First Subsequence Rule

From ProofWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Theorem

Let $T = \struct {A, \tau}$ be a Hausdorff space.

Let $\sequence {x_n}$ be a sequence in $T$.

Suppose $\sequence {x_n}$ has two convergent subsequences with different limits.


Then $\sequence {x_n}$ is divergent.


Proof

As stated, let $T = \struct {A, \tau}$ be a Hausdorff space.

Let $\sequence {x_n}$ be a sequence in $T$.


Let $\sequence {y_n}$ and $\sequence {z_n}$ be convergent subsequences of $\sequence {x_n}$ with different limits.

Aiming for a contradiction, suppose $\sequence {x_n}$ is convergent.

From Convergent Sequence in Hausdorff Space has Unique Limit, $\sequence {x_n}$ has exactly one limit.

From Limit of Subsequence equals Limit of Sequence, $\sequence {y_n}$ has the same limit as $\sequence {x_n}$.

This contradicts the assertion that $\sequence {y_n}$ and $\sequence {z_n}$ have different limits.

Hence by Proof by Contradiction it must be the case that $\sequence {x_n}$ is divergent.

$\blacksquare$


Also see