Definition:Subsequence

Definition

Let $\sequence {x_n}$ be a sequence in a set $S$.

Let $\sequence {n_r}$ be a strictly increasing sequence in $\N$.

Then the composition $\sequence {x_{n_r} }$ is called a subsequence of $\sequence {x_n}$.

Examples

Example 1

Let $\sequence {n_r}$ be the sequence in $\N$ defined such that $n_r = r + 1$.

Then:

$\sequence {x_{n_r} } = \sequence {x_{r + 1} } = x_2, x_3, x_4, \ldots$

Example 2

Let $\sequence {n_r}$ be defined such that $n_r = 2 r$.

Then:

$\sequence {x_{n_r} } = \sequence {x_{2 r} } = x_2, x_4, x_6, \ldots$

Example 3

Let $\sequence {n_r}$ be defined such that $n_r = 3 r + 5$.

Then:

$\sequence {x_{n_r} } = \sequence {x_{3 r + 5} } = x_8, x_{11}, x_{14}, x_{17}, \ldots$

Example 4

Let $\sequence {n_r}$ be defined such that $n_r = 2^r$.

Then:

$\sequence {x_{n_r} } = \sequence {x_{2^r} } = x_2, x_4, x_8, x_{16}, \ldots$

Warning

In the definition of a subsequence, the constraint that $\sequence {n_r}$ be strictly increasing is important.

Thus, for example, $x_3, x_1, x_4, x_2, x_9, x_5 \ldots$ is not a subsequence of $\sequence {x_n}$.

Also see

• Results about subsequences can be found here.