Title: Convergent and Divergent Sequences

INTRODUCTION
The aim of this project is to study the convergence of a sequence. This concept can be
illustrated by plotting its graph. A sequence {an} is said to be convergent if it approaches
same limit.

In Mathematics, a sequence is an enumerated collection of objects in which

repetitions are allowed like a set, it contains members, also known as elements or terms. The
number of elements (possibly infinite) is called the length of the sequence unlike a set, the
same elements can appear multiple times at different positions in a sequence, and order
matters. Formally, a sequence can be defined as a function whose domain is either the set of
the natural numbers (for infinite sequence) or the set of the first n natural numbers (for a
sequence of finite length n).

Sequences can be classified into four types which is Arithmetic Sequence, Geometric
Sequence, Square numbers and Cube numbers.

The Arithmetic Sequence involves a sequence of numbers to which the same amount
has been added or subtracted. The amount that is added or subtracted is known as the
common difference, d.

The Geometric Sequence is a list of numbers that are multiply by the same amount.
The amount by which the numbers are multiplied is known as the common ratio, r.

The Square Number Sequence where the terms are the squares of their position in the
sequence.

The Cube Number Sequence is sequence where the terms are the cube of their
position in the sequence.

In Mathematics, the limit of a sequence is the value that the terms of sequence ‘tend
to’. If such a limit exists, the sequence is call convergent series. On the other hand, a
sequence which does not have a limit is said to be divergent.

Lastly, convergence is a property (exhibited by certain infinite series and function) of

approaching a limit more and more closely as an argument (variables) of the function
increases or decreases or as the number of terms of the series increase. For example, the
1
function y = converges to zero as x increases. Although no finite value of x will cause the
x
value of y to actually become zero, the limiting value of y is zero because y can be made as
small as desired by choosing x large enough. The line y = 0 (the x-axis) is called an
asymptote of the function.
METHODOLOGY

A sequence {an} is said to be convergent if it approaches some limit.

1 n
To find the value of an, which is n2, , 3-5n and 2n+ 1 . By substitute different
n²
value of n into the an to get the answer.

Next, by using excel, plot the graph of an and state whether it is a convergent
sequence or a divergent sequence.

−1 n
After that, to find the value of the sequence {2+( ) }, substitute different value of n
2
−1 n −1 n
into the sequence {2+( ) } to get the answer. Hence, plotting the graph of {2+( ) } by
2 2
−1 n
using excel and state whether {2+( ) } is convergent or divergent.
2

1
Furthermore, to find the value of the sequence an+1= (an + 8), a1 = 2,use the
2
recursive formula and the possibility of the limit value. Hence, state the convergence of the
sequence.

Lastly, repeating the process in part 1 and part 2 with different value of n by using a
rational sequence and an exponential sequence and plot the graphs by using excel in order to
test the convergence of the sequence.
RESULT
an 1 n
n n2 3-5n
n² 2n+ 1
1 1 1 -2 1.5

2 4 0.25 -7 3

4 16 0.0625 -17 9

8 64 0.015625 -37 33

16 256 0.00390625 -77 129

32 1024 0.000976563 -157 513

64 4096 0.000244141 -317 2049

128 16384 0.000061035 -637 8193

A sequence is a function whose domain is the set of positive integers. A sequence

{an} is said to be convergent if it approaches some limit and the result are recorded into the
table below.

n2
18000

16000

14000

12000

10000

8000

6000

4000

2000

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

From the graph above, it shows that the sequences of n2 is a divergent sequences.
 1/n2
1.2

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

1
From the graph above, it shows that the sequence of is a convergent sequence.
n²

3-5n
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
-100

-200

-300

-400

-500

-600

-700

From the graph above, it shows that the graph of 3-5n is a divergent sequences.
 (n)/2(n)+1
0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

n
From the graph above, it shows that the sequences of is a convergent sequences.
2n+ 1

n
2 4 6 8 15 20 28 30
an

2+¿)n 2.25 2.0625 2.015625 2.00390625 1.99996948 2.00000095 2 2

2+(-½)n
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

From the graph above, it shows that the sequences of 2+¿)n is a convergent sequences.
 1
an+1 = 2 (an + 8), a1 = 2
1
a2 = 2 (a1 + 8)
1
a3 = 2 (a2 + 8)
1 1
a3 = 2 [ 2 (a1 + 8) + 8 ]
1 8
a3 = 2² (a1 + 8 ) + 2
1
a4 = 2 (a3 + 8)
1 1 8
a4 = 2 [ 2² (a1 + 8) + 2 ] + 8]
1 8 8
a4 = 2³ (a1 + 8) + 2² + 2
a4 = a13 8 8 8
2 + 2³ + 2² + 2
⋮
a1 8 8 8 8
an = 2n-1
+ 2 + 2² + 23 +…+ 2n-1
a1 8 8 8 8
an+1 2n
+ 2 + 2² + 23 +…+ 2n

For the sum to infinity,

a 1
S∞ = 1−r , a = 4, r = 2

4
= 1− 1
2

=8
Since the value of sum to infinity = 8,

∴ nlim a +8 =8
→∞ n

∴ This is a convergent sequence.

 an 3 n−3
en
n n
1 0 2.71828
5 2.4 148.41316
10 2.7 22026.46579
13 2.76923077 442413.39201
15 2.8 3269017.372
17 2.82352941 24154952.75
19 2.84210526 178482301
20 2.85 485165195.4

3n-3/n
3

2.5

1.5

0.5

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12

3 n−3
From the graph above, it shows that the sequences of is a convergent sequences.
n

en
600000000.00000

500000000.00000

400000000.00000

300000000.00000

200000000.00000

100000000.00000

0.00000
0 5 10 15 20 25
From the graph above, it shows that the sequences of en is a divergent sequences.