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Prove that for a subsequence of natural numbers ${n_k}$, $k ≤ n_k$.

  • I know I have to prove it using induction. I don't know if I'm supposed to prove this by showing two different sequences ${n_k}$ and ${k}$ converge. Other than that I am not sure what direction to go moving forward, any help would be much appreciated.
Sam
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  • @lulu I guess that the OP means "a subsequence of the sequence $u_n =n$". Therefore a subsequence is strictly increasing. – TheSilverDoe Sep 24 '20 at 13:46

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What you forgot to mention is that $\{n_k\}_{k=1}^{\infty}$ is a strictly increasing sequence of natural numbers. That's what you need in order to define the subsequence of a sequence.

Fortunately, it is easy to show that this holds for such a sequence. Define the following set:

$$S = \{k \in \mathbb{N}: n_k \geq k\}$$

where $\{n_k\}_{k=1}^{\infty}$ is understood to be a strictly increasing sequence of natural numbers. We know that $1 \in S$. This should be rather obvious. Now, suppose that $k \in S$. Then:

$$n_{k+1} \geq n_k+1 \geq k+1$$

which shows that $k+1 \in S$. So, $S = \mathbb{N}$ and the given result holds.

I mean, you should already be noticing something wrong with the assertion that you have to show that the sequence $k$ converges. That sequence does not converge at all.

Besides, how would that help you show that $\forall k \in \mathbb{N}: n_k \geq k$? The point is that there are a few good ways of reflecting on the ideas that you're coming up with to attack a given problem.