Lesson 1-3
SEQUENCE
MAPUA UNIVERSITY
GENERAL TERM (RULE OR FORMULA) OF A SEQUENCE
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:
1) 2, 4, 6, 8, . . . is a sequence having the rule or general formula 2n
since each term is twice the term number.
2) 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, . . .
Solutions:
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 .
Lesson 1-4
MONOTONIC SEQUENCE
MAPUA UNIVERSITY
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.
EXAMPLES
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
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
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 is strictly increasing, then the sequence is strictly monotone.
EXAMPLES
2.
Solution: let
By assigning n = 1, 2, and 3 in the given sequence,
the values obtained are: ;
Since is strictly decreasing,
then the sequence is strictly monotone.
Lesson 1-4
BOUNDED SEQUENCE
MAPUA UNIVERSITY
EXAMPLES
Determine whether the sequence is monotonic and whether it is bounded.
Conclude also if it converges.
1.
Solution: let
Generating some terms in the sequence
n = 1, = 1 n = 2, = ½
n = 3, = 1/3
Since , the sequence is monotonic.
Also, the sequence is bounded above since and the
it is bounded below since
Therefore, the sequence is bounded.
The sequences also converges.
EXAMPLES
Determine whether the sequence is monotonic and whether it is
bounded. Conclude also if it converges.
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 and not monotonic.
The sequence also diverges.
Source: [Link]
EXAMPLES
Determine whether the sequence is monotonic and whether it is
bounded. Conclude also if it converges.
3.
Solution: let
Generating some terms in the sequence
n = 1, bounded below since
n = 2, = 1/10
n = 3, = 3/13
bounded above
Therefore, the sequence is bounded and monotonic. The sequence
converges,
Source: [Link]
Lesson 1-4
TESTING FOR
MONOTONICITY
MAPUA UNIVERSITY
TESTING FOR MONOTONICITY
EXAMPLE
1. Use the difference o show that the
is strictly increasing or strictly decreasing.
Solution:
;
which proves that the sequence is
strictly decreasing.
EXAMPLE
2. 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
3. Show that the sequence is eventually strictly decreasing. Use
the ratio
Solution:
and
=
so the sequence is eventually strictly decreasing as confirmed
by the graph.
EXAMPLE
Lesson 1-2
LIMIT OF A SEQUENCE
MAPUA UNIVERSITY
RECALL: 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.
EXAMPLES
1. Evaluate
Solution: (indeterminate)
transforming the given function by dividing the numerator and
denominator by n, the results are:
Thus (converges)
EXAMPLES
2. Evaluate: )
Solution:
)
Substituting the indicated limit,
=
(diverges)
EXAMPLES
3. Determine whether the sequence, onverges.
Solution: Substituting the indicated limit,
onverges)
EXAMPLES
4. Determine whether the sequence
onverges.
Solution: Substituting the indicated limit,
(diverges)