The Extension of Arzela-Ascoli Theorem to

Complex Numbers

Chavisa Arpavoraruth

Temple University

Spring 2020

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Bolzano–Weierstrass Theorem

Theorem
Every bounded sequence in Rn has a convergent subsequence.

Example
Consider the sequence {sin( nπ
2 )}n∈N .

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Motivation

Consider the following sequence of functions.

(
sin(x) + n1 n odd
fn (x) =
sin(x) − 1 n even

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Some Definitions

Uniformly Bounded
A sequence of functions {fn } is uniformly bounded if there is a
real number M such that |fn (x)| ≤ M for all n and x.

Uniformly Equicontinuous
A sequence of functions {fn } is said to be uniformly
equicontinuous if ∀ > 0 ∃δ > 0 such that |fn (x) − fn (y)| < 
when |x − y| < δ ∀n ∈ N.

Uniformly Convergence
A sequence of functions {fn } uniformly converges to f if ∀ > 0
∃N ∈ N such that ∀n > N , |fn (x) − f (x)| <  for all x.

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Arzela-Ascoli Theorem

Theorem
Let {fn } be a sequence of functions that is uniformly
bounded and uniformly equicontinuous defined on the
interval [a, b]. Then, there exists a subsequence of {fn } that
uniformly converges.

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Proof. Let  > 0 be given. Let S = Q ∩ [a, b]. Then, S can be
written as a countable set {xn }n∈N . Now, let fn be a sequence
of functions that is uniformly bounded and uniformly
equicontinuous. From the Bolzano-Weierstrass theorem, there
exists a convergent subsequence f1n (x1 ). Denote this sequence
by

f11 (x1 ), f12 (x1 ), f13 (x1 ), ..., f1n (x1 ), ...

Now, we take this subsequence to x2 and obtain a sequence

f1n (x2 ). Again by the Bolzano-Weierstrass theorem, this
sequence have a convergence subsequence

f21 (x2 ), f22 (x2 ), f23 (x2 ), ..., f2n (x2 ), ...

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Repeating this process, we have

f11 f12 f13 ... f1n ...

f21 f22 f23 ... f2n ...
f31 f32 f33 ... f3n ...
.. .. .. ..
. . . ... . ...

Note that the sequence fnk is a convergent subsequence of

f(n−1)k for k = 1, 2, 3, .... We will denote fnn as gn . Since
{gn }n∈N ⊆ {fn }n∈N , {gn }n∈N converges at x1 , x2 , ..., xn , the
subsequence {gn }n∈N converges at each xi .

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Since {fn } is uniformly equicontinuous, ∃δ such that
|x − xi | < δ implies

|gn (x) − gn (xi )| < 3 .

S
Consider the open ball Dδ (xi ) ∀i ∈ N. Since [a, b] ⊆ i Dδ (xi )
because S is dense, {Dδ (xi )}i∈N is an open cover of [a, b]. In
addition, [a, b] is compact which implies that there is a finite
subcover {Dδ (xi )}li=1 that contains [a, b]. Now, we know that
{gn (xj )} converges as n → ∞, so it is a Cauchy sequence for
each j = 1, 2, ..., l. Thus, there exists Nj ∈ N such that for all
n, m > Nj ,

|gn (xj ) − gm (xj )| < 3

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Now, let N = max {Nj }. For every m, n > N
j=1,2,...,l

|gn (xj ) − gm (xj )| < 3 , ∀j = 1, 2, ..., l

Therefore,

|gn (x) − gm (x)| ≤ |gn (x) − gn (xi )| + |gn (xi ) − gm (xi )|

+ |gm (xi ) − gm (x)|
  
< + +
3 3 3
= .

Hence, there exists a uniformly Cauchy subsequence.

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Claim. The subsequence {gn } converges uniformly.

Let gn be uniformly Cauchy. Then there exists N ∈ N such that

for every m, n > N ,

|gm (x) − gn (x)| < 2 .

Let
g(x) = lim gn (x).
n→∞

Now, let n > N . Then for every m > N ,

|gn (x) − g(x)| < |gn (x) − gm (x)| + |gm (x) − g(x)|

< + |gm (x) − g(x)|.
2

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Since gm (x) converges to g(x) as m approaches infinity, then
there exists m > N such that

|gm (x) − g(x)| < 2 .

It follows that

|gn (x) − g(x)| < + |gm (x) − g(x)|
2
 
< +
2 2
=

Therefore, gn converges uniformly.

Hence, there exists a uniformly convergent subsequence.

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Extension to Complex Numbers

Proposition
Let {fn : K → C} be a sequence of uniformly bounded and
uniformly equicontinuous functions whose domain K is
compact in C. Then there exists a subsequence of {fn } that
uniformly converges.

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Proof. Let  > 0 be given. Now, let fn be a sequence of
functions that is uniformly bounded and uniformly
equicontinuous. Since K is compact, there exists a countable
dense subset D = {zi : i = 1, 2, ..., n, ...} of K. From the
Bolzano-Weierstrass theorem, there exists a convergent
subsequence f1n (z1 ). Denote this sequence by

f11 (z1 ), f12 (z1 ), f13 (z1 ), ..., f1n (z1 ), ...

Now, we take this subsequence to z2 and obtain a sequence

f1n (z2 ). Again by the Bolzano-Weierstrass theorem, this
sequence have a convergence subsequence

f21 (z2 ), f22 (z2 ), f23 (z2 ), ..., f2n (z2 ), ...

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Repeating this process, we have

f11 f12 f13 ... f1n ...

f21 f22 f23 ... f2n ...
f31 f32 f33 ... f3n ...
.. .. .. ..
. . . ... . ...

Note that the sequence fnk is a convergent subsequence of

f(n−1)k for k = 1, 2, 3, .... We will denote fnn as gn . Since
{gn }n∈N ⊆ {fn }n∈N {gn }n∈N converges at z1 , z2 , ..., zn , the
subsequence {gn }n∈N converges at each zi ∈ D.
Since {fn } is uniformly equicontinuous, ∃δ such that |z − zi | < δ
implies

|gn (z) − gn (zi )| < 3 .

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Consider the open ball Bδ (zi ) ∀i ∈ N. Since K ⊆ ∪i∈N Bδ (zi )
because D is dense, {Bδ (zi )}i∈N is an open cover of K. In
addition, K is compact which implies that there is a finite
subcover {Bδ (zi )}li=1 that contains K. Now, we know that
{gn (zj )} converges as n → ∞, so it is a Cauchy sequence for
each j = 1, 2, ..., l. Thus, there exists Nj ∈ N such that for all
n, m > Nj ,

|gn (zj ) − gm (zj )| < 3

Now, let N = max {Nj }. For every m, n > N

j=1,2,...,l

|gn (zj ) − gm (zj )| < 3 , ∀j = 1, 2, ..., l

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Therefore,

|gn (z) − gm (z)| ≤ |gn (z) − gn (zi )| + |gn (zi ) − gm (zi )|

+ |gm (zi ) − gm (z)|
  
< + +
3 3 3
= .

Since C is complete, its Cauchy sequence converges.

Therefore, there exists a uniformly convergent subsequence.

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