Sequences

Math 55 - Elementray Analysis III

Institute of Mathematics
University of the Philippines
Diliman

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Sequences

A sequence can be thought of as an ordered list of numbers:

a1 , a2 , a3 , a4 , . . . , an , . . .
Every member of the list is called a term of the sequence. In
particular, a1 is called the first term or in general, an is called
the nth term.
We will be dealing with infinite sequences, i.e., sequences with
infinite number of terms.

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Definition and Notation

Definition
An infinite sequence, or simply a sequence is a function f
whose domain is the set of natural numbers N.
Notations:
1

We usually denote by an the value of the function at n N,

instead of the function notation f (n).

The sequence {a1 , a2 , . . .} is usually denoted by {an } or

{an }
n=1

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Sequences
Example

Write out the first few terms of the sequence

n+1
n2


.
n=1

Solution. For n = 1, 2, 3, 4, . . .,
1+1
a1 =
=2
12
2+1
3
a2 =
=
2
2
4
3+1
4
a3 =
=
32
9
4+1
5
a4 =
=
2
4
16
..
.

 

n+1
3 4 5
Hence,
= 2, , , , . . .
n2
4 9 16
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Sequences
Example
Find
a formula for the general
term of the sequence


3
6 9
12
, ,
,
, . . . assuming that the pattern of the first
5 25 125 625
few terms continues.
Solution. We are given that
6
9
3
,
a1 = , a2 = , a3 =
5
25
125

RR
R

a4 =

12
625

Notice that the numerators are multiples of 3, hence 3n.

The denominators are powers of 5, hence 5n .

The terms are alternating posive and negative so we

multiply by (1)n+1 since the first term is positive.

 

3
6 9
12
n+1 3n
Hence,
, ,
,
, . . . = (1)
5 25 125 625
5n
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Limit of a Sequence

Definition
A sequence {an } has the limit L and we write
lim an = L

if for every  > 0 there is a corresponding integer N such that if

n > N , then |an L| < .

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Limit of a Sequence

...or equivalently,
Definition
The limit of a sequence {an } is the number L, denoted
lim an = L

n+

if we can make an as close to L as we like by taking n

sufficiently large. In this case, the sequence is said to be
convergent. Otherwise, the sequence is said to be divergent.

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Convergent/Divergent Sequence

Plotting the sequence


n+1
:
n2

a1

2
1

a2
a3

a4

a5 a6

a7

a8

a9

a10 a11 a12 a13 a14 a15

10

11

12

13

14

15

It seems that as n , an 0
x+1
In fact, if we define f (x) =
, then
x2
lim

n+1
= lim f (x) = 0
x
n2

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Convergent/Divergent Sequence

Theorem
If f is a function that is continuous on [1, +) such that
f (n) = an , for all n N, then
lim an = lim f (x)

n+

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Convergent/Divergent Sequence
Example
(
Show that the sequence

en
n2

)
is divergent.

Solution.
2

lim an

en
= lim 2
n n
2
2nen
= lim
n 2n
2
= lim en

form:

by LHospitals rule

=

Hence,

en
n


is divergent.
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Convergent/Divergent Sequence
Example

Determine whether the sequence

n!
nn


converges or diverges.

Solution. Note that as n , both the numerator and

denominator approaches but n! is not defined for n
/ N so
LHospitals Rule cannot be applied!
We can write an as


n!
1 2 3n
1 2 3n
an = n =
=
.
n
n n nn
n n nn
2 3n
1
1 and hence 0 < an .
Notice that
n nn
n
1
Since 0 as n , an 0 by Squeeze Theorem and
n
therefore the sequence is convergent.
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Monotone Sequences

Definition
A sequence {an } is said to be
(i) increasing if an+1 an .
(ii) decreasing if an+1 an .
(iii) monotone if it is either increasing or decreasing.
For example, the sequence


2
2
2
1
>
= an+1
is decreasing because an =
n+1
n+1
n+2
 2n 


e
d e2x
2xe2x (x 1)
2
is
increasing
since
=
0
n2
dx x2
x4
for x > 1.

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Bounded Sequences
Definition
A sequence {an } is said to be
(i) bounded above if there exist M R such that an M
for all n 1.
(ii) bounded below if there exist m R such that m an for
all n 1.
(iii) bounded if it is bounded above and below.
Remark. An increasing sequence is bounded below by a1 and a
decreasing sequence is bounded above by a1 .
For example, the sequence
 2
1
n is bounded below since an > 0 but not bounded
above.


n+1
2
is bounded since an > 0 (bounded below) and it
n2
is decreasing (bounded above).
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Monotone Convergence Theorem

Theorem
Every bounded monotone sequence is convergent.
Proof See Calculus, Early Transcendentals, 6ed, J. Stewart, p.
683


n+1
For example, we have seen that the sequence
is
n2
bounded. From the graph, we see that it is decreasing. Thus,
the said sequence is convergent.

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Monotone Convergence Theorem

Example

Show that the sequence

Solution. Let an =
an+1 an =
=

2n
n!


is convergent.

2n
. Then
n!
2n
2n+1 2n (n + 1)
2n+1

=
(n + 1)!
n!
(n + 1)!
n
2 (1 n)
0 for all n .
(n + 1)!

Hence an an+1 so the sequence is decreasing. Therefore, it is

bounded above (by a1 = 2). Also, an > 0 so the sequence is
bounded below, and hence bounded.
By the Monotone Convergence Theorem, the sequence is
convergent.
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Exercises
Determine whether the sequence converges or diverges. If it is
convergent, find its limit.
 n o
n
1
cos
3 

3 + 5n2
2
n + n2
 2 
cos n
3
2n


(2n 1)!
4
(2n + 1)!
5 {ln(n + 1) ln n}


1 3 5 (2n 1)
6
(2n)n

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References

Stewart, J., Calculus, Early Transcendentals, 6 ed., Thomson

Brooks/Cole, 2008

Dawkins, P., Calculus 3, online notes available at

http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/

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