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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Sum of all distinct values of $n^{-m}$ ($n,m>1$)

How to find the sum of all distinct values of the form $n^{-m}$, where $n,m\in\mathbb{N}$, $n,m>1$? I can find the value of such sum: $\sum\limits_{n,m>1}n^{-m}$. It is equal to…
Constructor
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Do the terms in these sequences tend to square roots?

By defining these 3 matrices: $\displaystyle M_1 = \begin{bmatrix} 1&0&0&0&0 \\ 1&1&0&0&0 \\ 1&1+x&1&0&0 \\ 1&1+x(1+x)&1+2x&1&0 \\ 1&1+x(1+x(1+x))&1+x(1+x)+x(1+2x)&1+3x&1 \end{bmatrix}$ $\displaystyle M_2 = \begin{bmatrix} 1&0&0&0&0 \\ x&1&0&0&0 \\…
Mats Granvik
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The series $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{\sin(n)}{n^2}$ and the series $\sum_{k=1}^{\infty} \frac{|\pi -n/k|}{k}$

This series \begin{equation} \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{\sin(n)}{n^2} \end{equation} converges, because: $\sin(n)\leq |\sin(n)|\leq 1$ and the series \begin{equation} \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n^2} \end{equation} converges. Now, I have a…
Mark
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General term of sequence 2

An other sequence that arise in context of formula for number of partitions of number natural in parts non greater than 5 is $81,123,167,229,295,381,473,587, 709, 855,1011,1193,1387,1609,1845,2111,2393,2707,3039,..$ If we try method of finite…
Adi Dani
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How prove this series $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{n^3(\sin{n})^2}$ convergent?

prove or disprove this series $$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\dfrac{1}{n^3(\sin{n})^2}$$ convergence? My idea: note $$|\sin{n}|\le 1$$ so $$\dfrac{1}{n^3(\sin{n})^2}\ge\dfrac{1}{n^3}$$ then this idea is not usefull other idea maybe…
user94270
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sequences with cosines are they always divergent?

I have to show if this sequence is converging or diverging : $$a_n=\cos(n/2)$$ I know that $\lim_\infty n/2= \infty $ and I also know that the cosines function is alternating between $[-1,1]$. So by a theorem I can conclude that $a_n$ is…
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Trace of sequence of natural numbers

Trace of sequence Denote by $\mathbb{N}=\{0,1,2,...\},~$ the set of natural numbers, and by $I_{m}=\{0,1,...,m-1\}\,$ the set of natural numbers lesser than given natural number $m$. Let $c=(c_0,c_1,...,c_{m-1})\,$ a $m$-sequence of natural…
Adi Dani
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Creating an alternating sequence of positive and negative numbers

TL; DR -> How does one create a series where at an arbitrary $nth$ term, the number will become negative. I'm learning a lot of mathematics again, primarily because there are such wonderful resources available on the internet to learn. On this…
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Infinite Geometric Series

I'm currently stuck on this question: What is the value of c if $\sum_{n=1}^\infty (1 + c)^{-n}$ = 4 and c > 0? This appears to be an infinite geometric series with a = 1 and r = $(1 + c)^{-1}$, so if I plug this all into the sum of infinite…
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Approximation of $x^2-x-1 = 0$ .

An exercise in Calculus With Applications by Peter D. Lax confused me, here is the original text: 1.34. Solve $x^2 − x − 1 = 0$ as follows. Restate the equation as $x = 1 + 1/x$, which suggests the sequence of approximations $$x_0 = 1,\quad x_1 = 1+…
xin zen
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Calculating $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{\zeta(2n)}{n \cdot 4^n}$

This is my first post on MSE, so I apologize in advance for any mistakes I may have made. I was trying to find the value of the sum $$ S = \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{\zeta(2n)}{n\cdot 4^n}$$ According to WolframAlpha, this sum evaluates to $$ S =…
user1260915
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Convergent/divergent series $\sum_{n=2}^{\infty}(n\sqrt{n}-\sqrt{n^3-1})$

I need to prove that series are divergent/convergent: $\displaystyle\sum_{n=2}^{\infty}(n\sqrt{n}-\sqrt{n^3-1})$ I tried using Limit comparison (with $1/n$), Root and Ratio tests, but they gave no result. With integral test I was left with…
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Knowing the sum, can I solve a finite exponential series for r?

I know a geometric expression can be written down as: $$ \sum_{k=1}^{n} ar^{k-1} = \frac{a(1-r^n)}{1-r} $$ Is it possible to solve this for r, knowing the total sum? (how about if you know the last value in the sequence instead of the first? - to me…
Wouter
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Minimum of a series

I was able to prove by induction and also by using calculus that $\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}\frac{k^2}{2^k}=6 $, also that $\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}\frac{k^3}{3^k}=\frac{33}{8}=4.125$ and $\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}\frac{k^4}{4^k}=\frac{380}{81}=…
Paul vdVeen
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Finding maclaurin series

I'm trying to find the MacLaurin series for the following: $$\frac{1}{(1+2z)^2}$$ What I'm trying to do is to take the integral of that, find the Maclaurin series then derivate it, but I'm not sure that's valid for this kind of series. Here's my…