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Sequences and Series - Notes Pages 1-3

This document provides an overview of sequences and series in mathematics. It defines what a sequence is, including common types of sequences like geometric, arithmetic, and Fibonacci sequences. It explains how to generate the terms of a sequence using a formula or recursive definition. It also defines what convergent and divergent sequences are, and introduces the concept of series as the sum of the terms of a sequence. Some examples of series covered include geometric series, alternating series, and the harmonic series.

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64 views3 pages

Sequences and Series - Notes Pages 1-3

This document provides an overview of sequences and series in mathematics. It defines what a sequence is, including common types of sequences like geometric, arithmetic, and Fibonacci sequences. It explains how to generate the terms of a sequence using a formula or recursive definition. It also defines what convergent and divergent sequences are, and introduces the concept of series as the sum of the terms of a sequence. Some examples of series covered include geometric series, alternating series, and the harmonic series.

Uploaded by

Mvelo Phungula
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Mathematics 1B – Sequences and Series (pages 1-3)

Sequence: A sequence is a list of numbers following a pattern or rule arranged in some


definite order:
{𝑎𝑎1 ; 𝑎𝑎2 ; 𝑎𝑎3 ; … … … … … . 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 } , where 𝑎𝑎1 is the first term of the sequence
Many types of sequences with definite rules of finding terms in the sequences are found:
Geometric, Arithmetic, Hyperbolic, Finite, Infinite, Fibonacci, etc.
∞
Sequence notation: Generally written in the form {𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 } 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 {𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 }𝑛𝑛=1
Generating a Sequence: Many sequences have corresponding formulae. The terms of the
sequence are found by substituting relevant values in the formula.
𝑛𝑛 ∞
Example1: Generate the terms of the sequence given by � �
𝑛𝑛+1 𝑛𝑛=1
𝑛𝑛
This implies that the terms of the sequence can be found by using the formula 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 =
𝑛𝑛+1
1 2 3 4 𝑛𝑛
Substituting 𝑛𝑛 = 1,2,3, … . . 𝑛𝑛 we obtain the sequence ; ; ; ; … … … . .
2 3 4 5 𝑛𝑛+1
(−1)𝑛𝑛 (𝑛𝑛+1)
Example 2: Find the terms of the sequence given by � �.
3𝑛𝑛
−2 3 −4 (−1)𝑛𝑛 (𝑛𝑛+1)
Substituting 𝑛𝑛 = 1,2,3, … . . 𝑛𝑛 we obtain the sequence � ; ; ;…………. �
3 9 27 3𝑛𝑛

Recursive Sequence (Equation). Terms of the sequence are generated by using a


recursive equation since the nth term can only be calculated by considering the previous
(n-1) term in the sequence.
Example: 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 = 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛−1 + 𝑑𝑑 is a recursive equation for the 𝑛𝑛𝑡𝑡ℎ term of an Arithmetic
sequence where 𝑇𝑇𝑛𝑛 = 𝑎𝑎 + (𝑛𝑛 − 1)𝑑𝑑

Special case: Fibonacci Sequence = {𝒇𝒇𝒏𝒏 }


This sequence is defined recursively as 𝑓𝑓1 = 1 , 𝑓𝑓2 = 1, 𝑓𝑓𝑛𝑛 = 𝑓𝑓𝑛𝑛−1 + 𝑓𝑓𝑛𝑛−2 , 𝑛𝑛 ≥ 3
Thus, the actual values of the sequence are {1; 1; 2; 3; 5; 8; 13; 21; … … … … . . }
***The sequence was discovered in 13th century. The Fibonacci sequence was the
outcome of a mathematical problem about rabbit breeding that was posed in the Liber
Abaci.

1
Convergent and Divergent Series

A sequence is said to be Convergent if it approaches some limit.


Mathematically, a sequence {𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 } is said to be CONVERGENT if there exists a value L such
that
lim 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 = 𝐿𝐿
𝑛𝑛→∞

i.e. for sufficiently large n as 𝑛𝑛 → ∞, 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝐿𝐿 . Otherwise, the sequence is said to be
DIVERGENT.
A Comparison test is used to test for convergence and divergence.

ALTERNATING SERIES - series with both positive and negative terms, but in a regular
pattern.
An alternating series is a series of the form ∑∞
𝑘𝑘=1(−1)
𝑘𝑘+1
𝑎𝑎𝑘𝑘 where 𝑎𝑎𝑘𝑘 ≥ 0 for each k.

Series and Sigma Notation


A series is the sum of the terms of a sequence. Instead of writing out the sum of the
terms, an abbreviated notation is used.
The symbol ∑ is used to denote the ‘sum of ‘. Generally, referred to as ‘Sigma notation’,
∑𝑛𝑛𝑘𝑘=1 𝑎𝑎𝑘𝑘 indicates the first, last and general terms of the series.
Example: Geometric series 𝑎𝑎 + 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 + 𝑎𝑎𝑟𝑟 2 + ⋯ … … . . 𝑎𝑎𝑟𝑟 𝑛𝑛−1 = ∑∞
𝑛𝑛=1 𝑎𝑎𝑟𝑟
𝑛𝑛−1
, 𝑎𝑎 ≠ 0
A formula to find the actual sum of the Infinite Geometric series is
𝑎𝑎
𝑆𝑆∞ = .
1−𝑟𝑟

Another Example:
1 1 1 1 1
∑∞
𝑛𝑛=1 = + + + ⋯………….
𝑛𝑛(𝑛𝑛+1) 2 6 12 𝑛𝑛(𝑛𝑛+1)

2
The Harmonic Series

Another useful example of a series. The infinite sum is given by:

The Harmonic series is divergent.

Examples of Harmonic Series : (Courtesy of


https://mathworld.wolfram.com/HarmonicSeries.html)

Harmonics of a string showing the periods of the pure-tone harmonics (period =


1/frequency)

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