Name______________________________________________

Chapter 9 Sequences, Series, and

Probability
Section 9.1 Sequences and Series

Objective: In this lesson you learned how to use sequence, factorial, and
summation notation to write the terms and sum of a
sequence.

Important Vocabulary Define each term or concept.

Terms of a sequence The function values a1, a2, a3, a4, . . . , an, . . . of an infinite
sequence.

I. Sequences (Pages 642−644) What you should learn

How to use sequence
An infinite sequence is . . . a function whose domain is the notation to write the
set of positive integers. terms of sequences

A finite sequence is . . . a sequence whose domain

consists of the first n positive integers only.

To find the first three terms of a sequence, given an expression

for its nth term, . . . evaluate the expression for the nth term
at n = 1 to find the first term, at n = 2 for the second term, and so
on.

Example 1: Find the first five terms of the sequence given by

a n = 5 + 2n(−1) n .

3, 9, − 1, 13, − 5

II. Factorial Notation (Pages 644−645) What you should learn

How to use factorial
If n is a positive integer, n factorial is defined as notation
n! = 1 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 4 ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ (n − 1) ⋅ n

As a special case, zero factorial is defined as 0! = 1 .

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156 Chapter 9 • Sequences, Series, and Probability

n!
Example 2: Evaluate the factorial expression .
( n + 1) !

1/(n + 1)

III. Summation Notation (Pages 646−647) What you should learn

How to use summation
The sum of the first n terms of a sequence is represented by the notation to write sums
summation or sigma notation,
n
∑ ai = a1 + a2 + a3 + a4 + . . . + an
i =1
where i is called the index of summation , n is the
upper limit of summation , and 1 is the lower
limit of summation .

7
Example 3: Find the following sum: ∑ (2 + 3i) .
i =2

93

IV. Series (Page 647) What you should learn

How to find the sums of
The sum of the terms of a finite or infinite sequence is called a infinite series
series .

Consider the infinite sequence a1, a2, a3, . . . , ai, . . . . The sum of all
terms of the infinite sequence is called a(n) infinite series
∞
and is denoted by a1 + a 2 + a3 + L + ai + L = ∑ ai . The sum of
i =1

the first n terms of the sequence is called a(n) finite series

or the nth partial sum of the sequence and is denoted by
n
a1 + a 2 + a3 + L + a n = ∑ ai .
i =1

Homework Assignment

Page(s)

Exercises

Larson/Hostetler Precalculus/Precalculus with Limits Notetaking Guide IAE

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.