Prove that the limit of two consecutive fibonacci numbers EXISTS.

Question

Using the definition of Fibonacci numbers, $F_n=F_{n-1}+F_{n-2}$, I can prove that the limit of $\frac{F_{n+1}}{F_n}$ as $n\to\infty$ is $\phi$ if we assume that the limit exists.

How can we prove that the limit does in fact exist?

Is there more than one method?

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I do not think this is a duplicate. Please can someone explicitly show how to split the odd and even terms of this ratio sequence into two sequences- one monotonic increasing and one monotonic decreasing- and given that all ratios are between 1 and 2, show that the limit exists and we do not oscillate forever.

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Most of the question has been answered.

I have shown that there are two subsequences- one increasing and bounded above by 2 and one decreasing, bounded below by 1. Using the fact that the limit exists, I can show it has value $\phi$. But how can I show the limit is the same for both subsequences?!

Answer 1

Hint: Consider $\frac{F_n}{F_{n-1}}=1+\frac{F_{n-2}}{F_{n-1}}$. Let $f_n=\frac{F_n}{F_{n-1}}$. We have $$f_n=1+\frac{1}{f_{n-1}}.$$

Let $f(x)=1+\frac{1}{x}$ for $1<x<2$. Show if $x<\phi$, then $x<f(x)<\phi$ (We also have $\phi<f(x)<x$ for $x>\phi$, but it is irrelevant to our concern.).

Answer 2

By Cassini's Identity: $$\left|\frac{F_{n+1}}{F_{n}}-\frac{F_{n}}{F_{n-1}}\right|=\left|\frac{F_{n+1}F_{n-1}-F_{n}^{2}}{F_{n}F_{n-1}}\right|=\left|\frac{(-1)^{n}}{F_{n}F_{n-1}}\right| \to 0$$

Proof of Cassini's Identity: $$F_{n+1}F_{n-1}-F_{n}^{2}\\ =(F_{n}+F_{n-1})F_{n-1}-F_{n}^{2}\\ =F_{n-1}F_{n}-F_{n}^{2}+F_{n-1}^{2}\\ =-(F_{n}(F_{n}-F_{n-1})-F_{n-1}^{2})\\ =-(F_{n}F_{n-2}-F_{n-1}^{2})$$ You can fill in the rest by induction.