SAM SHARPE TEACHERS’ COLLEGE
Mathematics Department
Business Algebra – MT103SEB
Sequences and Series Notes
Sequences
A sequence is a set of terms in a definite order with a rule for obtaining each term. It is often written
as 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , … , 𝑎6 , … , 𝑎𝑛 . The order may be ascending, descending or alternating.
Example
Given the sequence 3, 5, 7, …. is an infinite sequence. 3 is the first term, 5 is the second term, 7 is
the third term, etc.
To obtain the rule, notice that the sequence goes up 2 every time, so we can guess that a Rule is
something like "2 times n" (where "n" is the term number).
n Term Test Rule
1 3 2𝑛 = 2 × 1 = 2 2+1 =3
2 5 2𝑛 = 2 × 2 = 4 4+1 =5
3 7 2𝑛 = 2 × 3 = 6 6+1 =7
n 2𝑛 2𝑛 + 1
Therefore, the rule for the sequence 3, 5, 7, …. is 𝑎𝑛 = 2𝑛 + 1.
With the rule it is now possible to calculate the nth number in the sequence.
Calculate the 95th term in the sequence.
𝑎95 = 2 × 95 + 1 = 191
Note:
When a sequence is finite, it has a specific number of terms, hence it is possible to write all the
terms in a sequence.
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Arithmetic Sequences (Arithmetic Progression)
In an arithmetic sequence, the difference between one term and the next, is a constant, in other
words, add the same value each time to infinity.
Example
The sequence 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, …. has a common difference of 3 between each number and has
a rule of 𝑎𝑛 = 3𝑛 − 2.
In general, an arithmetic sequence can be written as
{𝒂, 𝒂 + 𝒅, 𝒂 + 𝟐𝒅, 𝒂 + 𝟑𝒅, … }
Where:
• a is the first term
• d is the difference between consecutive terms (common difference)
The rule now becomes,
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎 + 𝑑(𝑛 − 1)
Checking the sequence 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, …
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎 + 𝑑(𝑛 − 1)
𝑑 =4−1=3
𝑎1 = 1 + 3(1 − 1) = 1 + 0 = 1
𝑎2 = 1 + 3(2 − 1) = 1 + 3 = 4
𝑎3 = 1 + 3(3 − 1) = 1 + 6 = 7
𝑎4 = 1 + 3(4 − 1) = 1 + 9 = 10
To calculate the 30th term in the sequence, use n = 30.
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎 + 𝑑(𝑛 − 1)
𝑎30 = 1 + 3(30 − 1) = 1 + 3 × 29 = 88
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Geometric Sequences (Geometric Progression)
In a geometric progression, each term is found by multiplying the previous term by a constant.
Example
In the sequence 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, …, the previous term is multiplied by 2 to get the next or a term
is divided by 2 to get the previous term. This means that the common ratio, r, is 2. The rule for this
sequence is 𝑎𝑛 = 2𝑛 .
In general, a geometric sequence can be written as
{𝑎, 𝑎𝑟 1 , 𝑎𝑟 2 , 𝑎𝑟 3 , … . }
Where;
a is the first term
r is the factor between the terms (called the common ratio, not equal to 0)
The rule now becomes;
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑟 (𝑛−1)
Checking sequence 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, ….
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑟 (𝑛−1)
4 8 16
𝑟= = = =2
2 4 8
𝑎1 = 2 × 21−1 = 2 × 1 = 2
𝑎2 = 2 × 22−1 = 2 × 2 = 4
𝑎3 = 2 × 23−1 = 2 × 4 = 8
𝑎4 = 2 × 24−1 = 2 × 8 = 16
To calculate the 12th term in the sequence, use n = 12
𝑎12 = 2 × 212−1 = 2 × 211 = 2 × 2048 = 4096
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Series
A series is formed when the terms of a sequence are added. The series formed from
the sequence 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , … , 𝑎6 , … , 𝑎𝑛 is 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎3 + ⋯ + 𝑎6 + ⋯ , + 𝑎𝑛 .
Example
1, 4, 9, 16, …… is a sequence with rule 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑛2
1 + 4 + 9 + 16 + … is a series.
𝑆𝑛 is the sum of the first n terms of a series.
𝑆∞ is the sum to infinity of a series.
Sigma notation
𝑑
∑ 𝑎𝑛
𝑛=𝑐
The notation above means the sum of all terms such as 𝑎𝑛 , where n take all the integral values
from c to d inclusive.
5
∑ 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎3 + 𝑎4 + 𝑎5
𝑛=1
∞
∑ 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + ⋯ + 𝑎𝑛 + …
𝑛=1
Example
Given that 𝑎𝑛 = 2𝑛 + 3, calculate the sum of the first 5 terms in the sequence.
5
∑ 𝑎𝑛
𝑛=1
∑ 2𝑛 + 3 = (2 × 1 + 3) + (2 × 2 + 3) + (2 × 3 + 3) + (2 × 4 + 3) + (2 × 5 + 3)
𝑛=1
∑ 2𝑛 + 3 = 5 + 7 + 9 + 11 + 13 = 45
𝑛=1
∑ 2𝑛 + 3 = 45
𝑛=1
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Worksheet
1. Given the sequence 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, ….
a) Determine whether the sequence is an arithmetic progression or a geometric progression,
state reason for your answer.
b) Calculate the 18th term in the sequence.
2. Given the sequence 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, ….
a) Determine whether the sequence is an arithmetic progression or a geometric progression,
state reason for your answer.
b) Calculate the 18th term in the sequence.
3. Given that the first term in an arithmetic progression is 2 and the common difference is 5,
calculate;
a) the 10th term in the sequence.
b) the sum of the first 5 terms sequence.
4. Given that the first term in a geometric progression is 3 and the common ratio is 4, calculate;
a) the 16th term in the sequence
b) the sum of the first 4 terms in the sequence.
5. The third term of an arithmetic progression is 16 and the eleventh term is 72. Find the.
a) the common difference
b) first term
c) sum of the first 6 terms.
6. The third term of a geometric progression is 490 and the 8th term is 8235430. If the common
ratio is positive, calculate;
a) the common ratio
b) the first term
c) the fifth term
d) the sum of the first three terms.
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