Spivak, Ch. 22 “Infinite Sequences”, Problem 17b: Understanding the solution manual solution

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Below is a problem from Chapter 22 "Infinite Sequences" of Spivak's Calculus. I've previously asked another question regarding an incorrect attempt at solving item $b$ of this problem. Now I am interested in the solution manual solution.

17.(a) Prove that if $\lim\limits_{n\to\infty} [a_{n+1}-a_n]=l$, then $\lim\limits_{n\to\infty} \frac{a_n}{n}=l$.

(b) Suppose that $f$ is continuous and $\lim\limits_{x\to\infty}
[f(x+1)-f(x)]=l$
. Prove that

$$\lim\limits_{x\to\infty} \frac{f(x)}{x}=l$$

Hint: Let $a_n$ and $b_n$ be the $\inf$ and $\sup$ of $f$ on
$[n,n+1]$.

Here is the solution manual solution to part $(b)$

The hypothesis $\lim\limits_{x\to\infty} [f(x+1)-f(x)]=l$ implies that
$a_n$ and $b_n$, the $\inf$ and $\sup$ of $f$ on $[n,n+1]$, satisfy
$\lim\limits_{n\to\infty} [a_{n+1}-a_n]=l$ and
$\lim\limits_{n\to\infty} [b_{n+1}-b_n]=l$.

So by part $(a)$, we have $\lim\limits_{x\to\infty}
a_n/n=\lim\limits_{x\to\infty} b_n/n=l$
, which implies that
$\lim\limits_{x\to\infty} f(x)/x=l$.

How do we conclude

$$\lim\limits_{n\to\infty} [a_{n+1}-a_n]=l$$

and

$$\lim\limits_{n\to\infty} [b_{n+1}-b_n]=l$$

from

$$\lim\limits_{x\to\infty} [f(x+1)-f(x)]=l$$

?

Best Answer

Given that $a_n:=\inf f[n,n+1], b_n=\sup f[n,n+1] .$

Well-definedness: $a_n,b_n$ are well defined since $f$ is continuous and $[n,n+1]$ is a compact set (this is same as closed and bounded in $\mathbb R$).

To prove: $\lim_n (a_{n+1}-a_n)=l=\lim_n (b_{n+1}-b_n),$ which by definition of limit is equivalent to proving that "Given any $\epsilon>0$, there exists $N\in \mathbb N$ such that $n\ge N\implies -\epsilon\lt a_{n+1}-a_n-l\lt \epsilon.$"

To achieve this, first fix an $\epsilon>0$.

Let's break down rest of the solution in steps:-

Step (1): (Choosing large $x$) Since $\lim_{x\to \infty}(f(x+1)-f(x))=l$, there exists $N\in \mathbb N$ such that $x\ge N\implies -\epsilon/2\lt f(x+1)- f(x)-l\lt \epsilon/2.$

Step(2):(Estimating $a_{n+1}-a_n$ from above) Note that for all $n\ge 2N,$

By definition of infimum, there exists $x_n\in [n,n+1]$ such that $a_n+\epsilon/2\gt f(x_n).$ It follows that $$\begin{align} a_{n+1}-a_n-l \le &a_{n+1}-f(x_n)-l+\epsilon/2\\ \le& f(x_n+1)-f(x_n)-l+\epsilon/2\\ \overbrace{\le }^{\text{ By step $(1)$}}& \epsilon/2+\epsilon/2=\epsilon \end{align}$$

Step (3):(Estimating $a_{n+1}-a_n$ from below) Note that for all $n\ge 2N,$

By definition of infimum, there exists $y_n\in [n+1,n+2]$ such that $a_{n+1}+\epsilon/2\gt f(y_n).$ It follows that $$\begin{align} a_{n+1}-a_n-l \ge & f(y_n)-a_n-l-\epsilon/2\\ \ge& f(y_n)-f(y_n-1)-l-\epsilon/2\\ \overbrace{\ge }^{\text{ By step $(1)$ again}}& -\epsilon/2-\epsilon/2=-\epsilon \end{align}$$

It follows by step (2) and (3) that: Given any $\epsilon>0$, there exists $N\in \mathbb N$ such that $n\ge 2N\implies -\epsilon\lt a_{n+1}-a_n-l\lt \epsilon.$ This proves the statement for $(a_{n+1}-a_n)$. The statement is similar for $(b_{n+1}-b_n)$, which I leave up to you.

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