Proposition (Subsequence inherits the limit). Let (X,d)(X,d) be a , and let (xn)(x_n) be a sequence in XX that to a∈Xa\in X. If (xnk)(x_{n_k}) is a of (xn)(x_n), then xnk→ax_{n_k}\to a.

Proof sketch. Fix ε>0\varepsilon>0. Since xn→ax_n\to a, there exists NN such that d(xn,a)<εd(x_n,a)<\varepsilon for all n≥Nn\ge N. Because (nk)(n_k) is increasing and unbounded, there exists KK such that nk≥Nn_k\ge N for all k≥Kk\ge K. Then d(xnk,a)<εd(x_{n_k},a)<\varepsilon for all k≥Kk\ge K, so xnk→ax_{n_k}\to a.

Examples
  • In R\mathbb{R}, if xn=1/n→0x_n=1/n\to 0, then any subsequence xnk=1/nkx_{n_k}=1/n_k also converges to 00.
Remarks

Context. This is the basic "stability" property of limits under passing to subsequences. It is used constantly in compactness arguments and in extracting limits from sequences.