Integer sequence

In mathematics, an integer sequence is a sequence (i.e., an ordered list) of integers.

An integer sequence may be specified explicitly by giving a formula for its nth term, or implicitly by giving a relationship between its terms. For example, the sequence 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, … (the Fibonacci sequence) is formed by starting with 0 and 1 and then adding any two consecutive terms to obtain the next one: an implicit description. The sequence 0, 3, 8, 15, … is formed according to the formula n² − 1 for the nth term: an explicit definition.

Alternatively, an integer sequence may be defined by a property which members of the sequence possess and other integers do not possess. For example, we can determine whether a given integer is a perfect number, even though we do not have a formula for the nth perfect number.

Examples

Integer sequences which have received their own name include:

Computable and definable sequences

An integer sequence is a computable sequence, if there exists an algorithm which given n, calculates a_n, for all n > 0. An integer sequence is a definable sequence, if there exists some statement P(x) which is true for that integer sequence x and false for all other integer sequences. The set of computable integer sequences and definable integer sequences are both countable, with the computable sequences a proper subset of the definable sequences (in other words, some sequences are definable but not computable). The set of all integer sequences is uncountable (with cardinality equal to that of the continuum); thus, almost all integer sequences are uncomputable and cannot be defined.

Complete sequences

An integer sequence is called a complete sequence if every positive integer can be expressed as a sum of values in the sequence, using each value at most once.

See also

• On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences
  • List of OEIS sequences

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Integer sequences.

• Journal of Integer Sequences. Articles are freely available online.
• Inductive Inference of Integer Sequences

Sequences and series
Integer sequences	Basic Arithmetic progression Geometric progression Square number Cubic number Factorial Powers of two Powers of 10 Advanced Complete sequence Fibonacci numbers Figurate number Heptagonal number Hexagonal number Lucas number Pell number Pentagonal number Polygonal number Triangular number Full list
Properties of sequences	Cauchy sequence Monotone sequence Periodic sequence
Properties of series	Convergent series Divergent series Conditional convergence Absolute convergence Uniform convergence Alternating series Telescoping series
Explicit series	Convergent 1/2 − 1/4 + 1/8 − 1/16 + ⋯ 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + 1/16 + ⋯ 1/4 + 1/16 + 1/64 + 1/256 + ⋯ 1 + 1/1s + 1/2s+ 1/3s + ... (Riemann zeta function) Divergent 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + ⋯ 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + ⋯ 1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + ⋯ 1 − 1 + 1 − 1 + ⋯ (Grandi's series) Infinite arithmetic series 1 − 2 + 3 − 4 + ⋯ 1 − 2 + 4 − 8 + ⋯ 1 + 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/4 + ⋯ (harmonic series) 1 − 1 + 2 − 6 + 24 − 120 + ⋯ (alternating factorials) 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/5 + 1/7 + 1/11 + ⋯ (inverses of primes)
Kinds of series	Taylor series Power series Formal power series Laurent series Puiseux series Dirichlet series Trigonometric series Fourier series Generating series
Hypergeometric series	Generalized hypergeometric series Hypergeometric function of a matrix argument Lauricella hypergeometric series Modular hypergeometric series Riemann's differential equation Theta hypergeometric series