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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How is 1 a member of the Kaprekar series?

Using the definitions at Wikipedia; Sloane; and Mathworld; I can't see why $1$ is a member of the Kaprekar series? Would someone give an easy explanation? Thanks. (Yet more on this here).
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Proof $\bigcap^\infty_{n=1}$ $[a_n,b_n]$ $\neq \emptyset$ with given conditions

I need help for the following task: a)Formulate the Bolzano-Weierstrass theorem: Each bounded sequence in $\mathbb{R^n}$ has a convergent subsequence. b) Let {$a_n$}$_{n\in\mathbb{N}}$ be a sequence that is monotonically increasing and…
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test for the convergence of the series

Test the convergence of summation $$\sum_{n=1}^\infty x_n$$ where $$x_{2n-1}=\frac{n}{n+1}\\ x_{2n}=-\frac{n}{n+1}$$ That is the series $$\frac 1 2-\frac 12+\frac 23-\frac 23 +-\cdots$$ what I did was let Sn be the partial sums of the…
clarkson
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How to determine that this series is conditionally convergent?

$$ \sum_{n=1}^\infty \int_n^{n+1} \frac{\sin\pi x}{x^p+1} \,\mathrm d x, \qquad 0
mamath
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Approximating finite sum of factorial reciprocal

I'd like to approximate $$\sum_{k=1}^N \frac{1}{k!}$$ I know that $\sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{1}{n!}=e$ but since I am dealing with only the finite case I'm not sure this approximation is very good. Is there a better one? Note: Not looking for the…
user983799
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relation between arithmetic series and `square` arithmetic series

For example: $$1+2+\text{...}+n=\frac{n(n+1)}{2}~~~(1)$$ $$1^2+2^2+\text{...}+n^2=\frac{n(n+1)(2n+1)}{6}~~~(2)$$ In this equality, I sometimes recall by heart $\frac{n(2n+1)(2n+3)}{6}$ or others. Why I cannot memorize some formulas exactly over…
HyperGroups
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The quadratic sequence version of geometric sequence

I know that in quadratic sequence the second common difference is constant, so I want to apply this idea to geometric sequences, like the second ratio is constant, example : $$ 1, 2, 8 , 64 , 1024 ... $$ so it's : $$ ×2, ×4, ×8, ×16... $$ which is…
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Find a formula for the sequence $(a_n)$

I would appreciate if somebody could help me with the following problem Q : Find $a_n=?$ $$a_1=1, a_{n+1}=\frac{a_n+4}{a_n+1}(n=1,2,3,\cdots) $$
Young
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Is it legal to perform this move

I had recently playing around with numbers and found this: Assume $x$ is a variable,…
xxxx036
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Clues for $\lim_{x\to\infty}\sum_{k=1}^{\infty} \frac{(-1)^{k+1} (2^k-1)x^k}{k k!}$

Some clues for this questions? $$\lim_{x\to\infty}\sum_{k=1}^{\infty} \frac{(-1)^{k+1} (2^k-1)x^k}{k k!}$$
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How could I use telescoping to find $f(1) + f(2) + f(3) + \cdots + f(100) $?

How could I use telescoping to find $f(1) + f(2) + f(3) + \cdots + f(100) $? Let $f(x)$ be a function defined by $f(x) = x^6 - 3x^5 + 5x^4 - 5x^3 + 3x^2 - x$. Compute the sum of the base-ten digits of the sum $f(1) + f(2) + f(3) + \cdots +…
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Does the series converge $\sum\limits_{n=1}^{\infty}(-1)^{n} \sin \left(\frac{\pi}{2}\left(1+\frac{1}{n}\right)\right)$

Does the series converge? $$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}(-1)^{n} \sin \left(\frac{\pi}{2}\left(1+\frac{1}{n}\right)\right)$$ I have tried to transform the series as follows $$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}(-1)^{n} \sin…
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Limit of $\frac1{n^{50}}\sum\limits_{k=1}^{n}(-1)^{k}k^{50}$ when $n\to\infty$

Evaluate $\lim_{n\to\infty}\dfrac{\sum_{k=1}^{n}(-1)^{k}k^{50}}{n^{50}}$. Or can we get some formula when $50$ is replaced with $m$?
chloe_shi
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How fast does $f_n = \sin f_{n-1}$ approach zero?

The sequence $f(n) = \sin(\sin(\sin(......(1)......)))$ approaches zero like $\sqrt{3/n}$, as has been asked and answered here a few times. So $f(n)$ would get below $1/n$ after $3n^2$ steps, but it seems to get there about $\ln n$ steps earlier:…
Empy2
  • 50,853
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Estimating a series $\sum_{k=1}^\infty e^{-k^2t}\leq \frac{1}{2}\sqrt{\frac{\pi}{t}}?$

Can we prove such an estimate $$\sum_{k=1}^\infty e^{-k^2t}\leq \frac{1}{2}\sqrt{\frac{\pi}{t}}?$$ I need it in my research....
XLDD
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