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David

Darling

sequence

A sequence, also called a progression, is an ordered set of numbers (e.g., 2, 4, 6, 8, ...2n, ...), which may be finite or infinite in length. The members of the sequence are linked by a common mathematical formula. Infinite sequences may or may not be convergent (tend to a single limit). The sequence 0, 0.9, 0.99, 0.999, ... for example is convergent, tending to the limit 1. Among the different types of sequence are arithmetic sequences, geometric sequences, and harmonic sequences.

 

A unmilled sequence is a sequence that first increases and then decreases.

 


Point-sequence

If according to some prescribed rule a first point P1 determines a second P2, and P2 determines a third P3, and so on, these points are said to form a point-sequence:

 

P1, P2, P3, P4, ...

 

The points dealt with can be either in a plane or in three-dimensional space. Point-sequences are closed later to number-sequences. Thus, if the points are specified by their coordinates, three number sequences are formed from the coordinates Pn (xn , yn , zn) of the general point

 

x1, x2, x3, ..., xn, ...

y1, y2, y3, ..., yn, ...

z1, z2, z3, ..., zn, ...

 

Conversely, given an arbitrary number-sequence a1, a2, a3, ..., a point-sequence can be derived in which the number an is associated with the point An (an , 0) of the plane (x, y).

 

A point-sequence is said to converge to the point A (Pn → A) if the distance Pn A form a null sequence. A point-sequence which is not convergent is said to be divergent. E.g. suppose the following points are given in a plane:

 

point-sequence

 

The sequence converges to the point P (2, 4), since the sequence of distances

 

sequence of distances

 

is a null sequence.