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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Find if $\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{(-1)^n}{n(2+(-1)^n)}$ converges

Find if the following series is convergent or divergent, justify. $$\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{(-1)^n}{n(2+(-1)^n)}$$ My first idea was to use absolute convergence to get rid of both $(-1)^n$, take $1/2$ out to be left with the harmonic series but I…
Thamoo
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Deriving $e^{ix} = 1 + ix + \frac{(ix)^2}{2!}+...$

I know how to prove equation: $$e = \lim \limits_{x \rightarrow \infty} \left( 1 + \frac{1}{x} \right)^x$$ How can I now derive the series: $$e^{ix} = 1 + ix + \frac{(ix)^2}{2!}+\frac{(ix)^3}{3!}+...$$ Those two seem very similar to me...
71GA
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determining the common difference of an arithmetic sequence and common ratio of a geometric sequence with related terms

Coming from a finance guy, I understand how AP and GP work. However, I came upon a problem that combines the two and was stuck. Here it goes. Given first term of AP and GP$=4$, and common ratio of GP is $8$ less than common difference of AP. The…
oli
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Subseries of harmonic series

It is well known that harmonic series $$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{n}$$ diverges but in 1985 G. H. Behforooz proved that if we remove terms that have denominator that ends with $9$ series converges. To which constant does that series converge? What…
Adi Dani
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Find z/x if $x, y, z$ are positive integers with $x > z, (x, 2y, z)$ is an arithmetic progression, and $(x, y, z)$ is a geometric progression

$x$, $y$, and $z$ are three positive integers, with $x > z$. $(x, 2y, z)$ is an arithmetic progression $(x, y, z)$ is a geometric progression. Find the value of $z/x$. I mapped $(x, 2y, z)$ to $(a, a + d, a + 2d)$ and $(x, y, z)$ to $(a, ar,…
Gen Tan
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How to evaluate $1+\frac{2^2}{3!}+\frac{3^2}{5!}+\frac{4^2}{7!}+\cdots$?

I learnt that $\displaystyle \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{n+1}{(2n+1)!} = \frac{e}{2}$. I am wondering what the closed form for $\displaystyle \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{(n+1)^2}{(2n+1)!}$ is. I tried using the fact that $ 1+3+5+\cdots+(2n-1) = n^2$,…
Larry
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Trigonometric Series

How to show that $$ \sum_{k=1}^{\infty} {\arctan{(1/k^2)}} $$ converges? I would prefer to avoid the integral test. Can I find a more notorious convergent series that limit mine from above?
MadHatter
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Arithmetic sequence problem $\frac{x+4}{x-3},\frac{x+6}{2},\frac{4}{x-2}$

Choose such x that the following $$\frac{x+4}{x-3},\frac{x+6}{2},\frac{4}{x-2}$$ forms finite arithmetical sequence. If I use the equation: $$2a_2=a_3+a_1$$ I always get the wrong answer.
VLC
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How can we use sequence $x_{n+1}=3-\frac{1}{x_n}$ , when $x_1=1 $ to evaluate $\sqrt5$?

How can we use the sequence $x_{n+1}=3-\frac{1}{x_n}$ , when $x_1=1, $ to evaluate $\sqrt5$ ? What I tried: $x_1=1$ $x_2=2$ $x_3=2.5$ by excel spreadsheet I was able to get the converging value as $2.618033989$ How can I use this to evaluate…
emil
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If $\sum a_n$ converges then $\sum a_n^{1-1/n}$ converges.

Let $a_n$ be a sequence of positive reals such that $\sum_1^\infty a_n$ is finite then show that $\sum_1^\infty a_n^{1-\frac{1}{n}}$ is also finite. N.B Is this statement true? I tried to use the limit comparison test but it's inconclusive. The…
mudok
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Finding the common ratio in an infinite geometric sequence.

The first three terms of an infinite geometric sequence are $m - 1$, $6$, $m + 4$, where $m\in\Bbb{Z}$ Write down an expression for the common ratio, $r$. Do I divide the second term by the first term to get my answer? Edit: I just realized…
Ella
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Can growth ratio between convergent & divergent series be arbitrarily small?

Given any increasing positive sequence $\{a_n\}$ diverging to infinity, is it possible to construct a non-negative sequence $\{b_n\}$ so that $\{b_n\}$ is summable but $\{a_n b_n\}$ is not? In other words, can we construct two series with…
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Kolakoski sequence collapse

Look on wikipedia for more information on the Kolakoski sequence if you're unfamiliar with it. The Kolakoski sequence is supposed to be a fractal because you can get the same sequence by taking the length of each "run" in the sequence. I was in sage…
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Is The Infinite Nested Radical $\sqrt{1+\sqrt{x+\sqrt{x^2+\sqrt{x^3+...}}}}$ Analytical?

I first started thinking about this problem a while back and being reminded of the famous representation of the golden ratio which includes an infinite nested radical like this one except $x$ is simply 1. I then wondered if any other well defined…
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Sum of infinite series $ {1+ \frac{2}{6} + \frac{2\cdot5}{6\cdot12} + \frac{2\cdot5\cdot8}{6\cdot12\cdot18} + \cdots}$.

Prove that $1+ \frac{2}{6} + \frac{2\cdot5}{6\cdot12} + \frac{2\cdot5\cdot8}{6\cdot12\cdot18} +\cdots=4^{\frac13}$ I tried it in the backward method... I rewrote $4^{\frac13}$ in this way... $(1+3)^{\frac13}$ and expanded it in the binomial…