Solved Problems on

Supremum and Infimum

n
2
n + ( 1) n + 1

Let A = 2
n = 1,2,3, .
n +1
n + ( 1) n + 2

Determine sup ( A ) and inf ( A ) .

Sup and Inf

Problem 1
Solution

n 2 + ( 1)n n + 1

Let A = 2
n = 1,2,3, .
n +1
+

+
n
1
n
2
( )

Determine sup ( A ) and inf ( A ) .

Use the Maple commands

> A := unapply((n^2+(-1)^n*n+1)/(n^2+(-1)^(n+1)*n+2),n);
> for k to 10 do evalf(A(k));od;
to list the first ten elements of the sequence A.
Floating point approximations of the elements are:
0.250, 1.750, 0.500, 1.500, 0.656, 1.343, 0.741, 1.258, 0.793,
1.206.
It appears that the odd elements form an increasing sequence
and the even elements a decreasing sequence. Furthermore, the
odd elements appear to be smaller than the even elements.
Mika Seppl: Solved Sup and Inf Problems

Sup and Inf

Problem 1

n 2 + ( 1)n n + 1

Let A = 2
n = 1,2,3 .
n +1
+

+
n
1
n
2
( )

Determine sup ( A ) and inf ( A ) .

Solution (contd)
Assuming that the previous observation about the odd and even
elements is true, sup(A)= 1 and inf(A) = .
It remains to show that the odd elements of A form an increasing
sequence and the even elements a decreasing sequence.
Assuming that the function A is already defined for Maple, use the
Maple commands
Maple needs to know this in order
> assume(n,posint);
to be able to simplify correctly.
> simplify(A(2*n+2)-A(2*n));
to compute the difference of two subsequent even elements of the set
A.
Mika Seppl: Solved Sup and Inf Problems

Sup and Inf

n
2
n + ( 1) n + 1

Let A = 2
n = 1,2,3, .
n +1
n + ( 1) n + 2

Determine sup ( A ) and inf ( A ) .

Problem 1

Solution (contd)
One gets
2
8 n~ + 4 n~ 5
2
2
2 ( 2 n~ + 3 n~ + 2 ) ( 2 n~ n~ + 1 )

A( 2 n + 2 ) A( 2 n ) =

One concludes that A(2n+2) A(2n) is always negative.

Hence the even elements of the sequence A form a decreasing
sequence.

Mika Seppl: Solved Sup and Inf Problems

Sup and Inf

n
2
n + ( 1) n + 1

Let A = 2
n = 1,2,3, .
n +1
n + ( 1) n + 2

Problem 1

Determine sup ( A ) and inf ( A ) .

Solution (contd)
In the same way one gets
A( 2 n + 3 ) A( 2 n + 1 ) =

2
8 n~ + 20 n~ + 7
2
2
2 ( 2 n~ + 7 n~ + 7 ) ( 2 n~ + 3 n~ + 2 )

One concludes that A(2n + 3) A(2n + 1) is always positive.

Hence the odd elements of the sequence A form a increasing
sequence.

Mika Seppl: Solved Sup and Inf Problems

Sup and Inf

n 2 + ( 1)n n + 1

Let A = 2
n = 1,2,3, .
n +1
+

+
n
1
n
2
( )

Problem 1

Determine sup ( A ) and inf ( A ) .

Let A ( n ) =

Solution (contd)

lim A ( n ) = lim

Conclude

n 2 + ( 1) n + 1

n 2 + ( 1) n + 1
n

n + ( 1)
2

n + ( 1)
2

n +1

n+2

= lim

n +1

n+2

( 1)

1
+ 2
n
n = 1.
n +1
( 1) + 2
1+
n
n2
1

lim A ( 2n ) = lim A ( 2n + 1) = lim A ( n ) = 1.

Mika Seppl: Solved Sup and Inf Problems

Sup and Inf

Problem 1

n
2
n + ( 1) n + 1

Let A = 2
n = 1,2,3, .
n +1
n + ( 1) n + 2

Determine sup ( A ) and inf ( A ) .

Solution (contd)

We have shown that the odd elements of the sequence A form an

increasing sequence with the limit 1.
We have also shown that the even elements of the sequence A
form an decreasing sequence with the limit 1.
Here odd elements are
denoted by red diamonds
and even elements by blue.
Conclude: sup(A) = A(2) = 7/4 and inf(A) = A(1)=1/4.

Mika Seppl: Solved Sup and Inf Problems