The three dots in an infinite sequence are called an ellipsis.
While often referred to informally as "dot-dot-dot," ellipsis is the proper term. It's a punctuation mark consisting of three dots (… or . . .) used to indicate the omission of words or, in the context of sequences, the continuation of a pattern. In mathematics, it represents "and so on".
Here's a breakdown:
- Formal Name: Ellipsis
- Informal Name: Dot-dot-dot
- Purpose: Indicates a continuation or omission.
- Usage in Sequences: Signifies that the sequence continues indefinitely following the established pattern.
For example:
- 1, 2, 3, ... (indicates the sequence of natural numbers continuing infinitely)
- a, b, c, ..., z (indicates all letters of the alphabet)
Using an ellipsis allows us to represent infinite sequences concisely and clearly. It's a standard notation in mathematics, programming, and other fields where sequences are used.
