence {0.9, 0.99, 0.999, 0.9999, ....} must converge (to some number).

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What do you think it converges to? __________.


(Optional -- for students who have had delta-epsilon definitions:)

How would you "prove" it using the technical definition of limits of sequences?
(ask your instructor for the N-epsilon definition if you need to).

Your ideas:











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