Let (an)(a_n) and (bn)(b_n) be real sequences. Their and , regarded as extended , satisfy:

  1. lim inf⁡n→∞an≤lim sup⁡n→∞an\liminf_{n\to\infty}a_n\le \limsup_{n\to\infty}a_n.
  2. If an≤bna_n\le b_n eventually, then
    lim sup⁡an≤lim sup⁡bnandlim inf⁡an≤lim inf⁡bn.\limsup a_n\le\limsup b_n \quad\text{and}\quad \liminf a_n\le\liminf b_n.
  3. lim inf⁡an=−lim sup⁡(−an)\liminf a_n=-\limsup(-a_n).
  4. If an→L∈Ra_n\to L\in\mathbb R, then lim sup⁡an=lim inf⁡an=L\limsup a_n=\liminf a_n=L.
  5. If lim sup⁡an<α\limsup a_n<\alpha, then an<αa_n<\alpha eventually. If lim inf⁡an>β\liminf a_n>\beta, then an>βa_n>\beta eventually.
Remarks

The strict inequalities in item 5 are essential: equality with α\alpha or β\beta need not imply an eventual strict bound.