3.

INFINITE SEQUENCES
3.1 Definition, Graphs and Limit of Sequences
 Definition of a sequence
 Informally- an unending succession of numbers.
Example
1) 1,2,3,4,… 2) 1,1/2,1/3,1/4,…

3) 2,4,6,8,… 4) 1,-1,1,-1,…
The numbers in a sequence are called the terms of the
sequence ---described according to the positions they occupy.
2, 4, 6, 8,……, 2n… Bracket notation:
 2n n 1
First term, a1 second term, a2 the n-th term, an
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 Examples
1. List the first five terms of the sequence 2 
n 
n 1
Solution
The first five terms of the sequence are:
21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 or equivalent to 2 , 4 , 8 , 16 , 32
2. Express the following sequences in bracket notation.

a) 1 2 3 4
, , , ,...
2 3 4 5
Solution 1 2 3 4 n
, , , ,...... ...
2 3 4 5 n 1
a1 a2 an 
 n 
Thus, the sequence can be written as  
 n  1 n 1 2
 b) 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ,......(1) n 1 n
...
2 3 4 5 n 1
a1 an
a2

 n 1 n 
Thus, the sequence can be written as ( 1) 
 n  1 n 1

 Formally
A sequence or infinite sequence is a function
whose domain is the set of positive integers;
that is,
a 
n n 1 is an alternative notation for the function
f(n) =an, n=1,2,3,…
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  Graphs of sequences
Because sequences are functions, we may inquire
about graph of a sequence.
Examples
Sketch
1. 1 / n 
n 1

Solution
1 / n 
n 1 is a function of
f(n)
f ( n)  y  1 / n , n  1,2,3,...
*
1
y  1 / n , n  1,2,3,...
*
1/2
* *
n
1 2 3 4 4
What is the difference between y=1/x, x>=1?

1
y  1 / x, x  1
-- a continuous curve

1 4

5
 Limit of a sequence

y  L
* * * * *
L
y  L 
*
*
* *
* *

1 2 3 4 … N From this point on,

the terms in the sequence
 Informal Definition are all within  units of L

A sequence  a n  converges to a limit L if there

is a point in the sequence after which all terms in
the sequence lie within  units of L ( the terms in
the sequence eventually become arbitrarily close
to L). 6
Formal Definition
A sequence  a n  is said to converge to the limit L
if given any   0, there is a positive integer N
such that a n  L   for n  N . In this case we write
lim an  L
n 

A sequence that does not converge to some finite

limit is said to diverge.

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Properties of limits apply to sequences.
Theorem
Suppose that the sequence {an} and {bn} converge to
to limits L1 and L2 respectively, and c is a constant.
Then
a) lim c  c
n 
b) lim can  c lim an  cL1
n  n 
c) lim ( an  bn )  lim an  lim bn  L1  L2
n  n  n 
d) lim ( an bn )  lim an  lim bn  L1 L2
n  n  n 
e) lim ( an / bn )  lim an / lim bn  L1 / L2 (if L2  0)
n  n  n 
REMARK :
The algebraic techniques used to find limits of the
form lim can also be used for limits of the form lim . 8
x  n 
 Examples
Determine whether the sequence converges or diverges.
If it is converges, find the limit.

1.  n 
 
 2n  1 n 1
Solution
n n/n
lim  lim
n  2n  1 n  2n / n  1 / n

1 1
 lim 
n  2  1 / n 2
Thus, the sequence converges to 1/2.

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 
 n 
2.   1
n 1

 2n  1 n 1
Solution

 n  - Oscillate between positive and
  1
n 1

 2n  1 n 1 negative values.
Odd-numbered terms identical to (1) has limit of 1/2.
Even-numbered terms has limit of -1/2.
Thus, the sequence has no limit– it diverges.

 n 1 1 
  1
3.

 n  n 1
Solution
 - Oscillate between positive and
 n 1 1 
  1  negative values. 10
 n  n 1
 1
Since: lim  0 then,
n  n

Odd-numbered terms approaching 0 through positive value.

Even-numbered terms approaching 0 through negative value.
Thus
n 1 1
lim ( 1) 0
n  n
Thus, the sequence converges to 0.
4. 8  2n 
n 1

Solution
lim (8  2n)   Thus, the sequence diverges.
n 

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 
5. n
 n
 e  n 1
Solution
n
lim n - -indeterminate form of type /
n  e
n x
n
and x are the same when x is a positive integer and
e e x 1
lim x  lim x  0
x  e x  e
n
So lim n  0 - - converges
n  e

Theorem
A sequence converges to a limit L if and only if the
sequences of even-numbered terms and odd-numbered
terms both converge to L. 12
 Examples

1. The sequence 1 1 1 1 1 1
, , 2 , 2 , 3 , 3 ,...
2 3 2 3 2 3
converges to 0 since both
the odd-numbered terms: 1 1 1
, 2 , 3 , ,... converges to 0.
2 2 2
the even-numbered terms: 1 , 1 , 1 , ,... also converges to 0.
3 32 33
2. The sequence 1, 1 ,1, 1 ,1, 1 ,...
diverges since
2 3 4
the odd-numbered terms converge to 1 and
the even-numbered terms converge to 0
(different value).
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 More Examples
Prove that
4n  4
1. lim 4
n  n
Solution

Let   0. Need to find an integer N such that

4n  4
if n  N, then 4 
n
4n  4 4 4
but 4  
n n n
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Calculation that you need to do aside
4 1 1
Want   . Know n  N Hence 
n n N
4 4 4 4
  N 
n N N 
Choose an integer N  4/ . Then 4/N   .
Then if n  N, then 1/n  1/N and
4/n  4/N and
4n  4 4 4
4   
n n N
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2. 2 n
lim 2
n  n 1
Solution

Let   0. Need to find an integer N such that

2 n
if n  N, then 2 
n 1
2 n 2 2 2
but 2   
n 1 n 1 n 1 n

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 Calculation that you need to do aside
2
We want 
n
Know n  N Hence n N
1 1 2 2
 
n N n N
2 2 2
Since we want   but 
n n N
2 2 4
 N  N 2
N  
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Choose an integer N  4/ . Then 4/N   .
2 2

Then 2/ N   .
1 1
Then if n  N, then  and
n N
2 2
 and
n N
2 n 2 2
n 1
2 
n
  .
N
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 Limit Theorems
1. Uniqueness of Limit
If lim an  L and lim an  M ,
n  n 

then L  M
2. The Pinching (Squezzing/Sandwich) Theorem For
Sequences
Suppose that for all n greater than some integer N,
a n  bn  cn
If a n  L and cn  L, then bn  L
3. Corollary (Immediate consequence of the pinching thm).
Suppose that for all n greater than some integer N,
bn  cn
If cn  0, then bn  0 19
 Example
cosn
0
n
cos n 1 1
sin ce  and  0
n n n
4. The Continuous Function Theorem For Sequences
Suppose that cn  c
and all the cn are in the domain of f .
If f is continuous at c, then
f (cn )  f (c )

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 Examples
1. Since /n  0 and
the cosine function is continuous at 0,
have cos(/n)  cos(0)  1
n 1
2. Since   1 and
n  1 1  1/n
the logarithm function is continuous at 1,
 n 
have ln   ln 1  0
 n 1 

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