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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What is the sum of the following infinite series?

$$ \frac{1}{3} + \frac{2}{9} + \frac{1}{27} + \frac{2}{81} + \frac{1}{243} + \frac{2}{729} + \cdots $$ So basically I separated it into two series where: one of them is $\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^n$ And I use geometric series formula to find that…
Si Random
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absolutely convergent series and conditionally convergent series rearrangement

I don't understand that why the terms of an absolutely convergent series can be rearranged in any order and all such rearranged series converge to the same sum. my textbook gives me an example that it is not so for conditionally convergent…
Y.H. Chan
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Limit Comparison Test Question

I'm trying to find the end behavior of $$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{\sqrt{n^2+1}}$$ using the limit comparison test, but I'm having a hardtime finding the comparing equation. I would appreciate if someone could either give me advice to finding the…
David
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Is it possible for sum of three sequences $x_n + y_n+z_n$ to equal $0$?

Define three sequences $x_n, y_n, z_n$ for $n=1, 2, \dots, $ by $x_1 = 2$, $y_1 = 4$, $z_1 = \frac{6}{7}$ and the recursion $$ x_{n+1} = \frac{2x_n}{x_n^2-1}, \quad y_{n+1} = \frac{2y_n}{y_n^2-1}, \quad z_{n+1} = \frac{2z_n}{z_n^2-1} $$ Is it…
eatfood
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Is $a_{n+1}=\frac{a_n(a_n+n+k)}{n+1}$ eventually a non-integer, for all $k$?

Given a positive integer $k$, let $a_1=1$ and $a_{n+1}=\frac{a_n(a_n+n+k)}{n+1}, \forall n \geq 1$. The sequence terminates when a term is not an integer. I'd like to ask whether for all $k$, the sequence will always terminate?
Hang Wu
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Evaluate $\sum _{n=1}^{\infty } \sin \left(\pi \sqrt{n^2+1}\right)$

How can one prove $$\sum _{n=1}^{\infty } \sin \left(\pi \sqrt{n^2+1}\right)=-\frac{1}{2}\pi Y_1(\pi )-\int_0^{\infty } \exp ^{\frac{\pi}{2} \left(t-t^{-1}\right)} (\theta(2 \pi t)-1) \, dt$$ Here $\theta$ denotes Theta function of the third…
Infiniticism
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Help identify this series

I'm obtaining the following series as an analytical solution to a problem using a differential time $dt$ $$h(t) = \lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}_{m\rightarrow-\infty}_{\Delta t\rightarrow 0}\sum_{i=m}^n f(t-i\ \Delta t)\ g(i\ \Delta t)\ \Delta…
osolmaz
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How to proceed further in this Arithmetico-Geometric Progression problem

Question: The sum to $n$ terms of the series, $S=1+5(\frac{4n+1}{4n-3})+9(\frac{4n+1}{4n-3})^2+13(\frac{4n+1}{4n-3})^3+....$ The following image is my approach towards the problem. Could you please tell how to proceed? I proceeded in this way as…
Vishnu
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sum of series $\frac{1}{1\cdot 3}+\frac{1}{4\cdot 5}+\frac{1}{7\cdot 7}+\frac{1}{10\cdot 9}+\cdots $

The sum of series $$\frac{1}{1\cdot 3}+\frac{1}{4\cdot 5}+\frac{1}{7\cdot 7}+\frac{1}{10\cdot 9}+\cdots $$ My attempt $$\displaystyle…
jacky
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Binary expansions

This question is about an example in an article of Dekking and Mendez France: For an integer $n$ let $s(n)$ be the number of ones in the binary expansion, so that $s(2k)=s(k)$ and $s(2k+1)=s(2k)+1$, $\alpha \in (0,1/2)$ is fixed, $x = 2\pi i…
Jochen
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What is $(N)+ (N-1) + (N -2) + \cdots + 1$ called?

This is purely for figuring the name of a mathematical concept. For example, $N \times (N-1) \times \cdots \times 1$ is called factorial. Question: What is $N + (N-1) + (N -2) + \cdots + 1$ called?
samol
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Does Cauchy sequence of disjoint and closed subsets converge to a non-empty set in a Banach space?

Suppose, $X$ is a banach space. For any $x,y \in X$, we define $d(x,y) = |x-y|$, For any $A, B \subseteq X$, we define: $$d(A, B) = \inf_{x \in A, y\in B}{d(x,y)}$$ Say,$(K_n)_{n \in \mathbb{N}}$ is a Cauchy sequence of disjoint and closed subsets…
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Formula for the sequence 0,3,8,15,24 ...

Out of my own interest I've been practicing finding formula for for sequences and I've been having trouble finding one for the nth term for this sequence. 0,3,8,15,24 ... Clearly you add 5,7,9,11 ... to the previous number but if anyone had some…
UmamiBoy
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Does this series converge to a rational multiple of $\pi^2$?

If we define the sum $$S_2=\sum_{n_2=1}^\infty\frac{1}{(n_2)^2} $$ in which $n_2$ are products of an even number of prime factors, together with 1, so $n_2=1,4,6,...,15,16,21,22,...,24,$ etc., the sum seems to be a rational multiple of $\pi^2$. Of…
daniel
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Expression For $u_{n+1}=u_n^2+u_n$

Find the formula of the sequence $$u_1=a, u_{n+1}=u_n^2+u_n$$ Is there a "simple" formula for the sequence ?
RopuToran
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