An increasing function is one where as the input value increases, the output value does not decrease. In more formal mathematical terms, we say that a function \(f\) is increasing on an interval \([a, b]\) if for any two points \(x\) and \(y\) in that interval, if \(x \leq y\), then \(f(x) \leq f(y)\). This property ensures that the graph of the function does not descend.
- **Monotonicity:** The core characteristic of increasing functions is monotonicity. In this context, a function that does not decrease at all is specifically referred to as non-decreasing or weakly increasing.
- **Relevance in Convergence:** In the exercise provided, the sequence of functions \(\{f_n\}\) is increasing, making it easier to evaluate convergence properties like pointwise and uniform convergence. These functions start from \(f_n(0)=0\) and eventually converge to zero at \(f_n(1)=0\).
The increasing nature of the functions implies that they are bounded between zero and their value at one, facilitating a systematic evaluation of their convergence.