If a sequence has two convergent subsequences with different limits, then it does not converge

Let $\{x_n\}$ be a sequence. Suppose that there are two convergent subsequences $\{x_{n_i}\}$ and $\{x_{m_i}\}$. Suppose that $\lim_{i\to\infty} x_{n_i} =a$ and $\lim_{i\to\infty} x_{m_i} =b$ where $a \neq b$. Prove that $\{x_n\}$ is not convergent.

I cannot use the fact that if a sequence is convergent, then its subsequences are convergent and the limit of the sequence is equal to the limit of the subsequence. I am stuck figuring out how to prove that it is not convergent a different way.

• hint - use Cauchy criterion. for large $i$ both $x_{n_i}$ and $x_{m_i}$ are close to their respective limits, so cannot be close to eachother – mm-aops Jun 26 '13 at 13:34

Well, in a way any proof will use this fact. Anyways, the hint is to assume that $\lim x_n = c$ does exist. Then at least $c\neq a$ or $c\neq b$ or both, so without loss of generality we can assume that $c\neq a$. Let $\varepsilon = \frac13|c-a|$, and find $N_1$ such that $|x_n-c|<\varepsilon$ for $n>N_1$, and $N_2$ such that $|x_{n_i}-a|<\varepsilon$ for $i>N_2$. I hope, you can see a contradiction here now.