# a sequence question, 4 options

$x_n$, $y_n$ be two sequence satisfying $x_n\le y_n\le x_{n+2}$, then which are correct below?

1. $y_n$ is increasing

2. $x_n$ and $y_n$ converge together.

3. $x_n$ decreasing

4. $y_n$ bounded.

Well, I can see $x_1\le y_1\le x_3$, $x_2\le y_2\le x_4\dots$ by putting $n=1,2..$ but how to compare seperately oftheir individula terms?

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I'm a bit confused by the wording. They could all be correct in various situations? –  Paul Slevin Jun 5 '12 at 8:20
@Gigili: Not quite, since they need not converge at all. What is true is that if either sequence converges, they both do. –  Brian M. Scott Jun 5 '12 at 8:25
This is reminding me of the GRE. –  Paul Slevin Jun 5 '12 at 8:30
@BrianM.Scott: Okay, thanks. –  Gigili Jun 5 '12 at 8:36

From $x_n\le y_n\le x_{n+2}$ for all $n\in\Bbb N$ you can infer that

$$x_0\le y_0\le x_2\le y_2\le x_4\le y_4\le\ldots\tag{1}$$ and

$$x_1\le y_1\le x_3\le y_3\le x_5\le y_5\le\ldots\;,\tag{2}$$

but there’s nothing to tie the odd and even subsequences together. In particular, it does not follow that $\langle y_n:n\in\Bbb N\rangle$ is increasing: it might be, for instance, that

$$x_n=y_n=\begin{cases} n,&\text{if }n\text{ is even}\\ 1-\frac1n,&\text{if }n\text{ is odd}\;. \end{cases}$$

Then the odd and even subsequences are both increasing, but $\langle y_n:n\in\Bbb N\rangle$ is bouncing up and down like crazy. This example also shows that $\langle y_n:n\in\Bbb N\rangle$ need not be bounded (though it can be), and that $\langle x_n:n\in \Bbb N\rangle$ need not be either increasing or decreasing.

I’ll just give you a hint for the remaining one: you can use $(1)$ and $(2)$ to show that if one of $\langle x_n:n\in\Bbb N\rangle$ $\langle y_n:n\in\Bbb N\rangle$ converges, then so does the other, though it’s quite possible that neither converges. Remember, a sequence $\sigma$ converges to some limit $L$ if and only if every subsequence of $\sigma$ converges to $L$.

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The first claim is wrong.

• For instance, take $x_n = n$ and $y_n = \begin{cases} n+7/4 & \text{if }n \text{ is odd}\\ n + 1/4 & \text{if }n \text{ is even}\end{cases}$

The third claim is obviously wrong.

• For instance, take $x_n = y_n = n$.

The fourth claim is again wrong.

• For instance, take $x_n = y_n = n$.

If the second claim is reworded as say they both converge (or) diverge together, then the second claim is right. Else take $x_n = y_n = n$ to see that they both diverge.

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