Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2021/prelims/mathematics-ii/2/a/ii/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Oxford 2021 Prelims Mathematics II 2 a ii Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-25
Let . By the definition of Cauchy sequence, choose an integer such that whenever . Apply the given inequality with . It supplies for whichBoth and are in the Cauchy sequence estimate, soFor every the triangle inequality givesThis is the definition of convergence to zero: . The proof uses only the Cauchy sequence estimate, positivity, and the stipulated inequality; it does not assume the general completeness of the real numbers theorem for Cauchy sequences. Taking also avoids the empty initial set in a literal reading of the condition for very small .
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