Questions tagged [sequences-and-series]

For questions concerning sequences and series. Typical questions concern, but are not limited to: identifying sequences, identifying terms, recurrence relations, $\epsilon-N$ proofs of convergence, convergence tests, finding closed forms for sums. For questions on finite sums, use the (summation) tag instead.

Sequences and series are often considered as a main part of part of calculus, in addition to limits, continuity, differentiation and integration.

A sequence is an enumerated collection of objects in which repetitions are allowed. There are special types of sequences, such as arithmetic sequences (or arithmetic progressions), where the next term is a constant more than the previous; harmonic progressions, which is formed by taking the reciprocal of each term of an arithmetic progression; logarithmic progression, which is formed from a series whose progression getting smaller; and geometric progressions, where the next term is a constant multiplied by the previous term.

A sequence can be given by a direct formula (e.g. $a_n = 2^n + 3$), or by a recurrence relation. In a recurrence relation, the relation between the next term and the earlier terms is given. An example is the recurrence relation $F_{n+2}=F_{n+1}+F_n, n \geq 0.$ Together with the initial terms $F_0=0$ and $F_1=1$, this recurrence relation defines the famous Fibonacci sequence.

A series is formed by summing a sequence. A typical question is: When the number of summed terms goes to infinity, does the sum approach a finite limit? In other words, is it convergent? Several tests, such as the ratio test, the root test, the limit comparison test, the integral test, etc. can help to answer these questions.

Important note. Questions about guessing the next number in a sequence, with no explicit mathematical context, will usually be quickly closed. Consider posting these questions at Puzzling Stack Exchange instead.

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How to find the sum of this infinite series: $\sum_{n=1}^{ \infty } \frac1n \cdot \frac{H_{n+2}}{n+2}$

How do I find this particular sum? $$\sum_{n=1}^{ \infty } \frac1n \cdot \frac{H_{n+2}}{n+2}$$ where $H_n = \sum_{k=1}^{n}\frac1k$. This was given to me by a friend and I have absolutely no idea how to proceed as I have never done these questions…
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Find sum of numbers from $1-100$ which are not divisible by $3$ and$ 7$

Question explains everything but I'm stuck at a certain part. I found: sum of numbers from $1-100$ sum of numbers from $1-100$ divisible by $3$ sum of numbers from $1-100$ divisible by $7$ Then subtracted first sum by last $2$ sums as mentioned…
Suleman
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Alternating series; first term is 0. Do I have a problem?

I have an alternate series which I want to test for convergence or divergence. The series is as follows: $$\sum_{n=1}^\infty (-1)^n \frac{n^2-1}{n^3+1}$$ I know how to test this for convergence, but the first term is $0$ and so "$n+1$" terms are not…
AstlyDichrar
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Consider the sequence defined: $a_1=0, a_{n+1}=3+\sqrt{11+a_n}$, show that is bounded above and increasing using induction.

Consider the sequence defined: $a_1=0, a_{n+1}=3+\sqrt{11+a_n}$ a) Show, using induction, that this sequence is bounded above by 14; b) prove that the sequence is increasing; c) Why must it converge?; d)Find the limit. So for part a), I have: Let…
tk2
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Solving a formal power series equation

I want to find a function $f(x,y)$ which can satisfy the following equation, $$\prod _{n=1} ^{\infty} \frac{1+x^n}{(1-x^{n/2}y^{n/2})(1-x^{n/2}y^{-n/2})} = \exp \left[ \sum _{n=1} ^\infty \frac{f(x^n,y^n)}{n(1-x^{2n})}\right]$$ I would like to know…
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Can sum of a series be uncountable

There are several methods to say whether sum of series is finite or not. Can we say whether sum of series is countable or not. For example $S_n=\Sigma_{0 \leq i \leq n}{2^i}= 2^{n+1}-1$ So for $n=\aleph_0$ $ S_{\aleph_0}=2^{\aleph_0}-1$ So can we…
Curious
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Does this series involving sine converge or diverge: $\sum\limits_{k=1}^\infty \frac{1}{k}\cdot \sin\frac{(-1)^k}{1+k^2}$?

I have been trying to show the convergence of this series but I can't seem to find a way to do it. $$\sum_{k=1}^\infty \frac{1}{k}\cdot \sin\frac{(-1)^k}{1+k^2}$$
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Partial sum of the harmonic series between two consecutive fibonacci numbers

I was playing around with some calculations and I noticed that the partial sum of the harmonic series: $$s_n=\sum_{k=F_n}^{F_{n+1}}\frac 1 k$$ where $F_n$ and $F_{n+1}$ are two consecutive Fibonacci numbers have some interesting properties. It is…
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Is this a valid way to prove this modified harmonic series diverges?

I am trying to find a way to prove that $$\dfrac 11 + \dfrac 12 + \dfrac 13 + \dfrac 14 + \cdots \color{red}{-} \dfrac 18 + \cdots$$ where the pattern repeats every $8$ terms. Knowing about the Riemann Series Theorem, I am a little hesitant about…
Ovi
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An interesting exercise about converging positive series, involving $\sum_{n\geq 1}a_n^{\frac{n-1}{n}}$

Yesterday I stumbled across an interesting exercise (Indam test 2014, Exercise B3): (Ex) Given a positive sequence $\{a_n\}_{n\geq 1}$ such that $\sum_{n\geq 1}a_n$ is convergent, prove that $$ \sum_{n\geq 1}a_n^{\frac{n-1}{n}}$$ is convergent,…
Jack D'Aurizio
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Approximating $\pi$ using the sine function

If we have some approximation $x$ for $\pi$, it is possible to improve that approximation by calculating $\sin(x) + x$ if $x$ is sufficiently close to $\pi$. The reason why this works is that for $x \approx \pi$, $\sin(x) \approx \pi - x$ (note that…
user179933
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Points of differentiability of $f(x) = \sum\limits_{n : q_n < x} c_n$

Let, $\{q_n\}_{n \in \mathbb{N}}$ be an enumeration of rational numbers. Consider the function $f : \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ given by, $$\displaystyle f(x) = \sum\limits_{n : q_n < x} c_n$$ where, $\displaystyle \sum\limits_{n=1}^{\infty} c_n$ is…
r9m
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Solving the functional equation $f(x) = f(x / \phi) f(x / \phi^2 - 1)$

I'm trying to find a function $f(x)$ such that the spacing between consecutive roots looks like the infinite Fibonacci word: $$1, \phi^{-1}, 1, 1, \phi^{-1}, 1, \phi^{-1}, 1, 1, \phi^{-1}, 1, 1, \phi^{-1}, \ldots$$ If I'm not mistaken, any solution…
Tanner Swett
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Can I Square Root A Series?

I have a question in Quantum Mechanics where I need to solve a series, and the thing is that I can get the answer to a similar series with the help of the same problem but I am not sure if I can square root my series to use it in the problem. For…
Shrodinger 2016
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