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subsequence (Definition)

Given a sequence $\{x_n\}_{n\in \Nats}$ any infinite subset of the sequence forms a subsequence. We formalize this as follows:

Definition 1   If $X$ is a set and $\{a_n\}_{n \in \mathbb{N}}$ is a sequence in $X$ then a subsequence of $\{a_n\}$ is a sequence of the form $\{a_{n_r}\}_{r \in \mathbb{N}}$ where $\{n_r\}_{r \in \mathbb{N}}$ is a strictly increasing sequence of natural numbers.

Equivalently, $\{y_n\}_{n\in \Nats}$ is a subsequence of $\{x_n\}_{n\in \Nats}$ if

  1. $\{y_n\}_{n\in\Nats}$ is a sequence of elements of $X$ and
  2. there is a strictly increasing function $a:\Nats \to \Nats$ such that $$y_n = x_{a(n)} \quad \text{ for all } n\in\Nats.$$
Example 1   Let $X=\Reals$ and let $\{x_n\}$ be the sequence $$\left\{\frac{1}{n}\right\}_{n\in\Nats}=\left\{1,\frac{1}{2},\frac{1}{3},\frac{1}{4},\ldots\right\}.$$ Then, the sequence $$\{y_n\}_{n\in\Nats}=\left\{\frac{1}{n^2}\right\}_{n\in\Nats}=\left\{1,\frac{1}{4},\frac{1}{9},\frac{1}{16},\ldots\right\}$$ is a subsequence of $\{x_n\}$ The subsequence of natural numbers mentioned in the definition is $\{n^2\}_{n\in\Nats}$ and the function $a:\Nats\to\Nats$ mentioned above is $a(n)=n^2$




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Cross-references: function, natural numbers, strictly increasing, infinite subset, sequence
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This is version 3 of subsequence, born on 2002-08-16, modified 2007-06-22.
Object id is 3300, canonical name is Subsequence.
Accessed 6086 times total.

Classification:
AMS MSC00A05 (General :: General and miscellaneous specific topics :: General mathematics)

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