6.39.2  Making a sequence or a list: seq $

The seq command or $ operator can create a sequence or a list.

To create a sequence:

• seq takes three mandatory arguments and one optional argument:
  • expr, an expression depending on a parameter.
  • k, the parameter.
  • a..b, a range of values. The range can be combined with the parameter into one argument of k=a..b.
  • Optionally p, a step size (by default 1 or -1, depending on whether b>a or b<a). This is only allowed if the previous two arguments are combined into one, k=a..b
  This is Maple-like syntax.
• seq(expr,k,a..b) (or seq(expr,k=a..b  ⟨ ,p⟩)) returns the sequence formed by the values of expr, as k changes from a to b in steps of p.

Alternatively, a sequence can be created with the infixed $ operator. Namely, expr$ k=a..b returns the sequence formed by the values of expr as k changes from a to b. As a special case, expr$ n creates a sequence consisting of n copies of expr.

There are two ways to create a list with seq.

First:

• seq takes four mandatory arguments and one optional argument:
  • expr, an expression depending on a parameter.
  • k, the parameter.
  • a, the beginning value of the parameter.
  • b, the ending value of the parameter.
  • Optionally p, a step size (by default 1 or -1, depending on whether b>a or b<a).
  This is TI-like syntax.
• seq(expr,k,a,b  ⟨,p⟩) returns the list consisting of the values of expr, as k changes from a to b in steps of p.
• As a special case, seq(expr,n) creates a list consisting of n copies of expr.

Second:

• seq takes two arguments: argument:
  • expr, an expression.
  • n, a positive integer.
• seq(expr,n) returns the list consisting of n copies of expr.

Remark.

• In Xcas mode, the precedence of $ is not the same as it is, for example, in Maple. In case of doubt, put the arguments of $ in parenthesis. For example, the equivalent of seq(j^2,j=-1..3) is (j^2)$(j=-1..3) and returns (1,0,1,4,9).
• With Maple syntax, j,a..b,p is not valid. To specify a step p for the variation of j from a to b, use j=a..b,p or use the TI syntax j,a,b,p and get the sequence from the list with op(…).

Examples.

• To create a sequence:
  Input:
  seq(j^3,j,1..4)
  or:
  seq(j^3,j=1..4)
  or:
  (j^3)$(j=1..4)
  Output:

  1,8,27,64

• To create a list:
  Input:
  seq(j^3,j,1,4)
  Output:

  ⎡ ⎣

  1,8,27,64

  ⎤ ⎦

• To create a sequence:
  Input:
  seq(j^3,j=-1..4,2)
  Output:

  −1,1,27

  To create a list:
  Input:
  seq(j^3,j,-1,4,2)
  Output:

  ⎡ ⎣

  −1,1,27

  ⎤ ⎦

• Input:
  seq(j^3,j,0,5,2)
  Output:

  ⎡ ⎣

  0,8,64

  ⎤ ⎦

• Input:
  seq(j^3,j,5,0,-2)
  or:
  seq(j^3,j,5,0,2)
  Output:

  ⎡ ⎣

  125,27,1

  ⎤ ⎦

• Input:
  seq(j^3,j,1,3,0.5)
  Output:

  ⎡ ⎣

  1,3.375,8.0,15.625,27.0

  ⎤ ⎦

• Input:
  seq(j^3,j,1,3,1/2)
  Output:

  ⎡ ⎢ ⎢ ⎣

  1,

  27 8

  ,8,

  125 8

  ,27

  ⎤ ⎥ ⎥ ⎦

• To create a list with several copies of the same element:
  Input:
  seq(t,4)
  Output:

  ⎡ ⎣

  t,t,t,t

  ⎤ ⎦

• To create a sequence with several copies of the same element:
  Input:
  seq(t,k=1..4)
  or:
  t$4
  Output:

  t,t,t,t

Examples of sequences being used.

• Find the third derivative of ln(t):
  (See Section 6.19.4).)
  Input:
  diff(log(t),t$3)
  Output:

  2 t3

• Input:

  l:=[[2,3],[5,1],[7,2]]

  seq((l[k][0])$(l[k][1]),k=0 .. size(l)-1)

  Output:

  ⎛ ⎝

  2,2,2

  ⎞ ⎠

  ,

  ⎛ ⎝

  5

  ⎞ ⎠

  ,

  ⎛ ⎝

  7,7

  ⎞ ⎠

  then: Input:
  eval(ans())
  Output:

  2,2,2,5,7,7

• Transform a string into a list of its characters:
  Input:

  chn := "abracadbra"

  seq(chn[j],j,0,size(chn)-1)

  Output:
  ["a","b","r","a","c","a","d","a","b","r","a"]