Math 155, Lecture Notes- Bonds Name____________

Section 9.1 Sequences

A sequence is a function whose domain is the set of positive integers. It will usually
be denoted with subscript notation rather than function notation. You can use your
graphing calculator in “sequence mode” to plot terms and create tables that show
terms in a sequence.

An entire sequence can be denoted as {an } .

Ex. 1:
⎪⎧ ⎫
⎪ ⎪ ⎧ ⎫⎪
{an } = ⎪⎨⎪1− n1 ⎪⎬⎪ = ⎪⎨⎪0, 12 , 32 , 34 , 45 , ...⎪⎬⎪
⎪
⎩ ⎪
⎭ ⎪
⎩ ⎪
⎭
Ex. 2:

{an } = {(−1)n n} = {0, −1, 2, − 3, 4 , ...}

Some sequences are recursively defined.

Ex. 3:

{dn } is defined as dn+1 = dn − 5 and d1 = 25 .

For the majority of the chapter, we’ll be looking at sequences that have limiting
values. These sequences are said to converge.
Ex. 4:
⎧
⎪ ⎫
⎪ ⎧
⎪ ⎫
⎪
{an } = ⎪⎨⎪ 1n ⎪⎬⎪ = ⎪⎨⎪ 1 , 1 1 1
, , , 1 , ...⎪⎬⎪ This sequence converges to 0.
⎩2 ⎪
⎪ ⎪2
⎭ ⎩ 4 8 16 32 ⎪ ⎭
If we plot the terms of a convergent sequence, we will see a “horizontal
asymptote.” That is, we will see the sequence exhibit asymptotic behavior.

Ex. 5:
⎧
⎪ ⎫
⎪
{an } = ⎪⎨⎪nn ++14 ⎪⎬⎪
Given: ⎪
⎩ ⎪
⎭

lim a =
n→∞ n
Consider

This sequence converges to 1.

In other words, if a sequnce {an } ”agrees” with a function f at every positive
integer, and if f ( x) → L as x → ∞ , then { an } → L as well.

Ex. 6:
⎧⎛
⎪ n⎫
⎞⎟ ⎪
an = ⎨⎜⎜⎜1 + n ⎟⎟ ⎪⎪⎬
{ }⎪
⎪ 1 Consider lim a =
⎪
⎪ ⎝ ⎠ ⎪⎪ n→∞ n
Given: ⎪
⎩ ⎪
⎭
New Notation: Factorial !
Try working with these on your graphing calculator.
Ex. 7:
⎧ sin n ⎪
⎪
⎪ ( )⎫⎪⎪
{ }⎪
an = ⎨
⎪ n ⎪⎪
⎬ Consider lim a =
n→∞ n
Given: ⎪
⎪
⎩ ⎪
⎭
Ex. 8:
⎧
⎪
⎪ 5n ⎪⎫⎪⎪
{ }⎪
an = ⎨ 2
⎪
⎬
⎪
Consider lim a =
n→∞ n
Given: ⎪
⎪
⎩ n + 4 ⎪
⎪
⎭
Ex. 9:
⎧ n− 2 !⎪
⎪( ) ⎫⎪⎪
{an } = ⎪⎪⎨
⎪ n! ⎪⎪
⎬ Consider lim a =
n→∞ n
Given: ⎪
⎪
⎩ ⎪
⎭
Ex. 10:
⎧
⎪
⎪ n
2
n2 ⎫⎪⎪
{ }
an = ⎨
⎪ 2n +1
−
2n−1
⎬
⎪
Consider lim a =
n→∞ n
Given: ⎪
⎪
⎩ ⎪
⎪
⎭
Ex. 11:
{an } = {cos(πn)} Consider lim a =
n→∞ n
Given:
Ex. 12:
⎧1 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 5 ⋅7 ⋅⋅⋅ 2n−1 ⎪
⎪ ( )⎫⎪⎪
{an } = ⎪⎪⎨
⎪ n!
⎬
⎪
Consider lim a =
n→∞ n
Given: ⎪
⎪
⎩ ⎪
⎪
⎭
Ex. 13:
⎧
⎪ −n ⎫
⎪
⎪ ⎪
{ }
⎪
an = ⎨ne 2
⎪
⎪
⎬
⎪
Consider lim a =
n→∞ n
Given: ⎪
⎪
⎩ ⎪
⎪
⎭
 −x
From the graph of y = xe 2 , for x ≥ 0 , we can see that the function is bounded
⎪⎧⎪ −n ⎪⎫⎪
above by y = 1 and bounded below by y = 0 . Therefore, by Theorem 9.5, ⎪⎨ne 2 ⎪⎬
⎪⎪ ⎪⎪
⎪⎩ ⎪⎭
⎧⎪ −n ⎫⎪
⎪ ⎪
is a convergent sequence, since ⎪⎨ne 2 ⎪⎬ is bounded and monotonic for n ≥ 2 .
⎪⎪ ⎪⎪
⎪⎩ ⎪⎭

Ex. 14: The Fibonacci Sequence

Consider the sequence is defined by an+ 2 = an+1 + an with a1 = 1 and a2 = 1 .

{an } = {1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, .....}

This is the Fibonacci Sequence.