# If a sequence $s_n$ converges, does $f(s_n)$ converge?

Let $f:X \to Y$ be a function. Let $s_n$ be a convergent sequence in $X$. Then does the sequence $f(s_n)$ converge as well? Does $f$ have to be continuous?

My thoughts:

I believe $f$ does converge. If $s_n \to s$ then applying $f$ to both sides yields $f(s_n)\to f(s).$ Hence $f(s_n)$ converges. Is it that simple?

Now assume $f$ is not continuous. Then $\displaystyle\lim_{x\to t} f(x) \ne f(t).$ But if I take a limit point $l \in X$, then $\exists$ $l_n\in X-\{l\}$ such that $l_n \to l.$ If I apply $f$ to both sides, I have $f(l) \to f(l).$ So $f$ converges $\implies$ Contradiction! $\implies f$ is continuous.

Please let me know what you think or if you can answer my questions. Thanks a lot!

• It is not clear what you are proving. If $f$ is continuous at $x=l$, everything is fine. If $f$ is not continuous at $l$, there is a sequence $(x_n)$ with limit $l$ such that $f(x_n)$ does not converge to $f(l)$, but there could be sequences with limit $l$ such that $f(x_n)$ has limit $f(l)$. – André Nicolas Dec 14 '13 at 1:22

I believe that "applying $f$ to both sides" is dependent on continuity. Consider the function $f(x) = \begin{cases} 1, & x \ne 0 \\ 0, & x = 0 \end{cases}$. Clearly the sequence $1, 1/2, 1/4, \ldots$ converges to $0$. But applying $f$ to it gives $1, 1, 1, \ldots$, which does not converge to $f(0) = 0$.

If $s_n$ converges to $s$ and $f$ is continuous at $x$, then $f(s_n)$ converges to $f(s)$.

Let $\epsilon > 0$. Because $f$ is continuous at $s$, there is a $\delta > 0$ such that if $|x - s| < \delta$, then $|f(x) - f(s)| < \epsilon$. Because $s_n$ converges to $s$, there is an $N \in \mathbb{N}$ such that $|s_i - s| < \delta$ for all $i > N$. Thus, for all $i > N$, $|f(s_i) - f(s)| < \epsilon$, and so the sequence $f(s_n)$ converges to $f(s)$.

• Your counterexample doesn't work. The sequence you find, which is constantly $1$, is convergent. That doesn't contradict anything. – Git Gud Dec 14 '13 at 1:20
• But it does not converge to $f(0)$, which seems to be the primary misconception in the post. "If $s_n \to s$ then applying $f$ to both sides yields $f(s_n) \to f(s)$. – Henry Swanson Dec 14 '13 at 1:22
• Good point. in any case $f$ doesn't have to be continuous. – Git Gud Dec 14 '13 at 1:23

Let $X=Y=\mathbb R$.

Regarding the second question, consider $f\colon X\to Y$ defined by $f(x)=0$ if $x\neq 0$ and $f(0)=1$.

Clearly $f$ isn't continuous. Does $\left(f\left( \dfrac 1 n\right)\right)_{n\in \mathbb N}$ converge?

About the first one, consider the function $f\colon X\to Y$ (which isn't continuous), defined by $$f(x)=\begin{cases} 0, &\text{ if }x\in \mathbb Q\\ 1, &\text{ if }x\in \mathbb R\setminus \mathbb Q\end{cases}$$

Does $\left(f\left( \dfrac 1 {\sqrt n}\right)\right)_{n\in \mathbb N}$ converge?

• $\left(f\left( \dfrac 1 n\right)\right)_{n\in \mathbb N}$ converges while your second example does not. Correct? – user66360 Dec 15 '13 at 17:16
• Correct, which answers both of your questions. – Git Gud Dec 15 '13 at 17:18