[Math] Show $\{x_n = \sqrt{n}\}$ is not Cauchy sequence

analysiscauchy-sequencesreal-analysis

Consider the sequence {$x_n$},$x_n$=$\sqrt{n}$

Show that $\forall \varepsilon > 0, \exists n_0 \in \Bbb N$ s.t. $\forall n \geq n_0$, |$x_{n+1}-x_n$|<$\varepsilon$.

This is what I have:

Let $\varepsilon>0$ and let $n_0$ = $(\frac{1}{2\varepsilon})^2, \forall n \geq n_0$. $|\sqrt{n+1}-\sqrt{n}|$. So, $|\frac{(\sqrt{n+1}-\sqrt{n})(\sqrt{n+1}+\sqrt{n})}{(\sqrt{n+1}+\sqrt{n})}|$.

Then, $|\frac{1}{\sqrt{n+1}}$ + $\sqrt{n}|$ $\leq$ $|\frac{1}{\sqrt{n}+\sqrt{n}}|$=$|\frac{1}{2\sqrt{n}}|$= $\varepsilon$.

Therefore, $|x_{n+1}-x_n|<\varepsilon, \forall n \geq n_0$

After I did all this it got me thinking can you prove {$x_n$} is not cauchy? if so how?

Best Answer

You have a solid argument for the main part, aside from the typo $|\frac1{\sqrt{n+1}}+\sqrt{n}|$ in the second line (already noted in a comment).

After I did all this it got me thinking can you prove $\{x_n\}$ is not Cauchy? If so, how?

The definition of a Cauchy sequence refers not only to the difference between adjacent pairs of elements, but also the difference between pairs of elements any index distance apart - as long as they're both far enough out in the sequence.

Just eyeballing it, the square roots increase without bound; we should be able to find one that exceeds any particular target. So, then, given some $m$, can you find some larger $n$ with $\sqrt{n}-\sqrt{m} > 1$? A rule to do this would immediately contradict the Cauchy criterion for $\epsilon=1$, and show the sequence isn't Cauchy.

Don't worry about being terribly precise here. We don't need the smallest $n$, just anything that works.

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