On Predicting the Next Term of a Sequence
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International Journal of Mathematical Trends and Technology (IJMTT) | ![]() |
© 2014 by IJMTT Journal | ||
Volume-6 Number-2 |
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Year of Publication : 2014 | ||
Authors : A. Umar , B. Yushau |
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A. Umar , B. Yushau. "On Predicting the Next Term of a Sequence", International Journal of Mathematical Trends and Technology (IJMTT). V6:136-141 February 2014. ISSN:2231-5373. www.ijmttjournal.org. Published by Seventh Sense Research Group.
Abstract
When introducing sequences to students, the first skill we teach them is how to predict the next term of a sequence given the first few terms, usually the first three, four or five terms. In this note, we intend to show that given some terms of a sequence, the next term is not uniquely determined in most cases. We will also show under which condition can the next term be determined uniquely.
References
[1] L. Comtet, Advanced Combinatorics: The Art of Finite and Infinite Expansions, (D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht – Holland: 1974)
[2] J. H. Conway and R. K. Guy, The book of Numbers, (Springer-Verlag New York, Inc.: 1996)
[3] N. J. A. Sloane's On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences, http://www.research.att.com/~njas/sequences/index.html
[4] T. Gwena, What's next in the sequence 1, 2, 4, 8, 16...? Retrieved January 10, 2006 from http://www.uz.ac.zw/science/maths/zimaths/seq3132.htm