Sequential Characterization of Limit at Minus Infinity of Real Function

== Theorem ==
Let $f : \R \to \R$ be a real function. 
Let $L$ be a real number. 
Then: 
:$\ds \lim_{x \to -\infty} \map f x = L$ 
: 
:for all real sequences $\sequence {x_n}_{n \mathop \in \N}$ with $x_n \to -\infty$ we have $\map f {x_n} \to L$
where:
:$\ds \lim_{x \mathop \to -\infty} \map f x$ denotes the limit at $-\infty$ of $f$.
 
=== Corollary ===
== Proof ==
=== Necessary Condition ===
Suppose that: 
:$\ds \lim_{x \to -\infty} \map f x = L$
Let $\sequence {x_n}_{n \mathop \in \N}$ be a real sequence with $x_n \to -\infty$. 
Let $\epsilon > 0$. 
From the definition of limit at $-\infty$, we have:
:there exists $M > 0$ such that for all $x < -M$ we have $\size {\map f x - L} < \epsilon$.
Since $\sequence {x_n}_{n \mathop \in \N}$ diverges to $-\infty$, we have: 
:there exists $N \in \N$ such that $x_n < -M$ for all $n \ge N$. 
That is, for all $n \ge N$, we have: 
:$\size {\map f {x_n} - L} < \epsilon$ 
Since $\epsilon$ was arbitrary, we have: 
:$\map f {x_n} \to L$ 
Since $\sequence {x_n}_{n \mathop \in \N}$ was arbitrary: 
:for all real sequences $\sequence {x_n}_{n \mathop \in \N}$ with $x_n \to -\infty$ we have $\map f {x_n} \to L$. 
So, if: 
:$\ds \lim_{x \to -\infty} \map f x = L$
then:
:for all real sequences $\sequence {x_n}_{n \mathop \in \N}$ with $x_n \to -\infty$ we have $\map f {x_n} \to L$. 
=== Sufficient Condition ===
We prove the contrapositive. 
Suppose that it is not the case that: 
:$\ds \lim_{n \mathop \to \infty} \map f x = L$
We show that: 
:there exists a real sequence $\sequence {x_n}_{n \mathop \in \N}$ with $x_n \to -\infty$ but such that $\sequence {\map f {x_n} }_{n \mathop \in \N}$ does not converge to $L$.
Then: 
:there exists some $\epsilon > 0$ such that for all $M > 0$ there exists $x < -M$ such that $\size {\map f x - L} \ge \epsilon$.
We construct $\sequence {x_n}_{n \mathop \in \N}$ inductively. 
Pick $x_1$ such that $x_1 < -1$ and: 
:$\size {\map f {x_1} - L} \ge \epsilon$
Given $x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_{n - 1} < 0$, pick $x_n$ so that: 
:$x_n < \min \set {-n, x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_{n - 1} } \le x_{n - 1}$
and: 
:$\size {\map f {x_n} - L} \ge \epsilon$
Then $\sequence {x_n}_{n \mathop \in \N}$ is decreasing. 
We also have: 
:$x_n < -n$ for each $n$
so $\sequence {x_n}_{n \mathop \in \N}$ is unbounded below. 
From Unbounded Monotone Sequence Diverges to Infinity: Decreasing, we therefore have: 
:$x_n \to -\infty$
Since: 
:$\size {\map f {x_n} - L} \ge \epsilon$
there exists no $N \in \N$ such that: 
:$\size {\map f {x_n} - L} < \epsilon$
for each $n \ge N$.
So:
:$\sequence {\map f {x_n} }_{n \mathop \in \N}$ does not converge to $L$.
We conclude that if it is not the case that: 
:$\ds \lim_{x \mathop \to -\infty} \map f x = L$
then:
:there exists a real sequence $\sequence {x_n}_{n \mathop \in \N}$ with $x_n \to -\infty$ but such that $\sequence {\map f {x_n} }_{n \mathop \in \N}$ does not converge to $L$.
So, if: 
:$\ds \lim_{x \mathop \to -\infty} \map f x = L$
then: 
:for all real sequences $\sequence {x_n}_{n \mathop \in \N}$ with $x_n \to -\infty$ we have $\map f {x_n} \to L$.
Category:Limit at Minus Infinity
Category:Sequential Characterization of Limit at Minus Infinity of Real Function