Real Analysis – Showing Equivalence of Two Definitions of Limsup

definitionlimsup-and-liminfreal-analysis

In Rudin, $\limsup$ is defined as follows:

Let $S$ be the set of subsequential limits of $\{s_n\}$. Then
$$\limsup s_n = \sup S. \tag{1}$$

However, our real analysis instructor defined $\limsup$ in a different manner:

$$\limsup s_n = \lim_{n \to \infty} \sup_{m \ge n} s_m. \tag{2}$$

I am having trouble understanding how these two definitions are equivalent. It would be very helpful to me if somebody could provide a proof with some explanation.

My thoughts on the problem:

I have noticed that the usual trend with these sort of proofs is to prove the upper bound $(1) \le (2)$ and then the lower bound $(1) \ge (2)$ to get the desired conclusion. However, I am unsure how to even begin.

Best Answer

We first construct a sub-sequence in $S$ that has limit $\lim_{n\to\infty} \sup_{k>n} s_k$. We do this by observing that there's a $l(n)>n$ such that $\sup_{k>n}s_k \ge s_{l(n)} \ge \sup_{k>n}s_k-2^{-n}$, now $\lim_{n\to\infty}s_{l(n)} = \lim_{n \to \infty} \sup_{k>n} s_k$.

Now as $l(n)>n$ we have $l(n)\to\infty$ so $l(n)$ has an increasing subsequence $t_n$ and by that we can construct the desired subsequence of $s_n$.

That is we have proved that

$$\sup S \ge \lim t_n = \lim_{n\to\infty}\sup_{k>n}s_k$$

To prove the opposite lets consider "synchronized" subsequence $u_n$ (that $u_n=s_n$ or $u_n=u_{n-1}$ - just repeating the elements in the subsequence to keep them in sync) - this kind of construct doesn't alter the definition if $S$. Now $\{u_k: k>n\}\subseteq \{s_k: k>n\}$ and therefore $\sup_{k>n}u_k \le sup_{k_n}s_k$.

This means that:

$$\lim_{n\to\infty} u_k \le \lim_{n\to\infty}\sup_{k>n}u_k \le \lim_{n\to\infty}\sup_{k>n}s_k$$

That is for all subsequences in $S$ the limit is less than or equal the $\liminf$ of definition (2) that is:

$$\sup S\le\lim_{n\to\infty}\sup_{k>n}s_k$$

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