$ \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} a_n \ $ converges then show that $ \ |a_n|<1 \ $

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$ \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} a_n \ $ converges then show that $ \ |a_n|<1 \ $

Answer:

If not let $ \ |a_n|>1 \ $

Then the partial sum is $ \ s_n=|a_1|+|a_2|+....+|a_n| \ $

Let $ \ n>m \ $, then

$ |s_n-s_m|=|a_m|+|a_{m+1}|+........+|a_n|> (n-m) \ $

since $ \ n>m $ , we have $ \ n-m \geq 1 \ $

This shows that

$ |s_n-s_m| \nrightarrow \ 0 $

This implies $ s_n \ $ is not Cauchy .

Therefore $ \ \sum a_n \ $ diverges.

Which is a contradiction.

Thus we must have $ \ |a_n|<1 \ $

Am I right so far?

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If you want to show that $|a_n|<1$ after a certain stage then NO your answer does not hold because the logical negation of: $$ \exists N\in \mathbb{N}, \forall n\geq N, |a_n|<1 $$ is not: $$ \exists N\in \mathbb{N}, \forall n\geq N, |a_n|>1 $$ but rather: $$ \forall N\in \mathbb{N}, \exists n\geq N, |a_n|>1 $$ In other words, if you are going reductio ad absurdum (which is perfectly legitimate), you may use the fact that if there were infinitely many $\Phi(n)$ so that $|a_{\Phi(n)}|>1$ then since $\sum_n a_n$ converges, $\lim_{n\to \infty} a_n = \lim_{n\to \infty} a_{\Phi(n)}=0$. The contradiction follows.