1. Chapter 11 Sequences, Series, and the Binomial Theorem

2. § 11.1 Sequences and Summation Notation

3. Blitzer, Intermediate Algebra, 5e – Slide #3 Section 11.1 Sequences Many creations in nature involve intricate mathematical designs, including a variety of spirals. For example, the arrangement of the individual florets in the head of a sunflower forms spirals. In some species, there are 21 spirals in the clockwise direction and 34 in the counterclockwise direction. The precise numbers depend on the species of sunflower: 21 and 34, or 34 and 55, or 55 and 89, or 89 and 144. This observation is interesting because these numbers correspond to a special sequence of numbers in mathematics: 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55,89,144,233,… Can you find the pattern? Maybe so… but if not, here it is: The first two numbers are 1, and every term thereafter is the sum of the two preceding terms. This special sequence is called the Fibonacci sequence of numbers after Leonardo of Pisa, also known as Fibonacci, who was an Italian mathematician of the thirteenth century.

4. Blitzer, Intermediate Algebra, 5e – Slide #4 Section 11.1 Sequences Definition of a Sequence An infinite sequence is a function whose domain is the set of positive integers. The function values, or terms, of the sequence are represented by Sequences whose domains consist only of the first n positive integers are called finite sequences.

5. Blitzer, Intermediate Algebra, 5e – Slide #5 Section 11.1 SequencesEXAMPLE SOLUTION Write the first four terms of the sequence whose general term is given. We need to find the first four terms of the sequence whose general term is To do so, we replace n in the formula with 1, 2, 3, and 4.

6. Blitzer, Intermediate Algebra, 5e – Slide #6 Section 11.1 Sequences - Factorials Factorial Notation If n is a positive integer, the notation n! (read “n factorial”) is the product of all positive integers from n down through 1. n! = n(n – 1)(n – 2) (3)(2)(1) 0! (zero factorial), by definition, is 1. 0! = 1

7. Blitzer, Intermediate Algebra, 5e – Slide #7 Section 11.1 Sequences - FactorialsEXAMPLE SOLUTION Write the first four terms of the sequence whose general term is given. We need to find the first four terms of the sequence. To do so, we replace each n in the formula with 1, 2, 3, and 4.

8. Blitzer, Intermediate Algebra, 5e – Slide #8 Section 11.1 Sequences - Summations Summation Notation The sum of the first n terms of a sequence is represented by the summation notation where i is the index of summation, 1 is the lower limit of summation, and n is the upper limit of summation.

9. Blitzer, Intermediate Algebra, 5e – Slide #9 Section 11.1 Sequences - SummationsEXAMPLE SOLUTION Expand and evaluate the sum: We must replace i in the expression with all consecutive integers from 0 to 4, inclusive. Then we add.

10. Blitzer, Intermediate Algebra, 5e – Slide #10 Section 11.1 Sequences - SummationsCONTINUED

11. Blitzer, Intermediate Algebra, 5e – Slide #11 Section 11.1 Sequences - SummationsEXAMPLE SOLUTION Express the sum using summation notation: We will use 1 as the lower limit of summation and i for the index of summation. The sum

12. Blitzer, Intermediate Algebra, 5e – Slide #12 Section 11.1 Sequences - Summations has 16 terms, each of the form, starting at i = 1 and ending at i = 16. Thus, CONTINUED

13. Blitzer, Intermediate Algebra, 5e – Slide #13 Section 11.1 Sequences in ApplicationEXAMPLE SOLUTION A deposit of $10,000 is made in an account that earns 8% interest compounded quarterly. The balance in the account after n quarters is given by the sequence Since every year has four quarters (of a year), and interest is being compounded for six years, interest will be compounded for 4 x 6 = 24 quarters. Therefore, we will replace n in the given equation with 24. Find the balance in the account after six years. Round to the nearest cent.

14. Blitzer, Intermediate Algebra, 5e – Slide #14 Section 11.1 Sequences in Application Therefore, the balance in the account after six years is $16,084.37. CONTINUED

15. Blitzer, Intermediate Algebra, 5e – Slide #15 Section 11.1 Sequences What is a sequence anyway? A sequence is just a list of numbers having a pattern. You can think of a sequence as a function. The terms of the sequence are the range values, and the set of positive integers is the domain. For the Fibonacci series, this would be represented by: f(1) =1, f(2)=1,f(3)=2, f(4)=3,f(5)=5,f(6)=8,f(7)=13 and so on. Some sequences are finite and others are infinite.