Questions tagged [sequences-and-series]

For questions concerning sequences and series. Typical questions concern, but are not limited to: identifying sequences, identifying terms, recurrence relations, $\epsilon-N$ proofs of convergence, convergence tests, finding closed forms for sums. For questions on finite sums, use the (summation) tag instead.

Sequences and series are often considered as a main part of part of calculus, in addition to limits, continuity, differentiation and integration.

A sequence is an enumerated collection of objects in which repetitions are allowed. There are special types of sequences, such as arithmetic sequences (or arithmetic progressions), where the next term is a constant more than the previous; harmonic progressions, which is formed by taking the reciprocal of each term of an arithmetic progression; logarithmic progression, which is formed from a series whose progression getting smaller; and geometric progressions, where the next term is a constant multiplied by the previous term.

A sequence can be given by a direct formula (e.g. $a_n = 2^n + 3$), or by a recurrence relation. In a recurrence relation, the relation between the next term and the earlier terms is given. An example is the recurrence relation $F_{n+2}=F_{n+1}+F_n, n \geq 0.$ Together with the initial terms $F_0=0$ and $F_1=1$, this recurrence relation defines the famous Fibonacci sequence.

A series is formed by summing a sequence. A typical question is: When the number of summed terms goes to infinity, does the sum approach a finite limit? In other words, is it convergent? Several tests, such as the ratio test, the root test, the limit comparison test, the integral test, etc. can help to answer these questions.

Important note. Questions about guessing the next number in a sequence, with no explicit mathematical context, will usually be quickly closed. Consider posting these questions at Puzzling Stack Exchange instead.

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Computing $\sum_{m \neq n} \frac{1}{n^2-m^2}$

A series arising in perturbation theory in quantum mechanics: $\sum_{m\neq n} \frac{1}{n^2 - m^2}$, where $n$ is a given positive odd integer and $m$ runs through all odd positive integers different from $n$. I have a hunch that residue methods are…
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sum of harmonic progression?

Someone asked me for a formula for the sum of the harmonic progression. So I did some calculations and gave him an approximate formula: $$\int_1^n\frac{dx}{x} = \frac{y_1 + y_2}{2} + \frac{y_2 + y_3}{2} + \cdots +\frac{y_{n-1} + y_n}{2}$$ where…
Vivart
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Prove this sequence takes every rational number

Given the sequence $a_1 = 0$ and $a_{n+1} = \dfrac{1}{2 \cdot\lfloor{a_n}\rfloor-a_n+1}$ and $p,q\in \mathbb N$ and coprime find $x$ so that $a_x = \dfrac{p}{q}$. I do not even know where would you start with a problem like this.
chx
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Proving the closed form for $\sum_{k_1=0}^{\infty}\cdots\sum_{k_n=0}^{\infty}\frac{1}{a^{k_1+\cdots+k_n}}$, where $k_1 \neq\cdots\neq k_n$ and $a>1$?

I recently encountered a problem that requires us to sum the series $$ \sum_{i=0}^{\infty} \sum_{j=0}^{\infty} \sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \frac{1}{3^i 3^j 3^k} $$ given the condition that $i \neq j \neq k$. Upon generalizing the problem, I get…
Nilabro Saha
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Infinite series and the IMO

I have been stuck at this problem, as my approaches have not led me to the proper result. The problem is as follows: Prove that if $|x| <1$, then $$\frac{x}{(1-x)^2} + \frac{x^2}{(1+x^2)^2} + \frac{x^3}{(1-x^3)^2}\cdots = \frac{x}{1-x} +…
user371838
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series involving Catalan and Zeta

I ran across another challenging and interesting series, and I am wondering if someone could shed some light on how to evaluate it. $$…
Cody
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Sum of the series : $1 + 2+ 4 + 7 + 11 +\cdots$

I got a question which says $$ 1 + \frac {2}{7} + \frac{4}{7^2} + \frac{7}{7^3} + \frac{11}{7^4} + \cdots$$ I got the solution by dividing by $7$ and subtracting it from original sum. Repeated for two times.(Suggest me if any other better way of…
Sandeep
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$l^2$ convergence

How can I show the following known fact (fact not known to me) $$\text{let}\quad\{y_n\}_{n=1}^{\infty} \in l^2\quad\text{then}\quad\left\{ \frac{1}{n}\sum_{j=1}^{n} y_j\right\}_{n=1}^{\infty} \in l^2\,?$$ I tried Cauchy-Schwarz but that does not…
jack
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Formula for the simple sequence 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, ...

Given $n\in\mathbb{N}$, I need to get just enough more than half of it. For example (you can think this is : number of games $\rightarrow$ minimum turns to win) $$ 1 \rightarrow 1 $$ $$ 2 \rightarrow 2 $$ $$ 3 \rightarrow 2 $$ $$ 4 \rightarrow 3…
karfai
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Converge or Diverge? Show that $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n^{{n}/{\log(n)}}}$ converges

The series $$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n^{{n}/{\log(n)}}}$$ converges according to Wolframalpha. Now I am not sure what the best technique is handling this one. I am thinking about a comparison test. Here is what I thought $n \geq 1 \iff \log(n)…
Lemon
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tough series involving digamma

I ran across a series that is rather challenging. For kicks I ran it through Maple and it gave me a conglomeration involving digamma. Mathematica gave a solution in terms of Lerch Transcendent, which was worse yet. Perhaps residues would be a…
Cody
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Closed form of the sequence $a_{n+1}=a_n^2+1$

If $$a_{n+1}=a_n^2+1,$$ with initial $a_1=\frac{1}{2}$. How to solve this sequence problem, i.e., how to represent $a_n$ in closed form?
Yimin
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Rudin's proof theorem 7.23

I'm totally lost on that proof. Recall, the theorem is the following: If $(f_n)_{n \in \mathbb{N}}$ is a pointwise bounded sequence of complex functions on a countable set $E$, then $(f_n)_{n \in \mathbb{N}}$ has a subsequence $(f_{n_k})_{k \in…
yarmenti
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$\sum_{n=1}^\infty a_n = \sum_{n=1}^\infty n a_n$ possible?

Recently I found (somewhere on math.se) a nice proof for $\sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{n}{2^n} = 2$ and thought “oh, that‘s surprising, as also $\sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{1}{2^n} = 2$ and it ‘feels like’ the first series should be greater than the later…
Keba
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Product of $n^n$

Is there a formula that defines $$(1^1)(2^2)(3^3) . . . (n^n)?$$ Most of the texts on the internet tackle series with the same exponent, but how about this one? Sorry for my mistakes