SEQUENCES

Lecture # 14
 INTRODUCTION
 SEQUENCE:
A sequence is just a list of elements usually
written in a row.
 EXAMPLES:
1).1, 2, 3, 4, 5, …
2).4, 8, 12, 16, 20,…
3).2, 4, 8, 16, 32, …
4).1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, … Note:
5).1, 4, 9, 16, 25, … The symbol “…” is
called ellipsis, and
6).1, -1, 1, -1, 1, -1, … reads “so forth”
 Sequences are kind of functions.
 Second Sequence is
4, 8, 12, 16, 20, …

image of (1) = 4
image of (2) = 8
image of (3) = 12
image of (4) = 16
image of (5) = 20
FORMAL DEFINITION OF SEQUENCE
 A sequence is a function whose domain is the
set of integers greater than or equal to a
particular integer n0

 Usually this set is the set of Natural numbers

{1, 2, 3, …} or the set of whole numbers {0,
1, 2, 3, …}.
NOTATION
 We use the notation an to denote the image of
the integer n, and call it a term of the
sequence. Thus

a1, a2, a3, a4 …, an, …

represent the terms of a sequence defined on

the set of natural numbers N.

 Note:
That a sequence is described by listing the terms
of the sequence in order of increasing subscripts.
 FINDING TERMS OF A SEQUENCE
GIVEN BY AN EXPLICIT FORMULA
 An explicit formula or general formula for a
sequence is a rule that shows how the
values of ak depends on k.
EXAMPLE
 Define a sequence a1, a2, a3, … by the
explicit formula, find the first 4th term of the
sequence: a  k for all integers k  1
k
k 1

 To find the11st term

1 just
2 replace
2 k 3with 31 and
so on…a1   , a2   , a3  
11 2 2 1 3 31 4
4 4
an d fo u rth term is a 4  
4 1 5
EXAMPLE
 Write the first four terms of the sequence defined
by the formula bj = 1 + 2j, for all integers j  0

 SOLUTION:
b0 = 1 + 2 0 = 1 + 1 = 2
b1 = 1 + 2 1 = 1 + 2 = 3
b2 = 1 + 2 2 = 1 + 4 = 5
b3 = 1 + 2 3 = 1 + 8 = 9
 REMARK:
The formula bj = 1 + 2j, for all integers j  0
defines an infinite sequence having infinite
number of values.
EXAMPLE
 Compute the first six terms of the sequence
defined by the formula Cn = 1+ (-1) n for all
integers n  0

 SOLUTION:
C0 = 1 + (-1)0 = 1 + 1 = 2
C1 = 1 + (-1)1 = 1 + (-1) = 0
C2 = 1 + (-1)2 = 1 + 1 = 2
C3 = 1 + (-1)3 = 1 + (-1) = 0
C4 = 1 + (-1)4 = 1 + 1 = 2
C5 = 1 + (-1)5 = 1 + (-1) = 0
EXAMPLE
 Write the first four terms of the sequence
defined by (1) n n
Cn  for all integers n  1
n 1

 SOLUTION:
1
(1) (1) 1 (1) 2 (2) 2 ( 1)3 (3) 3
C1   , C2   , C3  
11 2 2 1 3 3 1 4
(1)4 (4) 4
And fourth term isC4  
4 1 5

 REMARK: A sequence whose terms alternate

in sign is called an alternating sequence.
EXERCISE
 Find explicit formulas for sequences with the
initial terms given:

1).0, 1, -2, 3, -4, 5, …

1 1 1 1 1 1 1
2). 1  ,  ,  ,  ,
2 2 3 3 4 4 5

3).2, 6, 12, 20, 30, 42, 56, …

4).1/4, 2/9, 3/16, 4/25, 5/36, 6/49, …

 1).0, 1, -2, 3, -4, 5, …
SOLUTION:
Its an alternating sequence. In alternating sequence
always take the power of (-1)

an = (-1) n+1n for all integers n  0

when n is odd the term will become positive.

Check:
a0 = (-1) 0+1.0 = 0, a1 = (-1) 1+11 = 1,
a2 = (-1) 2+1.2 = -2, a3 = (-1) 3+1.3 = 3,
  a4 = (-1) 4+1.4 = -4, a5 = (-1) 5+1.5 = 5,
 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
2). 1  ,  ,  ,  ,
2 2 3 3 4 4 5

SOLUTION:

Every term has two parts:

1 1 1 1
b1 = 1 2
 b2 = 
1 1 2 3
b3 =3  4
General term is:
1 1
bk   fo r a ll in te g e rs n  1
k k 1
3).2, 6, 12, 20, 30, 42, 56, …

SOLUTION:
Note that we can write
C1 = 1.2 = 2 C2 = 2.3 = 6
C3 = 3.4 = 12 C4 = 4.5 = 20

In general nth term is

Cn = n.(n+1) for all integers n  1
4).1/4, 2/9, 3/16, 4/25, 5/36, 6/49, …

SOLUTION:
Every term has two parts numerator and
denominator.
i
di  for all integers i  1
(i  1) 2

j OR
1
dj  for all integers j  0
( j  2) 2

Both defined the same sequences.

 ARITHMETIC SEQUENCE
 A sequence in which every term after the first
is obtained from the preceding term by adding
a constant number is called an arithmetic
sequence or arithmetic progression (A.P.)

 The constant number, being the difference of

any two consecutive terms is called the
common difference of A.P., commonly
denoted by “d”.
EXAMPLES
1).5, 9, 13, 17, …

SOLUTION:

We need two things to define the sequence

First Term = 5
Common Difference = 4
2).0, -5, -10, -15, …

SOLUTION:

We need two things to define the sequence

First Term = 0
Common Difference = -5
3). x + a , x + 3a , x + 5a , …

SOLUTION:

We need two things to define the sequence

First Term = x + a
Common Difference = 2a

We need to add 2a every time to get the next

term in the preceding term.
GENERAL TERM OF AN ARITHMETIC
SEQUENCE
 Let a be the first term and d be the common
difference of an arithmetic sequence. Then the
sequence is
a1 = a
a2 = a+d
a3 = a+2d
a4 = a+3d …

a1 = a = a + (1-1) d
a2 = a + d = a + (2-1) d
a3 = a + 2d = a + (3 -1) d
By symmetry
an = nth term = a + (n - 1)d for all integers n 1.
EXAMPLE
 Find the 20th term of the arithmetic sequence
3, 9, 15, 21, …
 SOLUTION:
Here a = first term = 3
d = common difference = 9 - 3 = 6
n = term number = 20
a20 = value of 20th term = ?
 Sincean = a + (n - 1) d n 1
 a20 = 3 + (20 - 1) 6
= 3 + 114
= 117
EXAMPLE
 Which term of the arithmetic sequence
4, 1, -2, …,is -77
 SOLUTION:
Here a = first term = 4
d = common difference = 1 - 4 = -3
an = value of nth term = -77
n = term number = ?

Since an = a + (n - 1) d n 1
 -77 = 4 + (n - 1) (-3)
 -77 - 4 = (n - 1) (-3)
OR
81
 n 1
3

OR
27 = n – 1
n = 28

Hence –77 is the 28th term of the given

sequence.
 EXERCISE
 Find the 36th term of the arithmetic sequence
whose 3rd term is 7 and 8th term is 17.

 SOLUTION:
Let a be the first term and d be the common
difference of the arithmetic sequence.
Then
an = a + (n - 1)d n1
 a3 = a + (3 - 1) d
and a8 = a + (8 - 1) d
Given that a3 = 7 and a8 = 17.
Therefore,
7 = a + 2d……………………(1)
and 17 = a + 7d………….………..(2)

Subtracting (1) from (2), we get,

10 = 5d
 d=2
Substituting d = 2 in (1) we have
7 = a + 2(2)
which gives a = 3
Thus, an = a + (n - 1) d
an = 3 + (n - 1) 2 (using values of a and d)

Hence the value of 36th term is

a36 = 3 + (36 - 1) 2
= 3 + 70
= 73
 GEOMETRIC SEQUENCE
 A sequence in which every term after the first
is obtained from the preceding term by
multiplying it with a constant number is called
a geometric sequence or geometric
progression (G.P.)

 The constant number, being the ratio of any

two consecutive terms is called the common
ratio of the G.P. commonly denoted by “r”.
EXAMPLE
1). 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, …

 SOLUTION:

a1 = 1, a2 = (1)(2) = 2, a3 = (2)(2) = 4
a4 = (4)(2) = 8, a5 = (8)(2) = 16

First Term = 1
Common Ration = 2
EXAMPLE
2). 3, -3/2, 3/4, -3/8, …

 SOLUTION:

a1 = 3, a2 = (1)(-1/2) = -3/2, a3 = (-3/2)

(-1/2) = 3/4
a4 = (3/4)(-1/2) = -3/8,

First Term = 3
Common Ration = -1/2
EXAMPLE
3). 0.1, 0.01, 0.001, 0.0001, …

 SOLUTION:

a1 = 0.1, a2 = (0.1)(0.1) = 0.01

a3 = (0.01)(0.1) = 0.001
a4 = (0.001)(0.1) = 0.0001

First Term = 0.1

Common Ration = 0.1 = 1/10
 GENERAL TERM OF A GEOMETRIC
SEQUENCE
 Let a be the first tem and r be the common
ratio of a geometric sequence. Then the
sequence is
a , ar , ar2, ar3, …

a1 = first term = a = ar1-1

a2 = second term = ar = ar2-1
a3 = third term = ar2 = ar3-1
………………
………………
an = nth term = arn-1; for all integers n  1
EXAMPLE
 Find the 8th term of the following geometric
sequence
4, 12, 36, 108, …
 SOLUTION:
12
Here a = first term = 4
4
r = common ratio = =3
n = term number = 8
a8 = value of 8th term = ?
Since an = arn-1 n1
 a8 = (4)(3)8-1
= 4 .(2187)
EXAMPLE
 Which term of the geometric sequence is 1/8
if the first term is 4 and common ratio ½

 SOLUTION:
Given a = first term = 4
r = common ratio = ½
an = value of the nth term = 1/8
n = term number = ?
 Sincean = arn-1 n  1
n 1
1 1
  4 
8 2
n 1
1 1
  
32  2 
5 n 1
1 1
     
2  2
 n 1  5 n6
 Since bases are same so powers must be equal
 n–1=5
 n=6
Hence 1/8 is the 6th term of the given G.P.
EXERCISE
 Write the geometric sequence with positive
terms whose second term is 9 and fourth term
is 1.
 SOLUTION:
General Formula
an = ar n-1 n 1
Now
a2 = ar 2-1
 9 = ar ……………….(1)
Also a4 = ar4-1
 1 = ar 3 ………………(2)
 Dividing (2) by (1), we get,

1 ar 3

9 ar
1 2
 r
9
1  1
 r  rejecting r   
3  3 
 Substituting r = 1/3 in (1), we get

 1
9  a 
 3
 a  93  27
Hence the geometric sequence is
27, 9, 3, 1, 1/3, 1/9, …
 SEQUENCES IN COMPUTER
PROGRAMMING
 An important data type in computer
programming consists of finite sequences
known as one-dimensional arrays; a single
variable in which a sequence of variables may
be stored.