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
4
votes
0 answers

Find $\sum_{n=1}^\infty (1/2)^n\tanh{(1/2)^n}$

How to evaluate $\displaystyle\sum_{n=1}^\infty \dfrac{1}{2^n}\tanh{\left(\dfrac{1}{2^n}\right)}$ ? In general, what is the explicit form of $\displaystyle\sum_{n=1}^\infty x^n\tanh{x^n}$ ? Thanks in advance.
Bless
  • 2,848
4
votes
7 answers

Finding the $n^{\text{th}}$ term of $-1,-1,-1,-1,1,1,1,1,...$ as a repeating 8-block

In my work I came across that sequence $-1,-1,-1,-1,1,1,1,1,\dots$ and repeating this 8-block so on forever Now I cant find an ( e.g. trigonometric/complex ) expression $f(n)$ ( e.g. $f(n) =(-1)^g(n)$ ) which gives me the sequence starting with…
4
votes
2 answers

Sum of recursive series

I am taking a course in algebra and this problem was on my problem set, and I had no idea how to solve it. Suppose we have a sequence $s_n$ of real numbers such that $5s_{n+1}-s_{n}-3s_{n}s_{n+1}=1$ for $1 \leq n \leq 42$ and $s_1=s_{43}$. What are…
4
votes
2 answers

Sum of series $\frac{x^k}{n-k}$

Is it possible to find closed form of following sum: $\sum\limits_{k=1}^{n-1}\frac{x^k}{n-k}$ ? If not then maybe there is at least some good aproximation?
4
votes
3 answers

Summation of Infinite Series $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n 2^{2n+1}}$

Show That : $$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n 2^{2n+1}} = \ln \left(\frac{2}{\sqrt{3}}\right)$$ I could show convergence. (I dont need to show that this converges). However I couldn't figure how to show the value.
Ehrlick
  • 41
  • 1
4
votes
1 answer

Limit of a sequence and its infimum

Let $\{a_n\}_{n=1}^\infty \subset R_{\geq0}$ satisfy $a_{n+k} \leq a_n +a_k \quad$ for any $n,k$, then $$\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty} \frac{a_n}{n} = \inf_{n} \frac{a_n}{n}$$ I was thinking to prove that $\{\frac{a_n}{n}\}$ is decreasing. We have $a_n…
4
votes
2 answers

The series $\sum_{n=2}^\infty 1/(logn)^p$

$\sum_{n=2}^\infty 1/(logn)^p$ is similar to $\sum_{n=2}^\infty 1/n^p$ Then is it convergent when p>1 ? like p-test?
user128766
  • 1,077
4
votes
1 answer

Formula for Summing up incrementing number

Can someone help me what is the best formula for the following: I have $25$ as a starting number and as I increment I would add $25$ to my initial no. then sum up my 1st and 2nd no. Resulting to $50$ then increment again by $25$ and summing up the…
4
votes
3 answers

If $|\sum b_n| < L$ and $b_n \to 0$, then it converges?

If we have a series $\sum b_n$ which is bounded (its partial sums are bounded) and the terms go to zero, does it follow that it converges? I'm struggling to find a counterexample but don't know how to go forth with a proof. edit: What other criteria…
MT_
  • 19,603
  • 9
  • 40
  • 81
4
votes
1 answer

Calculating $\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} {\frac{(2n+1)(n+1)}{3^n}}$

I had this problem on my recent exam and i got 0 points for my solution and I'd really like to know why :) Calculate $$\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} {\frac{(2n+1)(n+1)}{3^n}}$$ My attempt: Let us consider the following series: $$\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}…
4
votes
1 answer

How to calculate the closed form of the Euler Sums

We know that the closed form of the series $$\sum\limits_{n = 1}^\infty {\frac{1}{{{n^2}\left( {\begin{array}{*{20}{c}} {2n} \\ n \\ \end{array}} \right)}}} = \frac{1}{3}\zeta \left( 2 \right).$$ but how to evaluate the following…
xuce1234
  • 1,330
  • 7
  • 12
4
votes
0 answers

Convergence Intervals

Consider the function $$f(x) = \frac{x}{1-x}$$ We know that for $x\in(0,1)$, $$f(x) = x\cdot\frac1{1-x} = \sum_{k=0}^\infty x^{k+1} = \sum_{k=0}^\infty x^{k} - 1$$ Now, notice that: $$\frac{x}{1-x} = \frac{x^{-1}}{x^{-1}}\frac{x}{1-x} =…
jameselmore
  • 5,207
4
votes
3 answers

Sum of (arithmetic?) infinite series

How the heck do I find the sum of a series like $\sum\limits_{n=3}^\infty\frac{5}{36n^{2}-9}$? I can't seem to convert this to a geometric series and I don't have a finite number of partial sums, so I'm stumped.
PoGaMi
  • 103
  • 6
4
votes
1 answer

Help with an infinite sum of exponential terms?

I've been trying to calculate the mean squared displacement of a particle confined to a one-dimensional box, and I managed to get an answer in terms of an infinite series of the basic form $$ \sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{(-1)^n}{n^2}\exp(-an^2)\;\;. $$ I…
Steven
  • 43
4
votes
3 answers

Sum of an infinite series.

I have found a series whose $n$-th term is denoted by $\dfrac{n}{a^n}$. Here $a$ is a constant. I tried to find the sum but failed. Is there any formula for its infinite sum or just an approximation?