Mathematics · Glossary

What is Bounded sequence?

Also known as: sequence bounded

Definition 20.7 High School Mathematics · Chapter 20 — Sequences

A sequence (un)(u_n) is bounded above if there exists MRM \in \R with unMu_n \leq M for all nn; bounded below if there exists mRm \in \R with unmu_n \geq m for all nn; and bounded if both hold.

Examples

Example 20.22

Let u0=2u_0 = 2 and un+1=12(un+2un)u_{n+1} = \frac{1}{2}\left(u_n + \frac{2}{u_n}\right). One checks by induction that un2u_n \geq \sqrt{2} for all nn (the inequality 12(x+2/x)2\frac{1}{2}(x + 2/x) \geq \sqrt{2} for x>0x>0 is equivalent to (x2)20(x - \sqrt2)^2 \geq 0), then that (un)(u_n) is decreasing, since

un+1un=2un22un0.u_{n+1}-u_n=\frac{2-u_n^2}{2u_n}\leq 0 .

Decreasing and bounded below, (un)(u_n) converges to some 2\ell \geq \sqrt{2}, which must satisfy =12(+2/)\ell = \frac{1}{2}(\ell + 2/\ell), i.e. 2=2\ell^2 = 2. Hence un2u_n \to \sqrt{2}. This is Heron’s algorithm, already used by the Babylonians; its convergence is extremely fast (u3u_3 already gives 2\sqrt 2 to eight decimal places).

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