Mathematics (Sequence and Series)

2. SEQUENCE

Sequences are, basically, countably many numbers arranged in an ordered set that may or may
not exhibit certain patterns.
Example. If the first three Fibonacci numbers are given as 1, 1 and 2, then what is the eleventh
number?
Solution. Fourth number = 1 + 2 = 3
Fifth number = 2 + 3 = 5
Sixth number = 3 + 5 = 8
Seventh number = 5 + 8 = 13
Eighth number = 8 + 13 = 21
Ninth number = 13 + 21 = 34
Tenth number = 21 + 34 = 55
Eleventh number = 34 + 55 = 89
Definition : A sequence of real numbers is a function whose domain is a set of the form {n 
 | n  m} where m is usually 0 or 1. Thus, a sequence is a function f :  : . Thus a sequence can
be denoted by f(m), f(m + 1), f(m + 2), ... Usually, we will denote such a sequence by {ai }im or {am,
am+1, am+2, ...}, where ai = f(i). If m = 1, we may use the notation {an}nN.
OR
Definition : Every function defined from the set N of natural numbers to a non-empty set X is
called a sequence.
Real Sequence
Every function defined from the set N of natural numbers to a non-empty subset X of the set of
real numbers R is called a real sequence.

N XR
1. . x1
2. . x2

n. . xn

If f : N  R is a sequence, then for each n  N, f(n) is a real number. It is conventional to write

f(n) as fn.

Example. The sequence {1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, ...} is written as {1/ i}i1 . Keep in mind that this
sequence can be thought of as an ordinary function. In this case f(n) = 1/n.
Example. Consider the sequence given by an = (–1)n for n  0. This time we have started the
sequence with 1 and the terms look like, {1, –1, 1, –1, 1, –1, ...}. Note that this time the function has
domain  but the range is {–1, 1}.
 n 
Example. Consider the sequence an = cos   , n  . The first terms in the sequence is
3
 1
cos = cos 60° = and the sequence looks like
3 2
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
,  , 1,  , ,1, ,  , 1,  , ,1, ,  , 1,...}.
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

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 Mathematics (Sequence and Series)

Note that likes its predecessor, the function takes on only a finite number of values, but the
sequence has an infinite number of elements.
Example. If an = n1/n, n  , the sequence is

1, 2,31/ 3 ,41/ 4 ,...

We might use an approximation for each of these and, arbitrarily choosing 5 decimal places, the
sequence would look like
1, 1.41421, 1.44225, 1.41421, 1.37973, 1.34801, 1.32047, 1.29684, 1.27652, 1.25893, ...
We would find that a100 = 1.04713 and a10000 = 1.00092.
n
 1
Example. Consider the sequence bn =  1   , n  . This is the sequence
 n

3 3 4
3 4 5
2,   ,  ,   ,...
2 3 4
or by approximation
2, 2.25, 2.37037, 2.44141, 2.48832, 2.52163, 2.54650, 2.56578, 2.58117, 2.59374 ...
Again a100 = 2.74081 and a10000 = 2.71815.

Xn

An infinite sequence of real numbers. This sequence is neither increasing, nor decreasing, nor
convergent, nor Cauchy. It is, however, bounded.
Representation of A Sequence : x1, x2, x3, ..., xn, ...  or xn or {xn}.
The real numbers x1, x2, ..., xn, ... are called the terms or elements of the sequence. x1 is called
the first term, x2 the second term, ..., xn the nth term of the sequence xn.
Example

1 1 1 1
1.  1, , , , ... .
n 2 3 4

2. 1  ( 1)n  0, 2, 0, 2, ... .

3. n2  1, 4, 9, 16, ... .

4. ( 1)n  1, 1, 1, 1, ... .

5. A sequence an may be defined by a recursion formula :

an  1  2an , a1  1.

Here the terms of the sequence are 1, 2, 2 2,...

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 Mathematics (Sequence and Series)

Range of a Sequence
The set of all the distinct elements of a sequence is called the range set of the given sequence.
Example
The range sets of the sequences given in above examples are respectively

 1 1 
(i) 1, , , ... (ii) {0, 2}
 2 3 
(iii) {1, 4, 9, ...} (iv) {–1, 1}

(v) {1, 2, 2 2 ,...}

Note : The range set of a sequence may be finite or infinite but the sequence has always an
infinite number of elements.
Particular Sequences
(a) Constant Sequence : If the nth term of the sequence is constant i.e. xn = c  R,  n,
then the sequence obtained c, c, c, ... is known as constant sequence.

example: < >= <5>

<0, 0, 0, 0, ... > = <0>
(b) Identity Sequence : If the nth term of the sequence is xn = n, then the obtained sequence
1, 2, 3, ... is called Identity sequence.
Equal Sequence
Two sequence <xn> and <yn> are equal, if their nth terms are equal.
i.e. x n  y n , n  

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