Maths WorkshopMaths problems with full solutions
Exercise 1502Calculus › Single-variable calculus › SequencesL1Added 2 Nov 2026

The sequence sin(n) does not converge

#divergence#trigonometry#subsequences#contradiction

Statement

Prove that the sequence (sin⁡n)n≥1(\sin n)_{n\ge1} has no limit.

Hint

If sin⁡n→ℓ\sin n\to\ell, use sin⁡(n+1)−sin⁡(n−1)=2sin⁡1cos⁡n\sin(n+1)-\sin(n-1)=2\sin1\cos n to find the limit of cos⁡n\cos n, then use sin⁡2n=2sin⁡ncos⁡n\sin2n=2\sin n\cos n.

Show solutionHide solution

Solution

Suppose sin⁡n→ℓ\sin n\to\ell. Then sin⁡(n+1)→ℓ\sin(n+1)\to\ell and sin⁡(n−1)→ℓ\sin(n-1)\to\ell, so
2sin⁡1cos⁡n=sin⁡(n+1)−sin⁡(n−1)⟶0.2\sin1\cos n=\sin(n+1)-\sin(n-1)\longrightarrow0.
Since sin⁡1≠0\sin1\ne0, we get cos⁡n→0\cos n\to0.

Two consequences.
- From sin⁡2n+cos⁡2n=1\sin^2n+\cos^2n=1 we get ℓ2=1\ell^2=1.
- The sequence sin⁡2n=2sin⁡ncos⁡n\sin2n=2\sin n\cos n tends to 2ℓ⋅0=02\ell\cdot0=0. But (sin⁡2n)(\sin2n) is a subsequence of (sin⁡n)(\sin n), so it tends to ℓ\ell. Hence ℓ=0\ell=0.

Contradiction. ℓ2=1\ell^2=1 and ℓ=0\ell=0 cannot both hold. So (sin⁡n)(\sin n) does not converge.

Remark. In fact, the set {n mod 2π}\{n\bmod2\pi\} is dense in [0,2π][0,2\pi] and every value in [−1,1][-1,1] is a limit point of sin⁡n\sin n.