SEQUENCE AND SERIES.

Can you see the pattern in each of the following sets of numbers?

a. 1 ,3 ,5 , 7 ,−−−¿
b. 1 , 4 , 9 , 16 ,−−−¿
c. 1 , 2, 4 , 8 ,−−−¿
These are examples of a sequence. Each number is a term of the sequence. In (a),
each term is 2 more than the preceding term, so the sequence continues
9 , 11, 13 ,−−−¿ . Sequence (b) is the set of square number, 12 ,22 , 32 ,−−−¿ , so the next
three terms are 25 , 3 6 , 49.In (c), each term is double the preceding term.

Try

Discover the pattern for each of the following sequence and give the next 3 terms

a. 20 , 17 , 14 ,−−−¿
b. 1 , 8 ,27 ,64 ,−−−¿
c. 8 , 0.8 , 0.08 , 0.008 ,−−−¿
SEQUENCE AS A FUNCTION

Given that, T is a function of the positive integer where T ( n )=2 n−1. We shall write
this as Tn=2 n−1. Where Tn is the nth term and n=1 ,2 , 3 , 4 ,−−−¿. this gives us a
formular for finding any required term. Always remember that the sequence may
be finite or infinite. In a finite sequence, nwill have a upper value and Tn will e the
last term of the sequence. In an infinite sequence, there is no last term.

Example

a. Write down the first 3 term of the sequence, given that Tn=1−2 n.

Solution.
 n=1 ,2 , 3

Tn=T 1, T 2, T 3
T 1=1−2 ( 1 )=−1

T 2=1−2 ( 2 )=−3

T 3¿ 1−2 ( 3 ) =−5

The sequence is −1 ,−3 ,−5 ,−−−¿

b. Write down the first 4 terms of the sequence given that Tn=(−2)n
Solution.

Tn=(−2)2

For n=1 ≫ T 1= (−2 )1=−2

n¿ 2 ≫ T 2=(−2 )2=4

n¿ 3 ≫ T 3=(−2 )3 =−8

n¿ 4 ≫ T 4=(−2 )4 =16

The sequence is −2 , 4 ,−8 , 16 ,−−−¿

Try

1. The nth term of a sequence is given. Write down the first 4 terms of each
sequence.
a. 3 n+1
b. 2 n−1
c. n2
n+1
d. 2
e. 2 n−1

2. Given the sequence 5 , 1 ,−3 ,−−−¿ find

a. A formular for the nth term
b. The 30th term
c. Which term of the sequence are -75 and -200
 3. Tn= (2 n+1 )( n−2 ) , which term of the sequence is 33

4. ¿ a sequence given by Tn=a+bn , the 7th and 5th term are 19 and 43 respectively.
Find the value a∧b

ARITHEMETIC PROGRESSION (A.P)

Look at the sequence: 3 , 7 , 11,15 ,−−−−, 6 , 2 ,−2 ,−−−. In the first, 4 is added to
each term. In the second, 4 is subtract from each term.

The common feature of these sequence is that the difference between consecutive
terms is constant. That is , T 2−T 1 =T 3 −T 2=T 4 −T 3 , etc . Such a sequence is an
arithematic progression(A.P). The difference between consecutive term is called
the common difference. If we denote the first term (T 1) by a , and the common
difference by d , we can write as ,

1st termT 1=a

2nd term T 2=a+ d

3rd term T 3=a+ d+ d

=a+ 2 d

Tn¿ a+ ( n−1 ) d .

Examples

1. What is the 15th term of the sequence −3 , 2 ,7−−−?

Solution

This is an A.p as 2− (−3 )=7−2=5 , So a=−3 ,b=5

From Tn=a+ ( n−1 ) d

=T 15=−3+ ( 15−1 ) 5=−3+14 × 5=67

 2. Find a formular for the nth term of the A.p. 12, 5, -2,----------
Solution
a=12 , d=−7

Then T n=12+ ( n−1 ) × (−7 )=19−7 n

3. The 6th and 13th term of an a.p are 0 and 14 respectively. find the A.p
Solution
T n=a+ ( n−1 ) d

Then T 6=a+ 5 d=0 ,∧T 13=a +12 d=14

=a+ 5 d=0 → (1 )

=a+ 12d =14 → (2 )

( 2) →( 1)

=7 d=14

From ( 1 ) a=0−5 ( 2 )=−10

The A.p is −w ,−8 ,−6.

TRY

1. The sum of three consercutive term of an A.p is 18, and their product is 18,
and their product is 120. Find the term.
2. Find
i. The 8th, 25th, 50th terms and
ii. A formula for the nth term term of these APs.
a. 3, 7, 11
1 5 1
b. 2 , 6 , 1 6
3. If a=−4
T12=8
Find d
4. The 5th and 10th term of an A.p are -12 and -27 respectively. Find the A.P and
its 15th term.
 5. Which term of the A.P 2, 5, 8--- is 44?
ARITHEMATIC MEANS

If a, b, c are three consecutive terms of an A.P, then b is the arithematic means of a

1
and c. Now b−a=c−b , so b= 2 ( a+ c ) .in other words, b is the average of a and c.

Example

1. Find the arithematic mean of -7 and 3

Solution
1 1
b= 2 (−7+3 )= 2 (−4 )=−2

the required number are -7, -2, 3.

2. Insert 5 arithmetic means means between -3 and 21.

Solution

What we have to do is to find 5 numbers p, q, r, s, t so that -3, p, q, r, s, t, 21 are

seven terms of an A.P

Then a=−3 , T 7 =21

So T 7=21=−3 d+ 6 d=21 ≫ d=4

The required numbers are 1, 5, 9, 13, 17.

Try

1. Find the arithmetic mean

1 1
a) -10 and -5, b. 7 and 3, c -8 and 0, d. −2 2 ∧5 2
2. Insert 4 arithmetic means between -12 and 13

GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION (G.P)

Look at these sequences:

a. 2,4,8,16…
b. -3,9,-27,81,…
Can you see a common factor?

Take the ratio of consecutive terms.

In each sequence, the ratio of consequetive terms is constant. Such a sequence is

called a geometric progression. (G.P)

1st term

T1 = a

2nd Term

T2 = ar

3rd Term

T3 = ar2
.
.
.
Nth Term

Tn = arn-1

So for any G.p Tn = arn-1

Examples

1. Find
a) The 12th term of the sequence 128, 64, 32,…
b) A formular for the nth term.

Solution
 64 32 1 1
a) The sequence is a G.P as 128 = 64 = 2 . So a = 128, r = 2

From Tn =arn-1
7
1 128 2 1 1
 T12 = ar12-1 = ar11 = 128 x ( 2 )11 = 11
= 11 = 4 =
2 2 2 16

()
n−1 7
1 2 8 −n
b) 128 × 2
= n−1
=2
2
8
2. The 4th and 8th term of a G.P are 24 and 27 respectively. Find the two
possible value of a and r.
3 7 8
T 4=ar =24∧T 8=ar =
27
7
ar 4 8 1
Dividing, 3 =r = 27 ÷ 24= 81
ar

⟹r 4=
1
81
From ar =24
⟹ r=
3
4 1

81
=±
1
3 √
a=24 × ( ±3 ) ⟹ a=± 648
The G.p is either 648, 216, 72,--------- or -648, -216, -72,------------.
Try
1. State a formular in term of n for T n in its simplest form for each of the
following G.Ps
a. 1, 2, 4,
2
b. 15, 5, 1 3
c. 80, 20, 5
d. 50, 20, 8
e. 10, 12, 14.4
9
1 3 9 3
2. Which term of the G.P 2 , 4 , 8 ,−−−is 10 ?
2

1 1
3. The 1st and 7th term of a G.p are 40 2 and + 18 respectively. Find the 1st
and 5th terms.
 1
4. The sum of the 1st and 3rd terms of a G.P is 2 3 , and the sum of the 2nd and
3
4th terms 1 4 . Find a and r.

GEOMETRIC MEANS

If a, b, c, are consecutive terms of a G.P, then b is the geometric mean of a and c.

b c 2
Then a = b =b =ac

So, b = ñ ac , but we usually take the positive value.

The geometric mean of 2 and 32 is 8

Therefore the three terms of G.P are 2, 8, 32.

4
Eg. Find three geometric means between 27 and 12.

SOLUTION
4
If the means are u, v, w, then 27 , u, v, w, 12 are consecutive terms of a G.P.

4
So 12 = ar4 = 27 r4

12 x 27
 r 4= =81 ,∧r =± 3
4
 Taking positive values
4 4
So the three means are 9 , 3 , 4.

TRY

1. State the geometric mean of

a. 5 and 20 ;
1
b. 2 and 16
1
∧8
c. 1 2
27
 1
2. Find four geometric means between 8 and 4.
3. The arithmetic mean of two numbers is 15, and their geometric mean is 9.
Find the numbers.

SERIES

Consider the sequence T1, T2, T3,… We now add the terms, starting with the first:

Sum of 1 term S1 = T1

Sum of 2 terms S2 = T1 + T2

Sum of 3 terms S3 = T1 + T2 + T3
.
.
.
Sum of n terms Sn = T1 + T2 + T3 + … +Tn

Sn is called a series of n terms.

The sum of the series is the value of Sn for a given value of n.

Series Sn from sequence: 1, 2, 3,…+n, is given as

Sn = 1 + 2 + 3 + n

Eg. If Sn = n2 – n+1, find the 1st, 5th and 12 terms.

SOLUTION

a. 1st term = T1 = S1 = 1-1+1=1

 n=1
b. Now S5 = T1 + T2 + T3+ T4+ T5, and S4 = T1 + T2 + T3+ T4
So T5 = S5 – S4 = (25 – 5 + 1) – (16-4+1) +8
c. Again T12 = S12 – S11 = (144 – 12 + 1) – (121-11+1) =22

TRY
 a. Given that
Sn = 3n – 2, Find the 1st, 3rd and 5th terms.
b. Sn = n2. Find 1st, 4th, 10th terms.
c. Sn = n2 + 3n – 2. Find 1st, 5th and 12th terms.

SUMS OF AN A.P

The sum of an A.P is given by;

n n
Sn = 2 [ 2 a+ ( n−1 ) d ] = 2 ¿

Examples

1. Find the sum of the first 20 terms of 2 + 5 + 8 + …

SOLUTION
20
S12 = 2 [ 2 x 2+ ( 20−1 ) 3 ] = 10 x 61 = 610

2. The sum of 8 terms of an A.P is 12, and the sum of 16 terms is 56. Find the
A.P.

SOLUTION
8
S8 = 2 ( 2 a+7 d )=12 -------- (1)

16
S16 = 2 ( 2 a+15 d ) =56 -----(2)

Solving (1) and (2) simultaneously

1 1
a = - 4 and d = 2

1 1 1
Therefore: A. P is - 4 , 4 , 4 , …

TRY

1. Find the sums stated for each A.P.

a. 20 terms of -9, -4, 1…
b. 100 terms of 1, 3, 5,…
 c. 40 terms of 8, 7.5, 7,…

2. For an A.P, a=25, d= -3. Find the value of n if Sn = 112.

SUM OF A G.P.

a(1−r ¿¿ n)
Sum of G.P, Sn = ¿ , for r = 1
1−r

OR
n−1
a(r )
Sn = , for r>1
r−1

If r=1, the formula cannot be used. In this case however, the sum of the G.P is
a+a+a+…+a

 Sn = na

Eg. Find the sum of the first 10 terms of 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 …

Solution

a = 1/8 , r=2, n=10

1 10
(2 −1) 1 1023 7
S10 = 8 = 8 (1024−1) = 8 = 127 8
2−1

TRY

1. Find the sum of G.P.

a. 10 terms of 16, 8, 4,…
1 1
b. 8 terms of 9 , 3 , 1…
c. 12 terms of 1, -2, 4, -8,…
d. 6 terms of 64, 16, 4,…
1
2. The sum of the first two terms of a G.P is 12 2 , and the sum of the first four
11
terms is 3 18 .
Find the G.P. if r>0.