INFINITE SEQUENCES AND SERIES OF REAL NUMBERS

SEQUENCES

Definition 1

Definition 2

i.e A function a : N   .

Notation

We usually write a n instead of the function notation f (n) for the value of the function at the
number n.

The sequence { a1 , a2 , a3 , } is also denoted by { an } or { a n }n  1 .

Examples:

1. The following are three ways of denoting the same sequence:

{ an } an { a1 , a2 , a3 , }
1

4 1 1 1
{1, , , ,, }
2 3 4

5 ( 1) n  1
n

Example 2
SOLUTION:
“GRAPH” OF A SEQUENCE

n
A sequence such as a n  can pictured either by:
n 1

1) Plotting its terms on a number lines as figure below shows:

(figre 1)

2) Its graph (since it’s a function whose domain is the set of positive integers;
consists of isolated points with coordinates
(1, a1 ), (2, a2 ), (3, a3 ), (4, a4 ), , (n, an ), 
Some exercises:
HINTS:
 Limit of a sequence, Convergence and Divergence
1) Plotting its terms on a number lines as figure below shows:

(figre 1)

2) Its graph (since it’s a function whose domain is the set of positive integers;
consists of isolated points with coordinates
(1, a1 ), (2, a2 ), (3, a3 ), (4, a4 ), , (n, an ), 
calculus.