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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Calculating ...5(5+4(4+3(3+2(2+1(1)))))

I've been puzzling over this question for a while now, and I've finally decided to turn to the StackExchange community in order to get an answer. How would one determine the value of the expression ...5(5+4(4+3(3+2(2+1(1)))))) to n, assuming that…
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Product of Infinite series cubes

If $$X=\left({342\over 344}\right)\left({511\over 513}\right)\left({728\over 730}\right)\dots$$ Up to infinite terms.. The value of $x$ approaches? What's the approach to the above problem? They can be expressed as cubes-1/cubes +1.how to simplify…
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Convergence of a sequence of real numbers

Let $\alpha, \gamma$ be real numbers such that $0<\alpha<1$ and $\gamma>0$. Consider the sequence of real numbers given by $$ \begin{cases} x_0\ne 0&\\ x_{k+1}=x_k\left(1-\frac{\gamma(1+\alpha)}{|x_k|^{1-\alpha}}\right) \quad (k\in…
blindman
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Sequence Sum {1/2 + 1/4 + 1/6 +...} to infinite

I've been told, the following series converges: $$\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{4}+\frac{1}{6}+\ldots+\frac{1}{2k}+\ldots$$ I can't get my head around, how to prove this converges; any hints?
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Infinite series with cos in numerator

How do you evaluate this series? $$\sum_{i=1}^{\infty}\frac{\cos i}{2^i}$$ It's absolutely convergent by comparison to the geometric series. But the $\cos$ is tripping me up. I've tried differentiating in order to go through the $\cos$ -> $\sin$ ->…
Number 34
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Radius of Convergence of this Series

This is a question from a GRE math subject test practice material. $$ \sum^{\infty}_{n=1} \frac{n!x^{2n}}{n^n(1+x^{2n})} $$ The set of real numbers $x$ for which the series converges is: $\{0\}$, $\{-1 \leq x \leq 1\}$, $\{-1 < x < 1\}$,…
Legendre
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Evaluating sums of the form $\sum_{i_d=1}^{\infty}\ldots\sum_{i_2=1}^{\infty}\sum_{i_1=1}^{\infty}x^{i_1\cdot i_2\cdots i_d}$

I am wondering if there is a way to evaluate or get a more useful expression for a sum of the following form: $$\sum_{i_d=1}^{\infty}\ldots\sum_{i_2=1}^{\infty}\sum_{i_1=1}^{\infty}x^{i_1\cdot i_2\cdots i_d},$$ where $|x|<1.$ For example, if $d=2$,…
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Verify the correctness of $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\left(\frac{1}{x^n}-\frac{1}{1+x^n}+\frac{1}{2+x^n}-\frac{1}{3+x^n}+\cdots\right)=\frac{\gamma}{x-1}$

$x\ge2$ $\gamma=0.57725166...$ (1) $$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\left(\frac{1}{x^n}-\frac{1}{1+x^n}+\frac{1}{2+x^n}-\frac{1}{3+x^n}+\cdots\right)=\frac{\gamma}{x-1}$$ Series (1) converges very slowly, we are not sure that (1) has closed form…
user339807
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Criteria for convergent sequence (Baby Rudin Theorem 3.22)

Theorem 3.22 of Rudin's Principles of Mathematical Analysis says: The series $\sum a_{n}$ of (real or) complex numbers converges iff for every $\varepsilon > 0$, there is an integer $N$ such that $$ \left| \sum_{k=n}^m a_{k} \right| \leq…
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Evaluate the following limit:

Find $$\lim_{n \to \infty}\frac{1}{\sqrt{n}}\left[\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}+\sqrt{4}}+\frac{1}{\sqrt{4}+\sqrt{6}}+\cdots+\frac{1}{\sqrt{2n}+\sqrt{2n+2}}\right]$$ MY TRY: $$ \begin{align} \lim_{n \to \infty} &\frac{1}{\sqrt{n}}…
Rayees Ahmad
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Show that, $2\sum_{s=1}^{\infty}\frac{1-\beta(2s+1)}{2s+1}=\ln\left(\frac{\pi}{2}\right)-2+\frac{\pi}{2}$.

The Dirichlet beta function is defined as for Re(s)>0 $$\beta(s)=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\frac{(-1)^n}{(2n+1)^s}.$$ Show that, $$2\sum_{s=1}^{\infty}\frac{1-\beta(2s+1)}{2s+1}=\ln\left(\frac{\pi}{2}\right)-2+\frac{\pi}{2}.$$ Any hints where can we start…
user335850
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infinite sums of trigonometric functions

Find the sum of the series: $$\sum_{n = 1}^\infty \left( \sin \left(\frac{1}{n}\right) - \sin\left(\frac{1}{n+1} \right) \right).$$ By the convergence test the limit of this function is $0$ but I'm not sure how to prove whether or not this function…
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How to determine if the following series converge or not?

$\Sigma_{n=1}^{\infty} a_n $ where: $ a_n = \frac{1}{\ln(n)^{\ln(n)}}$ $a_n = \frac{1}{n }-\ln\left( 1+\frac{1}{n}\right)$ in the first case, I really have no idea in the second case, is it correct to say that for $ \frac{1}{n }-\ln\left(…
yehushua
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Is there a closed-form of $\frac{1}{1}+\frac{1}{1+2^2}+\frac{1}{1+2^2+3^2}+.....$

How can I find the closed-form of? $$\frac{1}{1}+\frac{1}{1+2^2}+\frac{1}{1+2^2+3^2}+.....$$ Any help thanks
E.H.E
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How to find the sum of this infinite series.

How to find the sum of the following series ? Kindly guide me about the general term, then I can give a shot at summing it up. $$1 - \frac{1}{4} + \frac{1}{6} -\frac{1}{9} +\frac{1}{11} - \frac{1}{14} + \cdots$$
Bazinga
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