Say that the limit of sequence $(A_n)$ as $n \to \infty$ equals $+\infty$ if for every $r \in \mathbb R$, there is an integer $N$ such that $(A_n) > R$ for all $n \geq N$.
Show that a divergent monotone increasing sequence converges to $+\infty$ in this sense.
I am having trouble understanding how to incorporate in my proof the fact that the sequence is monotonically increasing.
Any help would be appreciated,
Thanks
Best Answer
What is required for a monotone increasing sequence to converge?
By$\; (*):\;$ Since $A_n$ is a monotone increasing sequence, if $A_n$ were bounded above, then it would converge to some value $L < +\infty$. But we are given $A_n$ is a divergent monotone increasing sequence. Hence $A_n$ cannot be bounded above; i.e., $A_n$ has no upper bound. (That's simply applying the contrapositive of the monotone convergence theorem).
That is, there is no $M > 0$ such that $(A_n)$ is bounded above by $M$. This means $$\forall M>0,\; \exists N\in \mathbb{N}:A_N>M.$$
And since we are given that $(A_n)$ is monotone increasing, $n\ge N\implies A_n>A_N>M$.
This holds for $M'<M$ too, so $$\forall M>0,\;\;\exists N\in \mathbb{N}:\ n\ge N\implies A_n>M$$ and hence, $A_n\to +\infty$.