Definition:Convergent Sequence/Analysis

Definition

Real Numbers

Let $\sequence {x_k}$ be a sequence in $\R$.

The sequence $\sequence {x_k}$ converges to the limit $l \in \R$ if and only if:

$\forall \epsilon \in \R_{>0}: \exists N \in \R_{>0}: n > N \implies \size {x_n - l} < \epsilon$

where $\size x$ denotes the absolute value of $x$.

Rational Numbers

Let $\sequence {x_k}$ be a sequence in $\Q$.

$\sequence {x_k}$ converges to the limit $l \in \R$ if and only if:

$\forall \epsilon \in \R_{>0}: \exists N \in \R_{>0}: n > N \implies \size {x_n - l} < \epsilon$

where $\size x$ is the absolute value of $x$.

Complex Numbers

Let $\sequence {z_k}$ be a sequence in $\C$.

$\sequence {z_k}$ converges to the limit $c \in \C$ if and only if:

$\forall \epsilon \in \R_{>0}: \exists N \in \R: n > N \implies \cmod {z_n - c} < \epsilon$

where $\cmod z$ denotes the modulus of $z$.

Note on Domain of $N$

Some sources insist that $N \in \N$ but this is not strictly necessary and can make proofs more cumbersome.

Also see

• Results about convergent sequences can be found here.