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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Find the sum of series $\displaystyle \sum_{n=0}^{+\infty}\frac{(-1)^n}{2(n+1)(2n+1)}$

Find the sum of series $$\sum_{n=0}^{+\infty}\frac{(-1)^n}{2(n+1)(2n+1)}$$ I have tried to use the telescoping method, but it seems that it can't reduce the…
user300045
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Test the convergence of: $1+\frac{1}{2}-\frac{1}{3}+\frac{1}{4}+\frac{1}{5}-\frac{1}{6}+\cdots$

My Solution Let the subscript begin at 1. Group the terms three by three. The partial sum $S_{n}$ satisfies $$S_{3n}-S_{3(n-1)}=\frac{1}{3n-2}+\frac{1}{3n-1}-\frac{1}{3n} > \frac{1}{3n}+\frac{1}{3n}-\frac{1}{3n}=\frac{1}{3n},\quad(n\ge1),$$ where…
Frenzy Li
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How can I systematically find a solution to this problem?

While doing some self-study, a friend posed this problem to me: Let $a$ be a sequence, defined as following: $$a_0 = 0,\quad a_1= 1, \qquad a_{n+2}=\frac{a_n+a_{n+1}}2$$ Figure out, whether $a$ converges, and if yes to which value. Find a closed…
FUZxxl
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Finding the row and column number of the number $20096$

Consider the numbers arranged in the following way $$\begin{array}{ccccccc} 1 & 3 & 6 & 10 & 15 & 21 & \cdots \\ 2 & 5 & 9 & 14 & 20 & \cdots & \cdots \\ 4 & 8 & 13 & 19 & \cdots & \cdots & \cdots \\ 7 & 12 & 18 & \cdots & \cdots & \cdots & \cdots…
Navin
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If $\{a_n\}$ is not summable, neither is $\left\{ {\frac{{{a_n}}}{{1 + {a_n}}}} \right\}$

Let $\{a_n\}$ be a sequence. We say $\{a_n\}$ is summable if the sequence $\{s_n\}$ defined by $$s_1=a_1\\s_{n+1}=s_n+a_{n+1}$$ converges to $\ell\in\Bbb R$, and write $$\sum\limits_{n = 1}^\infty {{a_n}} = \ell $$ $(1)$ Suppose $\{a_n\}$ is of…
Pedro
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Help find closed form: $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\sum_{k=0}^{m}(-1)^k{m\choose k}{n-ka\over (n+m-k)^m}$

We observe the double sum: $$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\sum_{k=0}^{m}(-1)^k{m\choose k}{n-ka\over (n+m-k)^m}=f(m,a),m\ge2\tag1$$ $a$ is not restricted We are trying to determine the closed form for $(1)$ Let expanded $(1)$ for $m=2,3$ and…
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Maclaurin series converges to function

Show that the maclaurin series for $ (1+x)^{-3/2} $ converges to the function for $|x|<1$ I'm supposed to use the remainder term $ \frac{f^{n+1}(c)x^{n+1}}{(n+1)!} $ and show that the limit of that remainder goes to zero. This has been simple for…
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Why is the sequence $s_m := \sum_{j=0}^{m} \cos(j^2)$ unbounded?

I recently stumbled over the statement on Facebook, but it was without a proof and I wasn't able to find one myself for a while now, and also asked around at the university without results. Plots I did for the partial sums showed pretty strange…
Monoidoid
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Does $\sum q^\sqrt n$ converge?

Does $\sum q^\sqrt n$ converge? ($q>0$) It is clear that if $q\ge1$ series diverges, but what about $q\in(0; 1)$?
Gleb Chili
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sum of series $(2^2-1)(6^2-1)+(4^2-1)(8^2-1)+\cdots \cdots +\cdots (100^2-1)(104^2-1)$

The sum of series $(2^2-1)(6^2-1)+(4^2-1)(8^2-1)+\cdots \cdots +\cdots (100^2-1)(104^2-1)$ Attempt Assume $\displaystyle S = \sum^{50}_{r=1}((2r)^2-1)((2r+4)^2-1) = \sum^{50}_{r=1}(4r^2-1)(4r^2+16r+15)$ $\displaystyle S =…
DXT
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the value of $\frac{100^2}{100!}+\sum^{100}_{k=1}|(k^2-3k+1)S_{k}|$ is

Let $S_{k},$ where $k=1,2,3,\cdots \cdots ,100$ denote the sum of the infinite geometric series whose first term is $\displaystyle \frac{k-1}{k!}$ and the common ratio is $\displaystyle \frac{1}{k},$ then the value of $\displaystyle…
DXT
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Find the limit of $6^n(2-x_n)$ where $x_n=\sqrt[3]{6+\sqrt[3]{6+\dots+\sqrt[3]{6}}}$ with $n$ roots

Let $x_n=\sqrt[3]{6+\sqrt[3]{6+\dots+\sqrt[3]{6}}}$ where the expression in the RHS has $n$ roots. Find the following limit: $\lim \limits_{n\to \infty}6^n(2-x_n)$ My approach: I had two approaches. The first one was the following: I showed that…
RFZ
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Closed form for $\sum\limits_{r=-\infty}^\infty \sum\limits_{s=-\infty}^\infty \frac{1}{(k^2\tau^2+(x+2\pi r)^2+(y+2\pi s)^2)^{3/2}}$

I have a problem while trying to find a closed form for the following double sum. $$\sum_{r=-\infty}^\infty \sum_{s=-\infty}^\infty \frac{1}{(k^2\tau^2+(x+2\pi r)^2+(y+2\pi s)^2)^{3/2}}$$ I used Mathematica for the evaluation but it just returns…
Lina
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Finding the nth term of a numeric sequence- Newton's little formula explanation

In a contest problem book, I found a reference to Newton's little formula that may be used to find the nth term of a numeric sequence. Specifically, it is a formula that is based on the differences between consecutive terms that is computed at each…
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Determine sum of exponential

I am struggling to find an answer of the following series $$\sum_{i=1}^n \frac{1}{1+\exp(a_i+b_ix)}$$ Any suggestion?
ana
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