Equivalence of Definitions of Limit Inferior of Sequence of Sets

Proof
Let $\set {E_n : n \in \N}$ be a sequence of sets.

Let:
 * $\displaystyle B_n := \bigcap_{j \mathop = n}^\infty E_j$

Let:
 * $\displaystyle \liminf_{n \mathop \to \infty} \ E_n := \bigcup_{n \mathop = 0}^\infty B_n$

that is, $\displaystyle \liminf_{n \mathop \to \infty} \ E_n$ according to definition 1.

Let:
 * $E := \set {x : x \in E_i \text{ for all but finitely many} \ i}$

that is, $\displaystyle \liminf_{n \mathop \to \infty} \ E_n$ according to definition 2.

By definition of set equality, it is enough to prove:
 * $\displaystyle \liminf_{n \mathop \to \infty} \ E_n \subseteq E$

and:
 * $E \subseteq \displaystyle \liminf_{n \mathop \to \infty} \ E_n$

From Set Complement inverts Subsets, we have:


 * $\displaystyle \map \complement E \subseteq \map \complement {\liminf_{n \mathop \to \infty} \ E_n} \iff \liminf_{n \mathop \to \infty} \ E_n \subseteq E$

The strategy will therefore be to prove:
 * $\displaystyle E \subseteq \liminf_{n \mathop \to \infty} \ E_n$

and:
 * $\displaystyle \map \complement E \subseteq \map \complement {\liminf_{n \mathop \to \infty} \ E_n}$

Definition $2$ is contained in Definition $1$
Let $x \in E$.

By definition $x$ is in all but a finite number of $E_i$.

Let $m \in \Z_{\ge 0}$ be the largest integer such that $x \notin E_m$.

$m$ has to exist, because the set $\set {i \in \N: x \notin E_i}$ is a finite set.

Let $M \in \Z$ such that $m < M$.

Then as $x \in E_j$ for all $j > m$ it follows by definition of set intersection that:
 * $x \in B_M = \displaystyle \bigcap_{j \mathop = M}^\infty E_j$

From the definition of set union, it follows that:
 * $x \in \displaystyle \bigcup_{n \mathop = 0}^\infty B_n = \liminf_{n \mathop \to \infty} \ E_n$

Hence:
 * $E \subseteq \displaystyle \liminf_{n \mathop \to \infty} \ E_n$

Complement of Definition 2 is contained in Complement of Definition 1
Let $x \in \map \complement E$

That is, $x \notin E$.

The definition of $E$ grants the existence of a strictly increasing sequence $\sequence {i_n}$ of natural numbers, such that:
 * $\forall n \in \N: x \notin E_{i_n}$

It follows that for every $k \in \N$, there exists an $n \in \Z$ with $i_n > k$.

Subsequently, from the definition of set intersection:
 * $B_k = \displaystyle \bigcap_{j \mathop = k}^\infty E_j \subseteq E_{i_n}$

and hence $x \notin B_k$.

As $k$ was arbitrary, we have:


 * $x \notin \displaystyle \bigcup_{k \mathop = 0}^\infty B_k = \liminf_{n \mathop \to \infty} \ E_n$

It follows that:


 * $\displaystyle \map \complement E \subseteq \map \complement {\liminf_{n \mathop \to \infty} \ E_n}$

Therefore, we have established that
 * $x \in \displaystyle \liminf_{n \mathop \to \infty} \ E_n \iff x \in E$

From the definition of set equality, it follows that:
 * $\displaystyle \liminf_{n \mathop \to \infty} \ E_n = E$

Also see

 * Inner Limit of Sequence of Sets in Normed Space described via the point-to-set distance function induced by the norm of the space
 * Inner Limit in Hausdorff Space by Open Neighborhoods