Sequences

A sequence is an ordered set of numbers (or other objects), arranged according to a rule.

For example:

· 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, …

· 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, …

· 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, …

· 32, 16, 8, 4, 2, …

· 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, …

Each number of the sequence is called term, and we represent it as ai. We call general term of a sequence, an, the expression which represents any term of the sequence.
 
For example:
· 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, …  an = n, then a100 = 100
· 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, …  an = 2n, then a25 = 50
· 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, …  an = n2, then a12 = 144
· 32, 16, 8, 4, 2, …  an = 26-n, then a10 = 2-4 = 1/16
 
Some sequences are recurring, because we obtain each term from the previous one. For example:
  1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, …     an = an-1 + an-2    a1 = a2 = 1

This is the Fibonacci sequence.

 


Exercises:

1.- Find out the general term of these sequences:

      a) 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, .....

2.- Write the first five terms of the sequences whose general terms are:

a) an = n2 + 1

b) an = 3 - n

 

 

 

Solutions: 1.- a) an = 3n; b) an = 1/n; c) an = n/(n+1)

2.- a) 2, 5, 10, 17, 26,... b) 2, 1, 0, -1, -2,... c) 2, 3/4, 4/9, 5/16, 6/25,...

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