Methodology

There are four sequences given together with different values of n.

The values of n is substituted into the general terms given. The trend is
observed. The focus here is to see whether as n increase, the sequences
increase or decrease or approach a limit. If the sequence increased or
decreased, the sequence is called a divergent sequence. If the sequence
approached a limit , the sequence is called a convergent sequence.

On the other hand, each sequence is represented by using a graph.

From the graph, deduction is done to find out nlim
→∞
an . If the graph

increased as n increased, lim an=∞ . If the graph decreased as n

n →∞

increased, lim an=−∞ . If the graph approached k as n increased,

n →∞

lim an=k. k is called the limit of the sequence. The sequence { an } is

n →∞

convergent if the limit existed.

−1 n
The sequence ( )
an ={2+
2
} is represented on a graph paper after a
tabulation is made. A table with n values, n=1, 2, ….. , 8 are used. The
corresponding an is calculated.

1
A recursive sequence an +1= (an +8)
2 is given. a1=2 is used to
find a2 . a2 is used to find a3 . a3
is used to find a4 and so on .
The trend is observed and the limit is written down.

A rational sequence is then suggested. A table with n=5, 10, 20,

100, 200, 400, 500, 600, 700, and 800 is constructed. The corresponding
sequence is calculated and the table is filled up with those values. A
graph of an against n is then plotted. The trend is observed. The test on
the convergence of the rational sequence is carried out. The process is
repeated for an exponential sequence. The process is basically the except
a table with n= 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are used.