[Math] How to simplify the following union of sets

elementary-set-theoryreal-analysis

Am a bit confused on how a union of sets can be arrived at, am not sure how to start even and some guidance is much appreciated, below is my attempt

$$\bigcup_{n\in\mathbb{N}} \left[\frac{1}{2n},\;8-\frac{1}{n}\right)$$

so we can say that 1/2n ≤ x < 5-1/n for all nεΝ

  • for n = 1, we have [0.5, 7)
  • for n = 2, we have [0.25, 7.5)
  • for n = 3, we have [0.1667, 7.6667)
  • for n = 4, we have [0.125, 7.75)

as n grows, (1/2n) gets smaller and smaller and thus approaches 0, but never is equal to 0

AND

as n grows, (1/n) gets smaller and smaller, thus (8-(1/n)) approaches 8 but never is equal to 8

Therefore our union of sets is (0,8)

Does this make sense?

Thanks

Best Answer

If you want to show that $(0, 8)$ is equal to your set, show that if $x \in (0, 8)$ then $x$ is in one of the sets in the union, and then show that given an element in the union of your sets, then that element is in $(0, 8)$. That's the definition of set equality.

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