User's Manual

Sequence app 281

Sequence app

The Sequence app provides you with various ways to

explore sequences.

You can define a sequence named, for example, U1:

• in terms of n

• in terms of U1(n –1)

• in terms of U1(n –2)

• in terms of another sequence, for example, U2(n) or

• in any combination of the above.

You can define a sequence by specifying just the first term

and the rule for generating all subsequent terms. However,

you will have to enter the second term if the HP Prime is

unable to calculate it automatically. Typically if the nth

term in the sequence depends on n –2, then you must

enter the second term.

The app enables you to create two types of graphs:

• a

Stairsteps graph, which plots points of the form (n,

Un)

• a

Cobweb graph, which plots points of the form

(Un–1, Un).

Getting started with the Sequence app

The following example explores the well-known Fibonacci

sequence, where each term, from the third term on, is the

sum of the preceding two terms. In this example, we

specify three sequence fields: the first term, the second

term and a rule for generating all subsequent terms.