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Sequence_of_Real_Numbers

Sequence_of_Real_Numbers Math

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6 views

Sequence_of_Real_Numbers

Sequence_of_Real_Numbers Math

Uploaded by

msanisha737
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Sequence of Real Numbers: Basics and Classifications

Introduction to Sequences
A sequence is a list of numbers arranged in a specific order according to a rule or formula.
Each number in the sequence is called a term. Sequences are essential in mathematics and
are widely used in various fields such as science, finance, and computer science.

For example, the sequence of natural numbers is: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ... . Another common sequence
is the sequence of even numbers: 2, 4, 6, 8, ... . These sequences follow specific patterns that
make them predictable and analyzable.

General Representation of Sequences


A sequence is generally represented as \( a_n \), where \( n \) is a positive integer
indicating the position of a term in the sequence. The first term is represented as \( a_1 \),
the second as \( a_2 \), and so on.

Finite sequences have a specific number of terms, while infinite sequences continue
indefinitely. For example, {1, 3, 5, 7} is a finite sequence, whereas {1, 2, 3, ...} is infinite.

Convergence of a Sequence
A sequence is said to converge if its terms approach a specific value as \( n \) tends to
infinity. This specific value is called the limit of the sequence.

For example, the sequence \( 1/n \) (i.e., 1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, ...) converges to 0. Mathematically,
we write: \( \lim_{n o \infty} 1/n = 0 \).

Convergence is a key concept in calculus and analysis, as it helps us understand the


behavior of sequences over the long term.

Divergence of a Sequence
A sequence is said to diverge if it does not converge to a specific limit. This can happen in
two ways: the terms of the sequence may grow without bound, or they may oscillate
without settling to a single value.

For example, the sequence \( n^2 \) (i.e., 1, 4, 9, 16, ...) diverges because its terms grow
infinitely large. Similarly, the sequence \( (-1)^n \) (i.e., -1, 1, -1, 1, ...) oscillates and does
not converge.

Types of Sequences

Monotonic Sequences
A sequence is monotonic if it is either entirely non-increasing or non-decreasing. For
example, the sequence {1, 2, 3, 4, ...} is monotonically increasing, while the sequence {10, 8,
6, 4, ...} is monotonically decreasing.
Bounded Sequences
A sequence is bounded if all its terms lie within a fixed range. For instance, the sequence {1,
-1, 1, -1, ...} is bounded because all its terms are between -1 and 1.

Arithmetic Sequences
In an arithmetic sequence, each term is obtained by adding a fixed value (called the
common difference) to the previous term. For example, the sequence {2, 5, 8, 11, ...} has a
common difference of 3.

Geometric Sequences
In a geometric sequence, each term is obtained by multiplying the previous term by a fixed
value (called the common ratio). For example, the sequence {2, 4, 8, 16, ...} has a common
ratio of 2.

Applications of Sequences
Sequences play a vital role in various fields. For example, in finance, they are used to model
compound interest. In computer science, sequences form the basis of algorithms and data
structures.

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