Problem 1. Let A,B⊆R be non-empty and bounded above. Prove that sup(A∪B)=max(supA,supB).
Solution
Solution. Let M=max(supA,supB). Without loss, assume supA≥supBSo M=supA. For all x∈A∪B: either x∈ASo x≤supA=M; or x∈BSo x≤supB≤M. Thus M is an upper bound for A∪B.
For the least property: since M=supA and A⊆A∪BEvery upper bound of A∪B Is an upper bound of AHence ≥supA=M. Therefore sup(A∪B)=M. ■
If you get this wrong, revise: Section 1.3 (Supremum and Infimum), Section 1.5 (Properties).
Problem 2. Prove that infA=−sup(−A) for any non-empty bounded set A⊆R.
Solution
Solution. Let u=sup(−A). For all a∈A: −a∈−ASo −a≤uGiving a≥−u. Thus −u is a lower bound for A. If v is any lower bound for AThen −v is an upper bound for −ASo u≤−vI.e., −u≥v. Hence −u is the greatest lower bound, so infA=−u=−sup(−A). ■
If you get this wrong, revise: Section 1.5 (Properties of Supremum and Infimum).
Problem 3. Using the ε-N definition, prove that limn→∞2n2+1n2+3n=21.
We need 2n3<εI.e., n>3/(2ε). Choose N=⌈3/(2ε)⌉. For n≥N: the expression is <ε. ■
If you get this wrong, revise: Section 2.1 (Convergence), Section 2.7 (Worked Examples).
Problem 4. Let a1=1 and an+1=21(an+an2). Prove (an) converges And find its limit.
Solution
Solution.Step 1:(an) is bounded below by 2. By AM-GM: an+1=21(an+2/an)≥an⋅2/an=2.
Step 2:(an) is decreasing for n≥2. Note a1=1, a2=3/2. an+1−an=21(an+2/an)−an=21(2/an−an)=2an2−an2. Since an≥2 for n≥2, an2≥2So an+1−an≤0.
Step 3: By the Monotone Convergence Theorem, L=liman exists. Taking limits: L=21(L+2/L)Giving 2L=L+2/LSo L=2/LHence L2=2. Since an≥2 for n≥2, L≥0So L=2. ■
If you get this wrong, revise: Section 2.2 (Monotone Convergence Theorem), Section 2.7 (recursive sequences).
Problem 5. Compute limsupn→∞an and liminfn→∞an for an=2+(−1)nn+1n.
Solution
Solution. Write an=2+(−1)n⋅n+1n.
For even n=2k: a2k=2+2k+12k→2+1=3. For odd n=2k−1: a2k−1=2−2k2k−1→2−1=1.
Since these are the only two subsequential limits: limsupan=3 and liminfan=1. The sequence diverges since limsup=liminf. ■
If you get this wrong, revise: Section 2.6 (Limit Superior and Limit Inferior).
Problem 6. Determine whether ∑n=2∞n(lnn)21 converges.
Solution
Solution. Apply the integral test with f(x)=1/(x(lnx)2) on [2,∞). The function is Positive, continuous, and decreasing. Compute via u=lnx, du=dx/x:
∫2∞x(lnx)21dx=∫ln2∞u21du=[−u1]ln2∞=ln21<∞
The integral converges, so by the integral test, the series converges. ■
If you get this wrong, revise: Section 3.2 (Integral Test), Section 3.6 (Worked Examples).
Problem 7. Does ∑n=1∞n1/3(−1)n+1 converge absolutely, conditionally, or diverge?
Solution
Solution. The absolute series is ∑1/n1/3Which is a p-series with p=1/3<1 So it diverges. Hence the series does not converge absolutely.
For conditional convergence, apply the alternating series test: an=1/n1/3 is positive, Decreasing, and an→0. Therefore ∑(−1)n+1/n1/3 converges.
Since it converges but not absolutely, it converges conditionally. ■
If you get this wrong, revise: Section 3.3 (Absolute and Conditional Convergence), Section 3.6 (Alternating Series Test).
Problem 8. Find the sum of ∑n=1∞n(n+2)1.
Solution
Solution. Use partial fractions: n(n+2)1=21(n1−n+21). The N-th partial sum telescopes:
If you get this wrong, revise: Section 3.1 (Definitions and Convergence), telescoping series.
Problem 9. Give an explicit rearrangement of ∑n=1∞n(−1)n+1 whose sum is 0.
Solution
Solution. By the Riemann Rearrangement Theorem, such a rearrangement exists. We construct it Explicitly. The positive terms are 1,1/3,1/5,… and the negative terms are −1/2,−1/4,−1/6,….
Start: S1=1. Then add negative terms until we go below 0: S2=1−1/2=1/2>0. S3=1−1/2−1/4=1/4>0. S4=1−1/2−1/4−1/6=−1/12<0.
Then add positive terms until we exceed 0: S5=−1/12+1/3=1/4>0.
Then add negative terms until below 0: S6=1/4−1/8=1/8>0. S7=1/8−1/10=1/40>0. S8=1/40−1/12=−7/120<0.
Continue this process. Since ∑1/(2k−1)=∞ and ∑1/(2k)=∞We can always Continue. Since 1/n→0The oscillations shrink to 0. The resulting rearrangement converges to 0. ■
If you get this wrong, revise: Section 3.5 (Rearrangement of Series).
Problem 10. Prove using ε-δ that f(x)=x3 is continuous at every a∈R.
Solution
Solution. Let a∈R and ε>0. Compute:
∣f(x)−f(a)∣=∣x3−a3∣=∣x−a∣⋅∣x2+ax+a2∣
Restrict to ∣x−a∣<1So ∣x∣<∣a∣+1Giving ∣x2+ax+a2∣≤(∣a∣+1)2+∣a∣(∣a∣+1)+a2=3a2+3∣a∣+1. Let M=3a2+3∣a∣+1.
Choose δ=min(1,ε/M). Then ∣x−a∣<δ implies:
∣x3−a3∣≤∣x−a∣⋅M<Mε⋅M=ε
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If you get this wrong, revise: Section 4.2 (Continuity), Section 4.7 (Worked Examples).
Problem 11. Prove that f(x)=xsin(1/x) (with f(0)=0) is continuous on R but not Uniformly continuous on (0,1). (Trick question --- see solution.)
Solution
Solution.Continuity at 0: Given ε>0Choose δ=ε. For ∣x−0∣=∣x∣<δ: ∣f(x)−f(0)∣=∣xsin(1/x)∣≤∣x∣<δ=ε. So f is continuous at 0. For x=0, f is a product of continuous functions, hence continuous.
On uniform continuity: Actually, f(x)=xsin(1/x)is uniformly continuous on (0,1)! Here is why: f extends continuously to [0,1] (define f(0)=0). By the Heine-Cantor theorem (Theorem 4.5), f is uniformly continuous on [0,1]And hence on the subset (0,1).
The function that is not uniformly continuous on (0,1) is g(x)=sin(1/x)Which does not Extend continuously to 0. Or h(x)=1/xWhich is unbounded. But f(x)=xsin(1/x) is bounded And has a continuous extension, so it is uniformly continuous. ■
If you get this wrong, revise: Section 4.5 (Uniform Continuity), Section 4.6 (Heine-Cantor).
Problem 12. Prove that if f"(x)=g′(x) for all x∈(a,b)Then f(x)=g(x)+C for some Constant C.
Solution
Solution. Let h(x)=f(x)−g(x). Then h′(x)=f′(x)−g′(x)=0 for all x∈(a,b). By Corollary 5.4 (a consequence of the Mean Value Theorem), h is constant on (a,b). So f(x)−g(x)=C for some C∈RI.e., f(x)=g(x)+C. ■
If you get this wrong, revise: Section 5.3 (Mean Value Theorem, Corollary 5.4).
Problem 13. Use Taylor’s theorem with remainder to bound the error in approximating e0.2 Using the fourth-degree Maclaurin polynomial.
Solution
Solution. The fourth-degree Maclaurin polynomial of ex is:
T4(x)=1+x+2x2+6x3+24x4
By Taylor’s theorem, R4(x)=5!eξx5 for some ξ between 0 and x. For x=0.2: ξ∈(0,0.2)So eξ<e0.2<e1/4<1.3.
If you get this wrong, revise: Section 6.1 (Definition), Section 6.5 (Worked Examples).
Problem 14b. Show that the Dirichlet function f(x)={10x∈Qx∈/Q is not Riemann integrable on [0,1].
Solution
Solution. Every non-empty subinterval [xi−1,xi] of any partition contains both rational and Irrational numbers (by density of Q and density of R∖Q). So Mi=supf=1 and mi=inff=0 for every subinterval.
For any partition P: U(f,P)=∑1⋅Δxi=1 and L(f,P)=∑0⋅Δxi=0. Hence ∫01f=1=0=∫01fSo f is not Riemann integrable.
This also follows from Lebesgue’s criterion: f is discontinuous everywhere, and [0,1] does not Have measure zero. ■
If you get this wrong, revise: Section 6.2 (Integrability Criteria), Theorem 6.4b.
Problem 15. Evaluate ∫011−x2xdx as an improper integral.
Solution
Solution. The integrand f(x)=x/1−x2 is unbounded as x→1−. This is a Type II Improper integral.
∫011−x2xdx=limb→1−∫0b1−x2xdx
Compute via substitution u=1−x2, du=−2xdx:
=limb→1−[−1−x2]0b=limb→1−(−1−b2+1)=0+1=1
The improper integral converges to 1. ■
If you get this wrong, revise: Section 6.6 (Improper Integrals).
Problem 16. Let fn(x)=1+n2x2nx on (0,∞). Find the pointwise limit and Determine whether the convergence is uniform on (0,∞).
Solution
Solution.Pointwise limit: For fixed x>0: limn→∞fn(x)=limn→∞1+n2x2nx=limn→∞1/n2+x2x/n=0.
So fn→0 pointwise on (0,∞).
Uniform convergence? We check supx>0∣fn(x)−0∣=supx>01+n2x2nx. To maximize, differentiate with respect to x (treating n as fixed):
The series converges when 4∣x∣<1I.e., ∣x∣<1/4And diverges when 4∣x∣>1. The radius of convergence is R=1/4. ■
If you get this wrong, revise: Section 7.7 (Power Series), Section 3.2 (Ratio Test).
Problem 18. Let fn(x)=xn/n on [0,1]. Show that fn→0 uniformly, but fn′(x)=xn−1 does not converge uniformly on (0,1).
Solution
Solution.Uniform convergence of fn:supx∈[0,1]∣xn/n∣=1/n→0 as n→∞. So fn→0 uniformly on [0,1].
Non-uniform convergence of fn′:fn′(x)=xn−1. The pointwise limit is g(x)=0 for 0≤x<1 and g(1)=1. So supx∈[0,1]∣fn′(x)−g(x)∣≥∣fn′(1)−g(1)∣=∣1−1∣=0.
Actually, check supx∈[0,1)∣xn−1∣=1 (approached as x→1−). But g(x)=0 on [0,1)So supx∈[0,1)∣xn−1−0∣=1 for all n. This does not Tend to 0So fn′ does not converge uniformly on [0,1).
This illustrates that uniform convergence of functions does not imply uniform convergence of Derivatives, which is why Theorem 7.4 requires the stronger hypothesis of uniform convergence of (fn′). ■
If you get this wrong, revise: Section 7.2 (Uniform Convergence), Section 7.6 (Uniform Convergence and Differentiation).
Problem 19. Let fn(x)=1+nx2x on [0,∞). Find the pointwise limit and determine Whether the convergence is uniform.
Solution
Solution.Pointwise limit: For x=0: fn(0)=0 for all n. For x>0: limn→∞1+nx2x=limn→∞1/x+nx1=0. So fn→0 pointwise.
Uniform convergence on [0,∞)? We check supx≥0∣fn(x)∣. Differentiate: dxd(1+nx2x)=(1+nx2)21−nx2. Setting to zero: x=1/n. The maximum value is fn(1/n)=1+n/n1/n=2n1.
Since supx≥0∣fn(x)∣=2n1→0 as n→∞The convergence is Uniform on [0,∞). ■
If you get this wrong, revise: Section 7.2 (Uniform Convergence).
Problem 20. Prove that the series ∑n=0∞2n+1(−1)nx2n+1 converges uniformly on [−1,1] and identify its sum.
Solution
Solution. For ∣x∣≤1: 2n+1(−1)nx2n+1≤2n+11. The series ∑2n+11 diverges (it dominates half the harmonic series), so the Weierstrass M-test does not apply directly with these bounds.
However, by the alternating series test, the series converges pointwise for every ∣x∣≤1 (since 2n+1∣x∣2n+1 decreases to 0 for ∣x∣≤1). The sum is arctanx Which is the Taylor series of arctan about 0.
For uniform convergence, we use Abel’s test for uniform convergence of series: if ∑fn(x) has uniformly bounded partial sums and gn(x) decreases uniformly to 0Then ∑fn(x)gn(x) converges uniformly. Here fn(x)=(−1)nx2n+1 and gn(x)=1/(2n+1) Is independent of x.
The partial sums ∑k=0n(−1)kx2k+1=1+x2∣x∣⋅∣1−(−x2)n+1∣≤1+x22∣x∣≤1 for ∣x∣≤1 (geometric series with closed form). And 1/(2n+1)→0 uniformly. By Abel’s test, the convergence is uniform on [−1,1].
Setting x=1: ∑n=0∞2n+1(−1)n=arctan1=π/4. ■
If you get this wrong, revise: Section 7.3 (Weierstrass M-Test), Section 7.7 (Power Series), Abel’s theorem.
Common Pitfalls
Assuming every bounded set has a maximum. A set can be bounded above without having a maximum; the supremum always exists but may not be a member of the set. Fix: The supremum sup(S) is the least upper bound; it equals the maximum only when sup(S)∈S.
Misusing the ε-δ definition. The order of quantifiers matters: “for every ε>0, there exists δ>0” — δ depends on ε and the point, not the other way around. Fix: In proofs, choose δ after ε is given; δ depends on both ε and x0 (unless the function is uniformly continuous).
Confusing pointwise and uniform convergence. Pointwise: δ may depend on x. Uniform: δ works for all x simultaneously. Fix: Uniform convergence implies pointwise convergence but not conversely; the Weierstrass M-test gives a sufficient condition for uniform convergence.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Proving a limit using ε-δ
Problem. Prove that limx→2(3x−1)=5.
Solution. Let ε>0 be given. We need ∣3x−1−5∣<ε, i.e. ∣3x−6∣<ε, i.e. 3∣x−2∣<ε.
Choose δ=ε/3. Then ∣x−2∣<δ implies 3∣x−2∣<3⋅ε/3=ε.
Therefore limx→2(3x−1)=5. ■
Example 2: Supremum and infimum
Problem. Find sup and inf of the set S={1/n:n∈N}.
Solution. The elements are 1,1/2,1/3,…. The sequence decreases and approaches 0.
sup(S)=1∈S (this is also the maximum). inf(S)=0∈/S.
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Summary
R is a complete ordered field; the completeness axiom guarantees sup(S) exists for every non-empty bounded-above set.
Supremum sup(S) is the least upper bound; it equals max(S) iff sup(S)∈S.
ε-δ definition: limx→af(x)=L iff for every ε>0 there exists δ>0 such that 0<∣x−a∣<δ implies ∣f(x)−L∣<ε.
Uniform convergence preserves continuity, differentiability (under appropriate conditions), and integrability.