[Math] Convergence and accumulation points proof.

analysisconvergence-divergencereal-analysis

Suppose $\{a_n\}_{n=1}^\infty$, converges to $A$ and $\{a_n: n \in J\}$ is an infinite set. Show that $A$ is an accumulation point of $\{a_n: n \in J\}$.

So far I have done the basics of convergence but the accumulation point material is confusing to me.

So far I have:

If $\{a_n\}_{n=1}^\infty$ converges to $A$,
then $\exists \epsilon>0$, $N \in \mathbb N^+$ such that $\forall n>=N$ we have
$|a_n-A| < \epsilon$.

Let S=$\{a_n: n \in J\}$…?

The definition I'm trying to use is:

Let $S$ be a set of all real numbers. A real number $A$ is an accumulation point of $S$ iff every neighborhood of $A$ contains infinitely many points of $S$.

I feel like this should be easy for me to do but its not clicking yet.

This problem is #24 from the Intro to Analysis textbook by Edward D. Gaughan

Best Answer

An accumulation point of a sequence is a more general concept that a limit. For example, the sequence $+1,-1,+1,-1,...$ has no limit, but two accumulation points, $\pm 1$.

(If you prefer to have distinct points, take the sequence $+1+\frac{1}{1},-1+\frac{1}{2},+1+\frac{1}{3},-1+\frac{1}{4},...$)

Think of accumulation points as limits of subsequences. A point is an accumulation point of a sequence iff you can find a subsequence converging to that point.

It should be clear that if $a_n \to A$, then all subsequences must also converge to $A$.

Suppose $J$ is an infinite set, and $U$ an open set containing $A$. Since $a_n \to A$, we have some $N$ such that $a_n \in U$ for all $n \ge N$. Then we see that the set $J'=J \cap \{N,N+1,...\}$ is also infinite (otherwise a quick contradiction), and for all $n \in J'$, $a_n \in U$. Hence $A$ is an accumulation point of the subsequence $a_n$, $n \in J$.