Showing sequence is Cauchy in L^1 norm

cauchy-sequencesfunctional-analysisnormed-spaces

Let

$$f_n(x)=\begin{cases}
\left(x+\frac{1}{2}\right)^n,&\text{if }0\le x<\frac{1}{2}\\\\
1,&\text{if } \frac{1}{2}\le x\le 1\;.
\end{cases}$$

Then clearly $(f_n)$ is sequence in $C[0,1]$. I need to show this is cauchy sequence in $C[0,1]$ with $L^1$ norm.

My attempt By definition of cauchy sequence, i think we need establish

$||f_n-f_m||<\epsilon$ for sufficiently large $m, n$

i.e. $\int^{1}_0 |f_n(x)-f_m(x)|dx<\epsilon$ for sufficiently large $m, n$

But,

$\int^{1}_0 |f_n(x)-f_m(x)|dx\\
=\int^{1/2}_0 |(x+1/2)^n-(x+1/2)^m|dx$

(Since on $[1/2,1]$ both $f_n$, $f_m$ are equal for all $m, n$ )

In next step i had used traingle inequality and spit the integral into two parts and obtained,

$\int^{1}_0 |f_n(x)-f_m(x)|dx\\
≤\int^{1/2}_0 |(x+1/2)^n| dx+\int^{1/2}_0 |(x+1/2)^m| dx$
\
$=\frac{1}{n+1}[1-(1/2)^{n+1}]+\frac{1}{m+1}[1-(1/2)^{m+1}]$

But i am unable to obtain conclusion

Further, i like to know is there is any direct approach to conclude it is Cauchy sequence?

Best Answer

Let $\varepsilon > 0$ be fixed. Note that \begin{eqnarray*} \int_{0}^{1/2} \left| (x + 1/2)^n - (x + 1/2)^m \right| \, dx & \leq & \int_{0}^{1/2} \left| (x + 1/2)^n \right| \, dx + \int_{0}^{1/2} \left| (x + 1/2)^n \right| \, dx \\ & = & \left[\frac{1}{n+1} - \frac{(1/2)^{n+1}}{n + 1} \right] + \left[ \frac{1}{n+1} - \frac{(1/2)^{m+1}}{m + 1} \right]\\ & < & \frac{1}{n} + \frac{1}{m}. \end{eqnarray*} From here, can you determine what constraints you must put on $n$ (resp. $m$) so tha $\dfrac{1}{n} < \dfrac{\varepsilon}{2}$?

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