Lesson 1a

SEQUENCE

MAPUA UNIVERSITY
 SEQUENCE
Definition of a Sequence  

An infinite sequence, or more simply a sequence, is an unending

succession of numbers, called terms. It is understood that the terms
have a definite order.
It is typically written as
where: is the first term
is the second term,
is the third term, and so on and so forth.

Examples: 1, 2, 3, 4, . . . , 1, ½, 1/3, ¼, . . . ,
2, 4, 6, 8, . . . , 1, -1, 1, -1, . . . ,
 EXAMPLE

Each of these sequences has a definite   pattern known as rule or

formula or general term that make it easy to generate additional
terms.
Example:
a) 2, 4, 6, 8, . . . is a sequence having the rule or general formula 2n
since each term is twice the term number.
b) 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, . . . is a sequence having the general term

Example 1: In each part, find the general term of the sequence.

a) ½, ¼, 1/8, 1/16, . . .
b) ½, 2/3, ¾, 4/5, . . .
 EXAMPLE

Finding the General Term of the  Sequence

Answer to Example 1.
a) ½, ¼, 1/8, 1/16, . . . , , . . .
Solution:
Observe the denominators given in the sequence. It can
be expressed as powers of 2 where their term numbers, 1st
term = 2, 2nd term = 22 = 4, 3rd term = 23 = 8, etc., is the same
as the exponents. This suggests that the denominator of the
general term is
 SEQUENCE

 
b) ½, 2/3, ¾, 4/5, . . . , . . .
Solution:
You may notice that the numerator of the four known
terms is the same as their term numbers ( say 1st term = 1,
2nd term = 2, 3rd term = 3, and 4th term = 4) and their
denominators is one greater than their term numbers.
Thus, if we let n be the numerator and n + 1 be the
denominator, the sequence can be expressed as .
 EXERCISES

Exercise 1  
In each part, find the general term of the sequence, starting
with n =1.
a)
b)
c)
 SEQUENCE

When the general term of a sequence

 
, (1)

is known, there is no need to write out the initial terms and it

is common to write only the general term enclosed in braces.

Thus (1) might be written as

or

A sequence is a function whose domain is a set of integers

 LIMIT OF A SEQUENCE

Limit of a Sequence  
Since sequence are functions, it has also limits.
• A sequence whose terms approach limiting values are said to
converge.
• A sequence that does not converge to some finite limit is said to
diverge.
Example 1. Evaluate
Solution: (indeterminate)
transforming the given function by dividing the numerator and
denominator by n, the results are:
.
Thus converge
 EXAMPLE

2. Evaluate: )  
Solution:
) = (diverges)

3. Determine whether the sequence, onverge.

Solution:
onverges
 EXAMPLE

 
4. Determine whether the sequence
onverge.
Solution:
diverge
 EXERCISES

Evaluate the limit of the following

  sequence:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
 EXERCISES

Write out the first five terms  of the sequence, determine

whether the sequence converges, and if so find its limit.

1.

2.

3.

4.
 MONOTONE SEQUENCE

Monotone Sequence  
 A sequence is called

- strictly increasing if
- increasing if
- strictly decreasing if
- decreasing if
A sequence that is either increasing or decreasing is said to
be monotone, and a sequence that is either strictly increasing
or strictly decreasing is said to be strictly monotone.
 EXAMPLE
 
SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION

1. , ,…, Strictly increasing

2. 1, ,…, Strictly decreasing

3. 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3,… Increasing: not strictly increasing

4. 1, 1, ,, ,… Decreasing: not strictly decreasing

5. 1, ,…, Neither increasing nor decreasing

EXAMPLE
TESTING FOR MONOTONICITY
 EXAMPLE

Examples:  
Determine if the following sequence is monotone or strictly monotone.
1.
Solution: Begin by letting
Then assign n = 1, 2, 3 in the given sequence, to get the first
three term and observe the obtained values.

If n = 1, If n = 2, ; If n = 3,

Since s strictly increasing. Then the sequence is strictly monotone.

 EXAMPLE
2.  
Solution: let
By assigning n = 1, 2, and 3 in the given sequence,
the values obtained are: ;

Since s strictly decreasing.

Then the sequence is strictly monotone.
 EXAMPLE
3. Use the difference o show  that the
is strictly increasing or strictly decreasing.
Solution:
;

which proves that the sequence is

strictly decreasing.
 EXAMPLE
4. Use the ratio to show that the given sequence is strictly
increasing or strictly decreasing.
Solution:

Forming the ratio of successive terms we obtain

From which we see that This proves that the sequence is strictly
increasing.
 EXERCISES
Determine if the following sequence
  is monotone or strictly
monotone.
1.
2.
3.
4.
 CONVERGENCE OF MONOTONE SEQUENCE

Theorems 9.2.3 and 9.2.4 (p. 611)

Theorems 9.2.3 and 9.2.4 (p. 611)

 EXAMPLE
Show that the sequence is eventually
  strictly decreasing.
Solution:
and
=

, so the sequence is eventually decreasing as confirmed by the

graph.
EXAMPLE