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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Is there an expression for the ith term of this sequence $1,1,2,1,2,3,1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4,5...?$

I'm trying to do some work in Excel and if I found a formula for this sequence it would help a lot. I don't particularly need to know why the formula works. I have found the sequence here . But there in no nice form for it. Thanks!
Alexv
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Question about Euler numbers

How to prove that where $\ E_{2n}$ is the $2n^{th}$ euler number and $$\frac{1}{\cosh(x)}=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty }\frac{E_n}{n!}x^n$$ Is there maybe some link with an answer, or a book in which the above is shown?
mnsh
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An interesting problem on progression and series

In my text book I found a problem which asked to sum of the following series $$1\times 2\times 3+2\times 3 \times 4+ 3\times 4\times 5+\cdots + n(n+1)(n+2)$$ which I found to be $\frac{n(n+1)(n+2)(n+3)}{4}$ which is indeed true. Now as a general…
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how to compute a series whose terms are a rational function times an exponential function?

How can I compute the following series? \begin{equation} \sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{n+10}{2n^2+5n-3}\left(-\frac{1}{3}\right)^n \end{equation} I manipulated the term and got \begin{equation} \frac{n+10}{2n^2+5n-3}\left(-\frac{1}{3}\right)^n =…
zxcv
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Value of series, Partialsum?

given is the following series $$\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{2n+1}{n^2(n+1)^2}$$ And I need to find its value. How can I start finding it? Thanks for all does the Telescop-Summing work here as well?: $\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{1}{4n^2-1}…
Vazrael
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Limit of a recursive sequence with $u_n$

It is given that $u_{n+1} =1+\dfrac{1}{u_n}$ and $u_1 =1$. Find the limit of $u_n$ as $n\to\infty$. The limit is $\frac{\sqrt{5}+1}{2}$ from a calculator. Is there an algebraic way to determine this? You can also determine that sequence is bounded…
Eddy
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Does the syntax $\sum_{n \geq 1}$ mean the same thing as $\sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}$?

Is the syntax $\sum_{n \geq 1}$ equivalent to $\sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}$? Is it just another way of writing the same thing?
Kalcifer
  • 558
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Finding the amount of prime numbers in $S_1, S_2,S_3,\ldots$

Let $\{a_n\}$ be a non-decreasing sequence of positive integers. For any positive integer $k,$ there are exactly $k$ terms in the sequence equal to $k.$ Let $S_n$ be the sum of first $n$ terms. How many prime numbers are there in the set…
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Show that $x_{n+1}= \frac{1}{2+x_n}$ converges, where $x_1 = 1$

Define a sequence of real numbers $(x_n)$ by $x_1 = 1, x_{n+1}= \frac{1}{2+x_n}$. Show that $(x_n)$ converges, and evaluate its limit. Attempt: clearly,the sequence is bounded above by $2$ and $x_{n+1} - x_n = \frac{1}{2+x_n} - \frac{1}{2+x_{n-1}}…
Lucas
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Finding the sum of an infinite series.

Question: If $$x = \frac{7}{4\times 1\times 2} + \frac{10}{4^2\times 2\times 3} + \frac{13}{4^3\times 3\times 4} +\dots $$ then find the value of $x$. I managed to find the $n^\text{th}$ term as $$t_n = \frac{\frac{4}{n} -…
Gun
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Are bounded sequences always strictly less than some fixed number $M$?

Definition: A sequence $(x_n)$ is bounded if there exists a number $M \gt 0$ such that $ \left| x_{n} \right| \leq M$ for all $n \in \mathbb{N}$. Question: Is there any reason why one can't replace $ \left| x_{n} \right| \leq M$ with the…
ghshtalt
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Not understanding sequences question from 2020 Miklos Schweitzer Competition

The Hungarian Miklos Schweitzer 2020 competition just ended and while they do post the problems in English they haven't done so for the 2020 one yet. I got an unofficial English translation online but the first question is confusing me and I'm not…
layabout
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Truncating $p$-series

Let $p \in \mathbb{R}$. Series of the form $$S_p = \sum_{k \in \mathbb{N^*}} \frac{1}{k^p}$$ converge if and only if $p > 1$. Let us define $$S_{p, n} \triangleq \sum_{k = 1}^{n} \frac{1}{k^p},$$ the truncation of the $p$-series at its $n$-th term.…
Luke
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Find the nature of $\sum_{n = 1}^\infty \frac{1}{e \cdot \sqrt{e} \cdot \sqrt[3]{e} \cdots \sqrt[n]{e}}$

I need to find whether the following series converges or diverges: $$\sum_{n = 1}^\infty \frac{1}{e \cdot \sqrt{e} \cdot \sqrt[3]{e} \cdots \sqrt[n]{e}}$$ It seems to diverge, so I tried to use Bertrand's Test, but this involves computing the…
gareth618
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Evaluate the infinite series $\sum_{r=1}^{\infty} \frac{2^{-r}}{r^{2}}$

My teacher posed an infinite series question to me today and I'm not quite sure how to start to go about it. $$\sum_{r=1}^{\infty} \dfrac{2^{-r}}{r^{2}}$$ Any hints would be much appreciated.
TI82
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