Sequences

Sequences represent ordered lists of

elements.

A sequence is defined as a function from a

subset of N to a set S. We use the notation an

to denote the image of the integer n. We call
an a term of the sequence.
Example:
subset of N:

S:

1 2 3 4 5
2 4 6 8 10
CMSC 203 - Discrete Structures

Fall 2002

Sequences
We use the notation {an} to describe a

sequence.
Important: Do not confuse this with the {}

used in set notation.

It is convenient to describe a sequence with

a formula.
For example, the sequence on the previous

slide can be specified as {an}, where an = 2n.

CMSC 203 - Discrete Structures

Fall 2002

The Formula Game

What are the formulas that describe the
following sequences a1, a2, a3, ?
an = 2n - 1

1, 3, 5, 7, 9,

-1, 1, -1, 1, -1,

an = (-1)n

2, 5, 10, 17, 26,

an = n2 + 1

0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25 an = 0.25n

3, 9, 27, 81, 243,

an = 3n

CMSC 203 - Discrete Structures

Fall 2002

Strings
Finite sequences are also called strings,

denoted by a1a2a3an.
The length of a string S is the number of

terms that it consists of.

The empty string contains no terms at all.

It has length zero.

CMSC 203 - Discrete Structures

Fall 2002

Recurrence
Relations
Can you predict the next term of the sequence
3, 5, 7, 9, . . . ?
11
The formula continues by adding 2 to each term.
The formula that generates the sequence is then

u1 3 ;

u n 1 u n 2

n 1 u 2 u1 2
n 2 u3 u2 2

u2 3 2 5

u3 5 2 7

etc.

Recurrence Relations
A formula such asu n 1
recurrence relation

un 2

is called a

e.g. 1 Give the 1st term and write down a

recurrence relation for the sequence

1, 4, 16, 64, . . .
Solution:
1st term:
Recurremce relation:

u1 1
u n 1 4 u n

Other letters may be used instead of u and n, so

the formula could, for example, be given as

a k 1 4 a k

Properties of sequences
Convergent sequences approach a certain value
e.g.

1, approaches
1 12 , 1 43 , 1 278 , 1 15
. . .
16
un

Properties of sequences
Convergent sequences approach a certain value
e.g.

1 , . . .
1, approaches
12 , 14 , 180 , 16

un

This convergent sequence also oscillates

Properties of
sequences
Divergent sequences do not
converge
e.g.

2, 4, 6, 8, 10, . . .

un

Properties of
sequences
Divergent
sequences do not
converge
e.g. 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, . . .
un

This divergent sequence also

oscillates

Properties of
sequences
Divergent sequences do not
converge

1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, . . .
un

This divergent sequence is also

periodic

Convergent
Values
It is not always easy to see what value a
sequence converges to. e.g.
10 3u n
u1 1,
u n 1
un
The sequence
11
103
1, 7, ,
, . . .
is
7
11
To find the value that the sequence
converges to we use the fact that
eventually ( at infinity! ) the ( n + 1 ) th term
equals the n th term.
10 3u
Solve
u
let un1 un u
u

u 5

since u 2

Exercises
1. Write out the first 5 terms of the following
sequences and describe the sequence using the
words convergent, divergent, oscillating, periodic
as appropriate
(a)

u1 4
Ans:

(b)
Ans:

and

u n 1 u n 3

4, 1, 2, 5, 8
1
u1 2 and u n 1
un

Divergent

2, 12 , 2, 12 , 2

Divergent Periodic

u1 16 and
u n 1 12 u n
Ans: 16, 8, 4, 2, 1 Convergent Oscillating
2. What value does the sequence given by
u1 2 ,
u n 1 0 3u n 3 converge to? Let u n 1 u n u
30
u 0 3u 3 0 7 u 3 u
7
(c)

General Term of a
Sequence
Some sequences can also be defined by giving
a general term. This general term is usually
called the nth term.
e.g.
2, 4, 6, 8, . . . u n 2n
1
1 1 1
1
1,
,
,
, . . . un
e.g. 2
2 3 4
n
e.g. 3

1, 4, 16, 64, . . . u n ( 4) n1

Summations
What does

a
j m

stand for?

It represents the sum am + am+1 + am+2 + +

an.
The variable j is called the index of

summation, running from its lower limit m

to its upper limit n. We could as well have
used any other letter to denote this index.
CMSC 203 - Discrete Structures

Fall 2002

15

Summations
How can we express the sum of the first 1000
terms of the sequence {an} with an=n2 for
n = 1, 2, 3, ?
We write it as

1000

j 1

j2 .

What is the value of

j
j 1

It is 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6

= 21.
What is the value of

100

j
j 1

It is so much work to calculate this

CMSC 203 - Discrete Structures

Fall 2002

16

Summations
It is said that Friedrich Gauss came up with

the following formula:

n

j 1

n(n 1)
j
2

When you have such a formula, the result of any

summation can be calculated much more easily,
for example:
100

j 1

100(100 1) 10100
j

5050
2
2
CMSC 203 - Discrete Structures

Fall 2002

17

Useful Series
n(n 1)
1. j
2
j 1
( n 1)
n
a
1
j
2. a
(a 1)
j 0
n
n(n 1)(2n 1)
3. j 2
6
j 1
2
2
n
n (n 1)
4. j 3
4
j 1
n

CMSC 203 - Discrete Structures

Fall 2002

18

1, 4, 7, 10, 13
9, 1, 7, 15
6.2, 6.6, 7, 7.4
, 3, 6

35
12
27.2
3 9

Arithmetic Sequences
ADD
To get next term
Arithmetic Series
Sum of Terms

2, 4, 8, 16, 32
9, 3, 1, 1/ 3
1, 1/ 4, 1/16, 1/ 64
, 2.5, 6.25

62
20 / 3
85 / 64
9.75

Geometric Sequences
MULTIPLY
To get next term
Geometric Series
Sum of Terms

Find the next four terms of 9, -2, 5,

Arithmetic Sequence
2 9 5 2 7
7 is referred to as the common difference (d)
Common Difference (d) what we ADD to get next term
Next four terms12, 19, 26, 33

Find the next four terms of 0, 7, 14,

Arithmetic Sequence, d = 7
21, 28, 35, 42
Find the next four terms of x, 2x, 3x,
Arithmetic Sequence, d = x
4x, 5x, 6x, 7x
Find the next four terms of 5k, -k, -7k,
Arithmetic Sequence, d = -6k
-13k, -19k, -25k, -32k

Vocabulary of Sequences (Universal)

a1 First term
an nth term
n number of terms
Sn sum of n terms
d common difference
nth term of arithmetic sequence an a1 n 1 d
n
sum of n terms of arithmetic sequence Sn a1 an
2

Given an arithmetic sequence with a15 38 and d 3, find a1.

x
38
15
NA
-3

a1 First term
an nth term
n number of terms
Sn sum of n terms
d common difference
an a1 n 1 d
38 x 15 1 3

X = 80

Find S63 of 19, 13, 7,...

-19
353 ??
63
x
6

a1 First term
an nth term
n number of terms
Sn sum of n terms
d common difference

an a1 n 1 d
?? 19 63 1 6
?? 353

n
a1 an
2
63

19 353
2

Sn
S63

S63 10521

Try this one:

Find a16 if a1 1.5 and d 0.5

1.5
x
16
NA
0.5

a1 First term
an nth term
n number of terms
Sn sum of n terms
d common difference
an a1 n 1 d
a16 1.5 16 1 0.5
a16 9

Find n if an 633, a1 9, and d 24

9 a1 First term
633 an nth term
n number of terms
x
NA Sn sum of n terms
24 d common difference
an a1 n 1 d

633 9 x 1 24
633 9 24x 24

X = 27

Find d if a1 6 and a 29 20

-6 a1 First term
20 an nth term
29 n number of terms
NA Sn sum of n terms
d common difference
x
an a1 n 1 d

20 6 29 1 x
26 28x
13
x
14

Find two arithmetic means between 4 and 5

-4, ____, ____, 5
-4 a1 First term
5 an nth term
n number of terms
4
NA Sn sum of n terms
d common difference
x
an a1 n 1 d

5 4 4 1 x
x3

The two arithmetic means are 1 and 2, since 4, -1, 2, 5

forms an arithmetic sequence

Find three arithmetic means between 1 and 4

1, ____, ____, ____, 4
a1 First term
1
4 an nth term
n number of terms
5
NA Sn sum of n terms
d common difference
x
an a1 n 1 d

4 1 5 1 x
3
x
4

The three arithmetic means are 7/4, 10/4, and 13/4

nce 1, 7/4, 10/4, 13/4, 4 forms an arithmetic sequence

Find n for the series in which

5
y
x
440
3

a1 First term
an nth term
n number of terms
Sn sum of n terms
d common difference
an a1 n 1 d
y 5 x 1 3

n
Sn a1 an
2
x
440 5 y
2

a1 5, d 3, Sn 440
x
440 5 5 x 1 3
2
x 7 3x
440
2
880 x 7 3x
0 3x 2 7x 880

Factor!
X = 16

e 4th term of an arithmetic sequence is -9.

e 8th term is 21. Find the first term and then 9th term.

____ _____ _____ -9 ____

1st

21 = -9 + (5-1)d
21 = -9 +4d
7.5 = d
A4 = A1 + (4 -1)7.5
-9 = A1 + 3(7.5)
-31.5 = A1
A9 = 21 + 7.5 = 28.5

____ ____ 21 ____

5th

Vocabulary of Sequences (Universal)

a1 First term
an nth term
n number of terms
Sn sum of n terms
r common ratio
nth term of geometric sequence an a1r n1

a1 r n 1

sum of n terms of geometric sequence Sn

r 1

a1 (1 r )
or
1 r
n

Find the next three terms of 2, 3, 9/2, ___, ___, ___

3 2 vs. 9/2 3 not arithmetic
3 9/2
3

1.5 geometric r
2
3
2
9 9 3 9 3 3 9 3 3 3
2, 3, , , ,
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
9 27 81 243
2, 3, ,
, ,
2 4 8 16

1
2
If a1 , r , find a9 .And S
9
2
3
a1 First term

1/2
x

an nth term
n number of terms
Sn sum of n terms
r common ratio
an a1r

n1

1 2
x
2 3
28
x
2 38

9 1

27
8 128
3
6561

9
NA
2/3

2 9
(1 / 2)(1 ( )
n
a1 (1 r )
3

Sn 1 r
2
1
3

1.46098

Find two geometric means between 2 and 54

-2, ____, ____, 54
a1 First term

-2
54

an nth term
n number of terms
Sn sum of n terms
r common ratio

4
NA
x

an a1r n1
54 2 x

4 1

27 x 3
3 x

The two geometric means are 6 and -18, since 2, 6, -18, 54

forms an geometric sequence

Find a 2 a 4 if a1 3 and r

2
3

-3, ____, ____, ____

2
Since r ...
3
3, 2,

4 8
,
3 9

10
8
a 2 a 4 2

9
9

Find a9 of

2, 2, 2 2,...
a1 First term

an nth term

n number of terms
Sn sum of n terms
r common ratio

9
NA
r

an a1r n1

2
2 2

x 2
x

x 16 2

9 1

2 2

2
2
2

If a5 32 2 and r 2, find a 2
____, ____, ____,____,32 2
a1 First term

an nth term

32 2

n number of terms

5
NA

Sn sum of n terms

2
r common ratio
an a1r n1

2 x 2

32 2 x 2
32

5 1

32 2 4x
8 2x

a2 8 2 * 2 16

Insert one geometric mean between and 4

1
,____,4
4
a1 First term
an nth term
n number of terms

1/4
4

Sn sum of n terms

3
NA

r common ratio

an a1r n1
1 31
1 2
4 r 4 r 16 r 2 4 r
4
4

1
, 1, 4
4
1
, 1, 4
4

1 1 1
Find S7 of ...
2 4 8
a1 First term

1/2

an nth term

NA

n number of terms
Sn sum of n terms
r common ratio

a1 r n 1

Sn
r 1

1 1 7
1
2 2

x
1
1
2

1 1

2 2

7
x

1 1
1
r 4 8
1 1 2
2 4

127/12
8

Section 12.3 Infinite Series

1, 4, 7, 10, 13, . Infinite Arithmetic

3, 7, 11, , 51

Finite Arithmetic

No Sum
n
Sn a1 an
2
Sn

a1 r n 1

1, 2, 4, , 64

Finite Geometric

1, 2, 4, 8,

Infinite Geometric
r>1
r < -1

No Sum

1 1 1
3,1, , , ...
3 9 27

Infinite Geometric
-1 < r < 1

a1
S
1 r

r 1

1 1 1
Find the sum, if possible:1 2 4 8 ...
1 1
1
2
4
r
1 r 1 Yes
1 1 2
2
a1
1
S

2
1 r 1 1
2

Find the sum, if possible: 2 2 8 16 2 ...

8

16 2
r

2 2 1 r 1 No
8
2 2

NO SUM

2 1 1 1
Find the sum, if possible:3 3 6 12 ...
1 1
1
3
6
r
1 r 1 Yes
2 1 2
3 3
a1
S

1 r

2
3

1 3
1
2

2 4 8
Find the sum, if possible:7 7 7 ...
4 8
r 7 7 2 1 r 1 No
2 4
7 7
NO SUM

5
10 5 ...
Find the sum, if possible:
2
5
5
1
2
r

1 r 1 Yes
10 5 2
a1
10
S

20
1 r 1 1
2

Sigma Notation

UPPER BOUND
(NUMBER)
B

SIGMA
(SUM OF TERMS)

n A

NTH TERM
(SEQUENCE)

LOWER BOUND
(NUMBER)

j 2 1 2 2 2 3 2 4 2

18

j1

2a 2 4 2 5 2 6 2 7 44
a4

n 0

4
3
2

0.5

0.5

0.5

2
0.5 2 0.5 2 0.5 2
n

33.5

6
b 0

3
5

3
6
5

3
6
5

a1
S

1 r

3
6
5
6

3
1
5

...

15

23

2x 1 2 7 1 2 8 1 2 9 1 ... 2 23 1
x 7

n
23 7 1
Sn a1 an
15 47 527
2
2

19

4b 3 4 4 3 4 5 3 4 6 3 ... 4 19 3
b 4

Sn

n
19 4 1
a

1 n
19 79 784
2
2

Rewrite using sigma notation: 3 + 6 + 9 + 12

Arithmetic, d= 3
an a1 n 1 d
an 3 n 1 3
an 3n
4

3n
n1

Rewrite using sigma notation: 16 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1

Geometric, r =
an a1r n1
1
an 16
2

16
n1

1
2

n1

n1

Rewrite using sigma notation: 19 + 18 + 16 + 12 + 4

Not Arithmetic, Not Geometric
19 + 18 + 16 + 12 + 4
-1
-2 -4 -8
an 20 2n1
5

n1
20

n1

3 9 27

...
Rewrite the following using sigma notation:
5 10 15

Numerator is geometric, r = 3
Denominator is arithmetic d= 5
NUMERATOR:3 9 27 ... an 3 3

n1

DENOMINATOR:5 10 15 ... an 5 n 1 5 an 5n

3 3

n1

SIGMA NOTATION: 5n
n1