Lesson 1a

SEQUENCE
 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. Itis 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.
Examples:
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)
 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 (converges)
 EXAMPLE

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

3. Determine whether the sequence, onverge.

Solution:
onverges)
 EXAMPLE

4. Determine whether the sequence

onverge.
Solution:
(diverges)
 EXERCISES

Evaluate the limit of the following sequence:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
 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.
 EXAMPLE
5. Show that the sequence is eventually strictly decreasing.
Solution:
and
=

, so the sequence is eventually decreasing as confirmed by the

graph.
EXAMPLE
 EXERCISES
Determine if the following sequence is monotone or strictly
monotone.
1.
2.
3.
4.
 BOUNDED SEQUENCE

A sequence is bounded above if there is some number N

such that ≤ N for every n, and bounded below if there is
some number N such that ≥ N for every n. If a sequence
is bounded above and bounded below it is bounded. If a
sequence is increasing or non-decreasing it is bounded
below (by ), and if it is decreasing or nonincreasing it is
bounded above (by ).
 BOUNDED SEQUENCE

Theorems 9.2.3 and 9.2.4 (p. 611)

Theorems 9.2.3 and 9.2.4 (p. 611)

 EXAMPLES
Determine whether or not the sequence is bounded.
1.
Solution: let
Generating some terms in the sequence
n = 1, = 1 bounded above since
n = 2, = ½
n = 3, = 1/3
bounded below since
Therefore the sequence is bounded.
 EXAMPLES
Determine whether or not the sequence is bounded.
2.
Solution: let
Generating some terms in the sequence
n = 1, = -1 n = 2, = 2
n = 3, = -3 n = 4, = 4
n = 5, = -5 n = 6, = 6
The terms in the sequence are alternating in signs, the positive
terms increasing without bound and the negative terms decreasing
without bound,
Therefore the sequence is not bounded.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbNE_beWlhU
 EXAMPLES
Determine whether or not the sequence is bounded.
3.
Solution: let
Generating some terms in the sequence
n = 1, bounded below since
n = 2, = 1/10
n = 3, = 3/13
bounded above since
Therefore, the sequence is bounded

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbNE_beWlhU