Series, Sequences and Progressions

[Cheman]

Series, Sequences and Progressions...

My textbook says that a progression is another name for a series, but the dictionary says it is another name for a sequence - which is it?

Thanks.

 

[robert Ihnot]

My soft cover Penguin Dictionary calls a progression, "A simple sequence of numbers in which there is a constant relation between consecutive terms," such as arithmetic, harmonic, and geometric.

 

[jcsd]

Yep it's a sequence. Also I recommend The Penguin Dictionary of Maths, as it's cheap (only about £5) and it's style (compared to say the McGraw-Hill dictionary of maths) makes it ideal for anyone learning maths.

 

[HallsofIvy]

My textbook says that a progression is another name for a series, but the dictionary says it is another name for a sequence - which is it?

Thanks.

I'm surprised that your textbook says that. Mathematically speaking a "series" is a sum but your textbook (what level is it?) may be using "series" as another word for "sequence"- which is common in general English usage.