AP Calculus BC glossary
Sequence
A sequence is an ordered list of numbers indexed by the positive integers. A series is the sum of the terms of a sequence, so a sequence is a list while a series is a total.
A sequence converges when its terms approach a single limit. A series converges when its partial sums approach a limit, which is a stronger and quite different requirement.
The harmonic sequence converges to 0, but the harmonic series diverges. That one example is the clearest reason the distinction matters.
The mistake
Concluding a series converges because its terms go to zero. Terms going to zero is necessary but nowhere near sufficient.
Appears in: Unit 10: Infinite Sequences and Series (BC)