Infinite Sequences

Department of Mathematics,
DSU

September 18, 2015

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Sequences September 18, 2015 1 / 21

Sequences

Definition
A sequence is a list of numbers written in a definite order:

{a1 , a2 , . . . , an , an+1 , . . . , }

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Representation of Sequences

There is a variety of ways of denoting a sequence. The following are

equivalent ways of denoting a sequence.

{a1 , a2 , . . . , an , . . .}, {an }, {an }

n=1

Each of a1 , a2 , a3 , . . . and so on represents a number. These are the terms

of the sequence.

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Sequences September 18, 2015 3 / 21

Representation of Sequences

For example, the sequence {2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, ..., 2n, ...} has first term
a1 = 2, second term a2 = 4, and nth term an = 2n. an denotes the general
term of the sequence The integer n is called the index of an , and indicates
where an occurs in the list. Order is important. The sequence
{2, 4, 6, 8...} is not the same as the sequence {4, 2, 6, 8....}

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Sequences September 18, 2015 4 / 21

Sequences

Remark
Here are some general facts about sequences:
1. Order of the terms matter, sequence {1, 2, 3} is not same as sequence
{3, 2, 1}.
2. Sequence may have repeated elements.
3. Sequence may have infinite or finite elements.

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Sequences September 18, 2015 5 / 21

Infinite Sequences

We can think of the sequence as a function that sends 1 to a1 , 2 to a2 , 3

to a3 , and in general sends the positive integer n to the nth term an .
Generally speaking, a sequence containing an infinite number of terms is
called as infinite sequence. Mathematically
Definition
An infinite sequence is a function with domain as the set of positive
integers.

EXAMPLE:
{bn } = {1, 2, 3, ...} is an infinite sequence.

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Sequences general formula

EXAMPLE:
The function associated with the sequence {2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, ..., 2n, ...}
sends 1 to al = 2, 2 to a2 = 4, and so on. The general behavior of this
sequence is described by the formula an = 2n.

EXERCISE:
Find a formula for the nth term of the sequence.

1 {a } = { 1, 2, 3, . . . , }.
n
2 {an } = {1, 12 , 13 , 14 , . . . , }

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Sequences September 18, 2015 7 / 21

Recursive definition

In a recursive formula, each term of the sequence is defined as a function

of its preceding term(s).
A recursive formula designates the starting term, a1 , and the n-th term of
the sequence, an is an expression containing the previous terms (the terms
before it).
EXAMPLE:
Find the recursive formula associated with the sequence
{0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, ...}.
The sequence {0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, ...} is a famous sequence
called the Fibonacci sequence. After the first two terms, each term is the
sum of the previous two terms.
The recursive formula for the Fibonacci sequence is a1 = 0; a2 = 1;
an = an1 + an2

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Sequences September 18, 2015 8 / 21

Limit of a sequence

Given a sequence {an }, one of the questions we try to answer is: what is
the behavior of an as n ? Is an getting closer and closer to a number?
In other words, we want to find lim an . Sometimes the numbers in a
n
sequence approach a single value as the index n increases. This happens in
the sequence {1, 12 , 31 , 14 , . . .} whose terms approach 0 as n gets large.

EXAMPLE:
To which number the sequence {0, 21 , 32 , 34 , . . .} approaching as n is getting
larger and larger.

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Sequences September 18, 2015 9 / 21

Limit of a sequence

Definition
(Limit of a Sequence) A sequence {an } converges to a number L as n goes
to if an can be made as close as one wants to L, simply by taking n
large enough. In this case, we write lim an = L. If L is a finite number,
n
we say that {an } converges. Otherwise, it diverges. Sometimes, we will
make the distinction between diverges to infinity and simply diverges. In
the first case, we still know what the sequence is doing, it is getting large
without bounds.

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Convergence of a sequence: - concept

Definition
(- concept) The sequence {an } converges to the number L if for every
positive number  there corresponds an integer N such that for all n,

n > N = |an L| < .

If no such number L exists, we say that {an } diverges. If {an } converges

to L, we write lim an = L, and call L the limit of the sequence.
n

EXAMPLE:
1
Show that lim =0
n n

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Divergence of a sequence

Definition
The sequence {an } diverges to infinity if for every number M there is an
integer N such that for all n > N, an > M. If this condition holds we write

lim an =
n

Similarly if for every number m there is an integer N such that for all
n > N we have an < m, then we say {an } diverges to negative infinity and
write
lim an =
n

A sequence may diverge without diverging to infinity or negative infinity.

The sequences {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, ...} and {1, 0, 2, 0, 3, 0, ...} are
examples of such divergence.

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Calculating limits of sequences
Theorem
Let {an } and {bn } be sequences of real numbers, and let A and B be real
numbers. The following rules hold if lim an = A and lim bn = B. Then
n n
1. Sum Rule:
lim (an + bn ) = A + B
n

2. Difference Rule:
lim (an bn ) = A B
n

3. Constant Multiple Rule:

lim (k an ) = k A
n

4. Product Rule:
lim (an bn ) = A B
n

5. Quotient Rule:
an A
lim = , if B 6= 0
Department of Mathematics, DSU n bInfinite
n B
Sequences September 18, 2015 13 / 21
QUESTION:
Does each of the sequences {an } and {bn } have limits if their sum
{an + bn } has a limit.

Remark
Every nonzero multiple of a divergent sequence {an } diverges. If {an } does
not converge, then {can } does not converge.

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The Sandwich Theorem for Sequences

Theorem
(The Sandwich Theorem for Sequences)
Let {an }, {bn } and {cn } be sequences of real numbers. If an cn bn
holds for all n beyond some index N and if lim an = lim cn = L then
n n
lim bn = L also.
n

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The Sandwich Theorem for Sequences

EXAMPLE:
cos n
Show that lim =0
n n
Since
1 cos n 1
1 cos n 1
=
n n n
and
1 1
lim
= lim =0
n n n n
cos n
By sandwich theorem lim =0
n n

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The Continuous Theorem for Sequences

Theorem
(The Continuous Theorem for Sequences)
Let {an } be a sequence of real numbers. If an L and if f is a function
that is continuous at L and defined at all an then f (an ) f (L).

EXERCISE:
Show that the sequence {21/n } converges to 1.

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Bounded Monotonic Sequences

Definition
A sequence {an } is bounded from above if there exists a number M such
that an M for all n. The number M is an upper bound for {an }. If M is
an upper bound for {an } but no number less than M is an upper bound for
{an }, then M is the least upper bound for {an }.
A sequence {an } is bounded from below if there exists a number m such
that an m for all n. The number m is a lower bound for {an } . If m is a
lower bound for {an } but no number greater than m is a lower bound for
{an }, then m is the greatest lower bound for {an }.
If {an } is bounded from above and below, then {an } is bounded. If {an } is
not bounded, then we say that {an } is an unbounded sequence

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Sequences September 18, 2015 18 / 21

Definition
A sequence {an } is non decreasing if an an+1 for all n. The sequence is
non increasing if an an+1 for all n. The sequence {an } is monotonic if it
is either non decreasing or non increasing.

EXERCISE:
Determine if the sequence is monotonic and if it is bounded.

1 {a } = { 1, 2, 3, . . . , }.
n
2 {an } = {1, 12 , 13 , 14 , . . . , }
3 {an } = {1, 12 , 13 , 41 , . . . , }
4 {an } = { 3n+1
n+1 }

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Sequences September 18, 2015 19 / 21

Definition
A sequence {an } is non decreasing if an an+1 for all n. The sequence is
non increasing if an an+1 for all n. The sequence {an } is monotonic if it
is either non decreasing or non increasing.

EXERCISE:
Determine if the sequence is monotonic and if it is bounded.

1 {a } = { 1, 2, 3, . . . , }.
n
2 {an } = {1, 12 , 13 , 14 , . . . , }
3 {an } = {1, 12 , 13 , 41 , . . . , }
4 {an } = { 3n+1
n+1 }

Department of Mathematics, DSU Infinite Sequences September 18, 2015 19 / 21

Theorem
(The Monotonic Sequence Theorem)
If a sequence {an } is both bounded and monotonic, then the sequence
converges .

QUESTION:
Is every convergent sequence monotonic.

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Further Reading and Problems

READING ASSIGNMENT: Section 8.1 and 8.2 of Chapter 8 Infinite

Series from Thomas Finney Calculus , 9th edition.
Refer Infinite Sequences Reading Material 1.pdf and Infinite Sequences
Reading Material 2.pdf on doodle.
PRACTICE PROBLEMS: Infinite sequence exercices .pdf

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