Sequences – recurrence relations and nth term
Recurrence Relations
We often refer to sequences defined by recurrence relations as term-to-term sequences. Recall that $u_n$ is the $n$th term in a given sequence. A recurrence relation is defined as follows:
$u_{n+1}=f(u_n)$.
As you can see, the next term in a sequence is a function of the previous term. In order to generate a sequence like this, the first term must be stated. For example, consider the sequence generated by:
$u_{n+1}=u_n\left(7-\frac{1}{2}u_n\right), \hspace{15pt}u_1=2$
We find $u_2$ by setting $n=1$ and substituting $u_1$. We find $u_3$ by setting $n=2$ and substituted $u_2$ and so on. Hence why it is called a ‘recurrence relation’. This sequence is nonlinear and the terms are given by
$u_2=u_1\left(7-\frac{1}{2}u_1\right)=2(7-\frac{1}{2}\times 2)=12$,
$u_3=u_2\left(7-\frac{1}{2}u_2\right)=12(7-\frac{1}{2}\times 12)=12$,…
… and so on. After the first term, the terms in this sequence will always be 12. See Example 1 for another recurrence relation.
nth term sequences
We often refer to $n$th term sequences as position-to-term sequences. This is where the sequences are defined as follows:
$u_n=f(n)$
This is also known as closed form. In this case, each term in the sequence if a function of its position. Unlike for recurrence relations, we do not need a first term to generate a sequence like this. This is because, when given in closed form, each term of a sequence is defined by its position number. For example, consider the sequence generated by the closed form $u_{n}=4^n-1$. We find $u_1$ by setting $n=1$, $u_2$ by setting $n=2$ etc:
$u_1=4^1-1=3$,
$u_2=4^2-1=15$,
$u_3=4^3-1=63$, …
and so on. This sequence is also nonlinear and will diverge (what does diverge mean?). See Example 2 for more.
Increasing, Decreasing and Periodic Sequences
- Increasing sequences satisfy $u_{n+1}>u_n$. For example, the sequence generated by the recurrence relation $u_{n+1}=u_n^2+1$ with $u_1=0$ is given by $0, 1, 2, 5, 26, 677,…$ This is an increasing sequence.
- Decreasing sequences satisfy $u_{n+1}<u_n$. For example, the sequence generated by the $n$th term rule $u_n=5-2n$ is given by $3, 1, -1, -3, -5,…$. This is a decreasing sequence.
- Periodic sequences are those that repeat after a fixed number of terms. We can write this as $u_{n+k}=u_n$ for some fixed value of $k$. $k$ is known as the order or period of the sequence. For example, the sequence $4, -1, 7, 4, -1, 7, …$ is periodic with period 3.
See Examples 1 and 2.
Examples of Sequences
Recurrence Relation Example 1
The recurrence relation of a sequence is defined by $x_{k+1}=ax_k(x_k+1)$ where $a$ is a constant with $x_1=\frac{1}{2}$.
- Given that $x_2=\frac{1}{4}$, find the value of $a$.
- Generate the first 4 terms of the sequence.
- State whether or not the sequence is increasing, decreasing or periodic.
- Using the recurrence relation with $k=1$, $x_2=ax_1(x_1+1)=\frac{1}{2}a(\frac{1}{2}+1)=\frac{3}{4}a$. It follows that $\frac{3}{4}a=\frac{1}{4}$ and so $a=\frac{1}{3}$.
- We already have the first two terms so we need $x_3=\frac{1}{3}x_2(x_2+1)=\frac{1}{12}\left(\frac{1}{4}+1\right)=\frac{5}{48}$ and $x_4=\frac{1}{3}x_3(x_3+1)=\frac{5}{144}\left(\frac{5}{48}+1\right)=\frac{265}{6912}$. Hence, the first 4 terms of the sequence are $\frac{1}{2}, \frac{1}{4}, \frac{5}{48}, \frac{265}{6912},…$
- The sequence is not increasing nor periodic but it is decreasing.
nth term Example 2
The nth term of a sequence is given by $u_n=\cos\left(\frac{1}{4}\pi n\right)$.
- State the period of the sequence.
- Calculate $\sum_{i=1}^{80} u_n$.
- The period of the sequence is 8.
- The first 8 terms of the sequence are $\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}, 0,-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}, -1, -\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}, 0, \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}, 1$. Summing these gives a result of zero and since the sequence repeats with period 8, every 8 terms has a sum of 0. It follows that $\sum_{i=1}^{80} u_n=0$. See more on sigma notation.