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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Convergence tests for a complex series?

For $\sum_{i=1}^{\infty} z_i$, where $z_i \in \mathbb{C}$, how should the convergence tests be performed? I read somewhere that the tests applied for convergence of complex series are same as that for real series, but I am wondering if this is so,…
kaka
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Which number remains alive?

There are $100$ people standing in a circle numbered from $1$ to $100$. The first person is having a sword and kills the the person standing next to him clockwise i.e $1$ kills $2$ and so on. Which is the last number to remain alive? Also if $1$…
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Find a closed form for this infinite sum: $ 1+\frac 1 2 +\frac{1 \times2}{2 \times 5}+\frac{1 \times2\times 3}{2 \times5\times 8}+ \dots$

How to find a closed form for the expression?? $$ 1+\frac 1 2 +\frac{1 \times2}{2 \times 5}+\frac{1 \times2\times 3}{2 \times5\times 8}+\frac{1\times 2\times 3\times 4}{2 \times 5\times 8\times 11}+ \cdots$$ Wolfram alpha…
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A certain “harmonic” sum

Is there a simple, elementary proof of the fact that: $$\sum_{n=0}^\infty\left(\frac{1}{6n+1}+\frac{-1}{6n+2}+\frac{-2}{6n+3}+\frac{-1}{6n+4}+\frac{1}{6n+5}+\frac{2}{6n+6}\right)=0$$ I have thought of a very simple notation for "harmonic" sums like…
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How to find the sum $\sum\limits_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{n!(n^4+n^2+1)}$

Find this sum $$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\dfrac{1}{n!(n^4+n^2+1)}$$ My try: since $$n^4+n^2+1=(n^2+1)^2-n^2=(n^2+n+1)(n^2-n+1)$$ then $$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\dfrac{1}{n!(n^4+n^2+1)}=\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\dfrac{1}{2n\cdot…
math110
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Does $\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{1}{n! \sin(n)}$ diverge or converge?

Does the series $$ \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac 1 {n!\sin(n)}$$ converge or diverge? Even the necessary condition of the convergence is difficult to verify.
user64494
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question about construction of real numbers

So I've gotten myself confused over a seeming tautology one uses when constructing the real numbers as equivalence classes of Cauchy sequences of rational numbers. Having constructed the real numbers in this way, once one makes sense of the term…
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Proof: Series converges $\implies $ the limit of the sequence is zero

I've been using the sentence: If a series converges then the limit of the sequence is zero as a criterion to prove that a series diverges (when $\lim \neq 0$) and I can understand the rationale behind it, but I can't find a formal proof. Can you…
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Why is an infinite series not considered an infinite sum of terms?

According to, for example, this excellent page on beginner calculus, an infinite series is NOT an infinite sum of terms.* I'm not even sure what that's asserting. I think an infinite series is an infinite number of terms that are added together. I…
Henry
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Convergence of $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{n}\sin\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)$

Showing convergence is easy, since for $x\geq 0$ we have $\sin x\leq x$ so: $$0\leq\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{n}\sin\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)\leq \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{n^2}$$ I was wondering if it might have a closed form? Finding one is…
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If $\sum a_n$ converges and every $a_n$ is positive then $\sum a_n^{(n-1)/n}$ converges?

Let $(a_n)$ be a sequence of real positive numbers such that $\sum a_n$ is a convergent series. What can we say about the series $\sum a_n^{\frac{n-1}{n}}$? Show that it is convergent or find a counterexample. I'm trying to find a counterexample but…
Federico
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Why is the following sequence monotonically decreasing?

The sequence in question is $$ a_n = \sqrt{n^2+4}-n\,. $$ I can see that it is strictly decreasing by finding the derivative and observing that it is negative on the entire range containing the relevant values of $n$. But I feel like there must be…
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Double summation involving factorials

Find the value of $\displaystyle \sum_{m=1}^\infty \sum^{\infty}_{n=1}\frac{m\cdot n}{(m+n)!}$. My try: $$\sum^{\infty}_{m=1}\bigg(\frac{m}{(m+1)! }+\frac{2m}{(m+2)!}+\cdots\cdots +\frac{m+\infty}{(m+\infty)!}\bigg)$$ I did not understand how to…
DXT
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How to find the sum of this series: $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}(-1)^{n+1} \frac{n^2}{n^3+1}$?

$$\frac{1^2}{1^3+1}-\frac{2^2}{2^3+1}+\frac{3^2}{3^3+1}-\frac{4^2}{4^3+1}+\cdots$$ in terms of summation i can write it as $$S_{n}=\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}(-1)^{n+1} \frac{n^2}{n^3+1}$$ How to continue from this point? used partial…
user440024
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The sum of the following infinite series $\frac{4}{20}+\frac{4\cdot 7}{20\cdot 30}+\frac{4\cdot 7\cdot 10}{20\cdot 30 \cdot 40}+\cdots$

The sum of the following infinite series $\displaystyle \frac{4}{20}+\frac{4\cdot 7}{20\cdot 30}+\frac{4\cdot 7\cdot 10}{20\cdot 30 \cdot 40}+\cdots$ $\bf{My\; Try::}$ We can write the given series as $$\left(1+\frac{4}{20}+\frac{4\cdot 7}{20\cdot…
juantheron
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