# Formal notation related to a sequence or a set

My question is quite naive...

I just want to represent a finite sequence of Natural number, is it the best way to write it like this?:

$\langle a_0, \ldots, a_n \rangle$, where $\forall i \in [ 0, n ], a_i \in \mathbb{N}$

I have also seen somewhere $\{ a_i \}$, does it mean a set (or a sequence) of variables? is it finite or infinite? where could i add the constraint like $\forall i \in [ 0, n ], a_i \in \mathbb{N}$?

Also, is there any difference between "tuple" and "sequence"?

Hope my question is clear, I just want to make sure what I write matches the convention...

Thank you very much

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There are several usual notations:

• Let $\bar a = \langle a_i\mid i<n\rangle \in \mathbb N^{<\mathbb N}$... (where $\mathbb N^{<\mathbb N}$ means the collection of all finite sequences of natural numbers, and $\mathbb N^\mathbb N$ is the collection of all infinite sequences)
• Let $\bar a = \langle a_i\mid i<n\rangle$ be a finite sequence of natural numbers...

And you can always replace $\langle a_i\mid i<n\rangle$ by $\langle a_0,\ldots,a_{n-1}\rangle$.

Note that $[0,n]$ can be read as the real numbers between $0$ and $n$.

The important thing is to be clear in your intention, and consistent in your notation.

And lastly, the difference between a "tuple" and a "sequence" is the context, usually tuple is used for finite length, while sequence is for infinite ones. Also, tuples are usually for a constant length, while sequences are a variable length.

The notation $\{a_i\}$ means that this is a set whose elements are distinct. Naturally it says $i\in I$ for some index set $I$, which in turn might be that this is just a sequence (or a directed set). The meaning is usually clear from context, read more - a lot more - and things will slowly clarify.

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Thanks for your reply. Does the $<\mathbb{N}$ mean in $\mathbb{N}^{<\mathbb{N}}$ "finite", so does $\mathbb{N}^{\mathbb{N}}$ mean "infinite"? – SoftTimur May 21 '11 at 16:26
Also, what could "$\{a_i\}$" mean in a normal context? – SoftTimur May 21 '11 at 16:39

Sometimes I see $a_1, a_2, ...$ without the brackets.

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