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.

65378 questions
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sum of arctangent

Here is an interesting topic. It comes from evaluating $$\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}\tan^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{k^{2}}\right)$$ I managed to dig up an old paper I have on the sum of arctans by Boros and Moll. It is called the Method of Zeros. It is located…
Cody
  • 14,054
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How do I find the Cesaro sum of the series $\{1, -1, 1, -1, ...\}$?

I've seen that the Cesaro sum is $1/2$ but haven't been able to find the steps for figuring that out.
Tan Wang
  • 201
9
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Find value of sum of reciprocals of powers of a number

Is there a simple way to find the value of the following expression? $$\frac1x+\frac1{x^2}+\frac1{x^3}+\cdots$$ On trial and error, I was getting $\frac1{x-1}$, but I'm looking for a mathematical proof to it. Please don't use complicated notation…
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Question regarding an inequality

How to prove that $$ \frac{x_1}{1+x_1^2}+\frac{x_2}{1+x_1^2+x_2^2}+\cdots+\frac{x_n}{1+x_1^2+\cdots+x_n^2}<\sqrt{n} $$ knowing that $(x_n)$ is a positive sequence ? I looked up all kinds of inequalities such AM-GM, Chebyshev, Cauchy-Schwarz, but I…
8
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Sum of the series $\frac{1}{2\cdot 4}+\frac{1\cdot3}{2\cdot4\cdot6}+\dots$

I am recently struck upon this question that asks to find the sum until infinite terms $$\frac{1}{2\cdot 4}+\frac{1\cdot3}{2\cdot4\cdot6}+\frac{1\cdot3\cdot5}{2\cdot4\cdot6\cdot8}+.....∞$$ I tried my best to get something telescoping or something…
Dinesh
  • 715
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Series representation for 1/cos x

Why does the summation \begin{equation*} \frac{1}{\cos x}=\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{(-1)^n(2n-1)\pi }{x^2-\left (n-\frac{1}{2}\right )^2\pi^2} \end{equation*} hold?
Jaska
  • 1,291
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How to solve $P=\left(1+\frac{1}{3}\right)\left(1+\frac{1}{3^2}\right)\left(1+\frac{1}{3^3}\right)\ldots \infty$

How do I find the following product $$P=\left(1+\frac{1}{3}\right)\left(1+\frac{1}{3^2}\right)\left(1+\frac{1}{3^3}\right)\ldots \infty$$
Abhay
  • 81
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Solving for $\sum_{n = 1}^{\infty} \frac{n^3}{8^n}$?

I was trying to solve $ \displaystyle \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty} \frac{n^3}{8^n}$ and I found a way to solve it and I want if there are generalizations for, say, $\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{n^k}{a^n}$ in terms of $k$ and $a$. I would also…
MT_
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series from one of Coffey's papers involving digamma, $\gamma$, and binomial

I was looking over one of Coffey's papers where is shows the following series, but with no evaluation. I am just wondering if anyone would know how to evaluate this…
Cody
  • 14,054
8
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4 answers

Prove limit of n-th root

This is the one: $$\lim\limits_{n\to \infty}\sqrt[n]{n} = 1$$ With $\varepsilon > 0$ the Archimedean Property of Reals yields an $n_0 \in \mathbb{N}$ with $$n_0 > 1 + \dfrac{2}{\varepsilon^2}$$ (I really don't get how the Archimedean Property yields…
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Convergence of series involving in iterated logarithms $\sum \frac{1}{n(\log n)^{\alpha_1}\cdots (\log^k(n))^{\alpha_k} }$

What is the quickest way to show when $$ S(\alpha_1,\alpha_2,\cdots,\alpha_k) = \sum\limits_{n=3}^\infty \frac{1}{n (\log n)^{\alpha_1}\cdots (\log^k(n))^{\alpha_k}} $$ converges, where $\log^k(n)$ is the $k$-th iteration of natural logarithm?
Lost1
  • 7,895
8
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4 answers

Find the limits of "Almost Divergent" Series

Find the following limits: $ \lim_{\varepsilon\rightarrow 0}\sum_{n=0}^{+\infty}\frac{(-1)^n}{1+n\epsilon} $ $ \lim_{\varepsilon\rightarrow 0}\sum_{n=0}^{+\infty}\frac{(-1)^n}{1+n^{2}\epsilon} $
Lagrenge
  • 836
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Find $\sum_{m=1}^{\infty}\frac{(2m-1)!!}{2^m \, m! \, m^{n+1}} $

I need to find the value of $$ S(n)=\sum_{m=1}^{\infty}\frac{(2m-1)!!}{2^m \, m! \, m^{n+1}} $$ where $n$ is an integer greater than or equal to $0$. Mathematica can do individual cases, $S(0) = \ln(4)$ for example, but it can't do the general case.
Mr. G
  • 1,058
8
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Find $\sum ^{999}_{n=1}\dfrac {1}{\sqrt [3] {n^{2}+2n+1}+\sqrt [3] {n^{2}+n}+\sqrt [3] {n^{2}}}$

How to find this summation $\sum ^{999}_{n=1}\dfrac {1}{\sqrt [3] {n^{2}+2n+1}+\sqrt [3] {n^{2}+n}+\sqrt [3] {n^{2}}}$
user109004
8
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2 answers

If $\sum a_nb_n$ converges for each null sequence $(b_n)$ then $\sum a_n$ is absolutely convergent

A friend of mine gave me the following problem recently: Let $(a_n)$ be a sequence of real numbers. Suppose that $\sum_{n=1}^\infty a_nb_n$ converges for any sequence $(b_n)$ such that $\lim\limits_{n\to\infty} b_n=0$. Show that $\sum…
user35660
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