# Week 1 - Sequences

## 1. Definition

• A sequence can be thought of as a list of numbers written in a definite order:
• $a_1, a_2, a_3, a_4, \ldots , a_n, \ldots$

### 1.1. Notation

• The sequence ${a_1, a_2, a_3, \ldots}$ also denoted by
• $\{a_n\}$ or $\{a_n\}_{n=1}^{\infty}$
• $n \in \mathbb{N}$ (whole number)

### 1.2. Example: The Fibonacci Sequence

• Definition: $\{f_n\}$ is defined recursively by the conditions
• $f_1 = 1$, $f_2 = 1$, $f_n = f_{n-1} + f_{n-2}$, $n \ge 3$

### 1.3. Different Ways to Present Sequence

• Two sequences $a_n$ and $b_n$ are equal if they begin at the same index N, and $a_n = b_n$ whenever $n \ge N$.
• For example:
• $a_n = 2^n\ \text{for}\ n \ge 0$
• $b_0 = 1\ \text{and}\ b_n = 2 \cdot b_{n-1}$

## 2. Examples

### 2.1. Tribonacci Sequence

• Definition: $a_0 = a_1 = a_2 = 1$, $a_n = a_{n-1} + a_{n-2} + a_{n-3}$
• Samples: 1, 1, 1, 3, 5, 9, 17, 31, 57, 105, 193, 355
• We can build a new sequence from this:
• $b_n = \frac{a_n + 1}{a_n}$
• Samples: $1, 1, 1, 3, \frac{5}{3}, \frac{9}{5}, \frac{17}{9}, \frac{31}{17}, \frac{57}{31}, \frac{105}{57}, \frac{193}{105}, \frac{355}{193}$
• So $\displaystyle\lim_{n \to \infty} b_n = ?$

### 2.2. Arithmetic Progression

• Definition: An arithmetic progression is an sequence with a common difference between the terms.
• Example: $5, 12, 19, 26, 33, \ldots : a_n = 5 + 7n$
• Formula: $a_n = a_0 + d_n$
• In a arithmetic progression, each term is the arithmetic mean of its neighbors.
• arithmetic mean: $\displaystyle a_n = \frac{a_{n-1} + a_{n+1}}{2}$

### 2.3. Geometric Progression

• Definition: An geometric progression is an sequence with a common ratio between the terms.
• Example: $3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, \ldots : a_n = 3 \cdot 2^n$
• Formula: $a_n = a_0 \cdot r^n$
• In a geometric progression, each term is the geometric mean of its neighbors.
• geometric mean: $\displaystyle a_n = \sqrt{a_{n-1} a_{n+1}}$
• for example, an area of a square with side length of $\sqrt{ab}$ is $ab$
• $\displaystyle\lim_{n \to \infty} a_n$
• if the common ratio > 1, then $\displaystyle\lim_{n \to \infty} a_n = \infty$
• if the common ratio < 1, then $\displaystyle\lim_{n \to \infty} a_n = 0$

## 3. Limit of a Sequence

• Definition: $\displaystyle \lim_{n \to \infty} a_n = L$ means that, for every $\epsilon > 0$, there is a whole number N, so that, whenever $n \ge N$, $\lvert a_n - L \rvert < \epsilon$.

## 4. Sequence Bounded

• Definition:
• $a_n$ is "bounded above" means there is a real number M, so that, for all $n \ge 0, a_n \le M$.
• $a_n$ is "bounded below" means there is a real number M, so that, for all $n \ge 0, a_n \ge M$.
• $a_n$ is "bounded" means $a_n$ is "bounded above" and "bounded below".
• Example:
• $a_n = \sin n, -1 \le \sin n \le 1$. So $a_n$ bounded.
• $b_n = n \cdot \sin(\frac{\pi \cdot n}{n})$, not bounded.

## 5. Sequence Increasing

• Definition:
• A sequence ($a_n$) is increasing if whenever m > n, then $a_m > a_n$.
• A sequence ($a_n$) is decreasing if whenever m > n, then $a_m < a_n$.
• A sequence ($a_n$) is non-decreasing if whenever m > n, then $a_m \ge a_n$.
• A sequence ($a_n$) is non-increasing if whenever m > n, then $a_m \le a_n$.

## 6. The Monotone Convergence Theorem

• Definition: If the sequence ($a_n$) is bounded and monotone, then $\displaystyle\lim_{n \to \infty} a_n$ exists.
• Example: $a_1 = 1, a_{n+1} = \sqrt{a_n +2}$
• To prove the limit of this sequence exists, we need to this sequence is
• bounded: $0 \le a_n \le 2$
• $0 \le a_{n+1} = \sqrt{2+2} = 2$
• $0 \le a_1 \le 2 \implies 0 \le a_2 \le 2 \implies \ldots$
• monotone(non-decreasing): $a_n \le a_{n+1}$
• $a_n \le a_{n+1} = \sqrt{a_n + 2}$
• $a_n^2 - a_n - 2 \ge 0$
• $(2 - a_n)(1 + a_n) \ge 0$ which is true
• So the limit of $a_n$ exists.

## 7. Extra

### 7.1. A Sequence Includes Every Integer

• $C_n = \begin{cases} -(n+1)/2 &\text{if } n\ \text{odd} \\ n/2 &\text{if } n\ \text{even} \end{cases}$
• Starting with index 0.
• An infinite quantity is a quantity that won't be smaller, when you take something away.
• Like we take away the negative integers from all integers, which is still infinite.
• Note: I've taken a similar course talked about it:

## 8. Words

• monotone function 单调函数；单弹数
• monotone increasing 单调递增
• monotone regression 单调回归
• parity n. 平价；同等；相等