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2: Sequences

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We introduce the notion of limit first through sequences. As mentioned in Chapter 1, a sequence is just a function with domain N. More precisely, a sequence of elements of a set A is a function f:NA. We will denote the image of n under the function with subscripted variables, for example, an=f(n). We will also denote sequences by {an}n=1, {an}n, or even {an}. Each value an is called a term of the sequence, more precisely, the n-th term of the sequence.

Example 2.1

Consider the sequence an=1n for nN.

Solution

This is a sequence of rational numbers. On occasion, when the pattern is clear, we may list the terms explicitly as in

(1,12,13,14,15,

Example 2.2

Let an=(1)n for nN. This is a sequence of integers, namely,

1,1,1,1,1,1,

Solution

Note that the sequence takes on only two values. This should not be confused with the two-element set {1,1}.


This page titled 2: Sequences is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Lafferriere, Lafferriere, and Nguyen (PDXOpen: Open Educational Resources) .

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