Cauchy sequence with a convergent subsequence converges

A Cauchy sequence converges if one of its subsequences converges
Cauchy sequence with a convergent subsequence converges

Proposition. Let (X,d)(X,d) be a . If (xn)(x_n) is a and has a (xnk)(x_{n_k}) that to some aXa\in X, then the entire sequence converges to aa.

Context. This result is often used to prove convergence once one can identify a candidate limit via a subsequence. It is also a standard step in showing completeness-type statements.

Proof sketch. Fix ε>0\varepsilon>0. Since (xn)(x_n) is Cauchy, choose NN such that d(xn,xm)<ε/2d(x_n,x_m)<\varepsilon/2 for all m,nNm,n\ge N. Since xnkax_{n_k}\to a, choose KK such that d(xnk,a)<ε/2d(x_{n_k},a)<\varepsilon/2 for all kKk\ge K. Pick kKk\ge K with nkNn_k\ge N. Then for all nNn\ge N,

d(xn,a)d(xn,xnk)+d(xnk,a)<ε/2+ε/2=ε, d(x_n,a)\le d(x_n,x_{n_k})+d(x_{n_k},a)<\varepsilon/2+\varepsilon/2=\varepsilon,

so xnax_n\to a.