ICSE - (Class-X)

1. Sequence, series & progression

Sequence
In our daily life, we come across the arrangement of numbers or objects in
an order such as arrangement of students in a row as per their roll numbers, "The figure at the left hand
arrangement of books in the library, etc. shows a pyramid of playing
An arrangement of numbers depends on the given rule
cards. The bottom row has 9
cards, th e second row has 6
cards and the top most row
Giv en R u l e A r r a n g em en t o f n u m b er s has 3 cards. These numbers
Write 3 and then add 4 successively 3, 7, 11, 15, 19,... are in Arithmetic Progression."
Write 3 and then multiply 4 successively 3, 12, 48, 192,...
Write 4 and then subtract 3 successively 4, 1, –2, –5,...
Write alternately 5 and – 5 5, –5, 5, –5,...

Thus, a sequence is an ordered arrangement of numbers according to a

given rule.
Terms of a sequence : The individual numbers that form a sequence are
the terms of a sequence.
For example : 2, 4, 6, 8, 10,.... forming a sequence are called the first,
second, third, fourth and fifth,.... terms of the sequence.
The terms of a sequence in successive order is denoted by 'T'n or 'a'n. The
nth term 'T'n is called the general term of the sequence.
Series
The sum of terms of a sequence is called the series of the corresponding
sequence. T 1 + T 2 + T 3 +.... is an infinite series, where as
T1 + T2 + T3 + ... + Tn–1 + Tn is a finite series of n terms.
Usually the series of finite number of n terms is denoted by Sn.
Sn = T1 + T2 + T3 + ... + Tn – 2 + Tn –1 + Tn
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NUMERICAL ABILITY 1
Write the first five terms of the sequence, whose n th term is
n
an = {1 + (–1) }n.
Solution
n
an = {1 + (–1) }n
Substituting n = 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, we get
THE
SPOT  a1 = {1 + (–1)1} 1 = 0 ; a2 = {1 + (–1)2} 2 = 4;
a3 = {1 + (–1)3} 3 = 0 ; a4 = {1 + (–1)4} 4 = 8;
LIGHT
The sumof firstnnaturalnumbers i.e., a5 = {1 + (–1)5} 5 = 0
1 + 2 + 3 +....+ n is usually written as Thus, the required terms are : 0, 4, 0, 8 and 0.
n.
Progression
n(n + 1)
n = 2 It is not always possible to write each and every sequence of some rule.
For example : Sequence of prime numbers 2, 3, 5, 7, 11,... cannot be
expressed explicitly by stating a rule and we do not have any expression
for writting the general term of this sequence.
The sequence that follows a certain pattern is called a progression.
Thus, the sequence 2, 3, 5, 7, 11,.... is not a progression. In a
progression, we can always write the n th term.
THE Consider the following collection of numbers :
SPOT  1 1 1 1
LIGHT (i) 1, 3, 5, 7... (ii) , , , ,...
2 3 4 5
The sum of squares of first n natural
From the above collection of numbers, we observe that
numbers i.e., 12 + 22 + 32 + ... + n2 is
usuallywrittenasn2. (i) Each term is greater than the previous by 2.
n(n + 1)(2n + 1) (ii) In each term the numerator is 1 and the denominator is obtained by
n 2
=
6 adding 1 to the preceding denominator.
Thus, we observe that the collection of numbers given in (i) and (ii) follow a
certain pattern and so both are progressions.
2. Arithmetic progressions
An arithmetic progression is that list of numbers in which the first term is given
and each term, other than the first term is obtained by adding a fixed
number 'd' to the preceding term.
The fixed term 'd' is known as the common difference of the arithmetic
progression. It's value can be positive, negative or zero. The first term is
The sum of cubes of first n natural denoted by 'a' or 'a1' and the last term by ''.
numbers i.e., 13 + 23 + 33 + ... + n3 is e.g., Consider a sequence 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, .....
usually written as n3.
Here, a1 = 6, a2 = 10, a3 = 14, a4 = 18, a5 = 22
a2 – a1 = 10 – 6 = 4
a3 – a2 = 14 – 10 = 4
a4 – a3 = 18 – 14 = 4
-----------------
-----------------
Therefore, the sequence is an arithmetic progression in which the first
term a = 6 and the common difference d = 4.
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Symbolic form : Let us denote the first term of an AP by a1, second term
by a2, .... nth term by an and the common difference by d. Then the AP
becomes a1, a2, a3,....,an. So, a2 – a1 = a3 – a2 = ... = an – an–1 = d.
General form : In general form, an arithmetic progression with first term
'a' and common difference 'd' can be represented as follows
a, a + d, a + 2d, a + 3d, a + 4d,....
Finite AP : An AP in which there are only a finite number of terms is
THE
called a finite AP. It may be noted that each such AP has a last term.
e.g., (a) The heights (in cm) of some students of a school standing in a queue in
SPOT 
the morning assembly are 147, 148, 149,..., 157. LIGHT
(b) The minimum temperatures (in degree Celsius) recorded for a week in A sequence of non-zero numbers
the month of January in a city arranged in ascending order are a 1 , a 2 , a 3 ,...,a n is said to be a
–3.1, –3.0, –2.9, –2.8, –2.7, –2.6, –2.5 geometric sequence orGP,iff

Infinite AP : An AP in which the number of terms is not finite is called a2 a3 a4

= = = ....
infinite AP. That means infinite AP does not have a last term. a1 a2 a3
e.g., (a) 1, 2, 3, 4,...... (b) 100, 70, 40, 10,.....
an+1
Least information required : To know about an AP, the minimum information i.e. iff = a constant for all n.
we need to know is the first term a and the common difference d. an

For instance if the first term a is 6 and the common difference d is 3, then e.g., 3, 9, 27, 81,....
AP is 6, 9, 12, 15,... . Similarly, when
a = –7, d = –2, the AP is –7, –9, –11, –13,...
a = 1.0, d = 0.1, the AP is 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3,...
So, if we know what a and d are, we can list the AP.

BUILDING CONCEPTS 1
In which of the following situations, the list of numbers obtained will be
in the form of an arithmetic progression?
(i) Number of students left in the school auditorium from the total strength
of 1000 students when they leave the auditorium in batches of 25.
(ii) The amount of air present in the cylinder when a vacuum pump
removes each time 1/3 of the air left in the cylinder.
(iii) Cash price of a particular brand of washing machine in the market
is ` 12000. Sawitri buys one washing machine on monthly instalments
THE
of ` 1000 plus an interest at the rate of 2% per month on the balance
amount. She makes the first instalment after one month. No amount SPOT 
is to be paid at the time of purchase. LIGHT
Explanation A sequence of non-zero numbers
(i) t 1 = 1000, t 2 = 1000 – 25 = 975, t 3 = 975 – 25 = 950, a1, a2,...an is said to be a harmonic
sequence or HP iff
t 4 = 950 – 25 = 925 and so on.
Thus, the list of numbers is as below : 1 1 1 1
, , ,.... are in AP
a1 a2 a3 an
1000, 975, 950, 925, ......
e.g., 12, 6, 4, 3.....
Here, t 2 – t 1 = t 3 – t 2 = t 4 – t 3 =.....= –25.
Therefore, the above list of numbers forms an AP
(ii) Let us suppose that air present in the cylinder in the beginning is
x units. Every time the vaccum pump removes the 1/3 of the air present
in the cylinder.
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Here, t1 = x units,

 1  2
t2 =  x  x  units = x units,
 3  3

2 1  2 
t 3 =  x   x   units
3 3  3 

2 2 
=  x  x  units
THE
SPOT   3 9 
6 x  2x 4
LIGHT =
9
units =
9
x units,
Ifaconstantisaddedtoorsubtracted
4 1  4 
from each term of an AP then the t 4 =  x   x   units
resultingsequence is also anAPwith 9 3  9 
thesamecommondifference.
4 4 
=  x x  units
9 27 
8
= x units and so on.
27
2 4 8
Thus the list of numbers is as below : x, x, x, x,....
3 9 27
2 1
Here, t2 – t 1 = x – x = – x
3 3
4 2 4x  6x 2
t3 – t2 = x– x= – x
9 3 9 9
8 4
t4 – t3 = x – x = 8 x  12x  – 4 x and so on.
27 9 27 27

i.e., t2 – t1  t 3 – t2  t4 – t 3 .
Obviously, the common differences of the two consecutive terms are
not same throughout. Hence, the list of numbers does not form an AP
 2 
(iii) t 1 = ` 1000 + `  12000   = ` 1000 + 240 = ` 1240,
 100 
 2 
t2 = ` 1000 + `  11000  = ` 1000 + ` 220 = ` 1220,
 100 
THE
SPOT  
t3 = ` 1000 + ` 10000 
 100 
2 
= ` 1000 + `200 = ` 1200,

LIGHT
 2 
If each term of a given AP is t4 = ` 1000 + `  9000  = ` 1000 + `180 = ` 1180 and so
multiplied or divided by a non-zero  100 
constant K, then the resulting on.
sequenceisalsoanAPwithcommon
Thus, the list of the amounts of instalments is (in rupees)
difference Kd or d/K, where d is the
commondifferenceofthegivenAP. 1240, 1220, 1200, 1180, ....
t 2 – t 1 = 1220 – 1240 = – 20
t 3 – t 2 = 1200 – 1220 = – 20
t 4 – t 3 = 1180 – 1200 = – 20 and so on.
Hence, the list form an AP

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ICSE - (Class-X)

NUMERICAL ABILITY 2
Write first four terms of the AP, when the first term a and the common
difference d are as follows :a = 4, d = 5.
Solution
First term, a = 4

Second term = 4 + d = 4 + 5 = 9
THE
Third term = 9 + d = 9 + 5 = 14 SPOT 
Fourth term = 14 + d = 14 + 5 = 19 LIGHT
In a finite AP the sum of the terms
Hence, first four terms of the given AP are 4, 9, 14, 19.
equidistant from the beginning and
end is always same and is equal to
3. General term of an arithmetic progression the sum of first and last term.

The formula for writing general term or the n th term of an arithmetic

progression is

a n = a + (n – 1)d

Where, a is the first term of arithmetic progression,

and d is the common difference of arithmetic progression.

4. rth term of a finite arithmetic progression from the end

Let there be an arithmetic progression with first term a and common
difference d. If there are n terms in the arithmetic progression, then

r th t e r m fro m t h e e n d = a + ( n – r ) d

Also, if  is the last term of the arithmetic progression then rth term from
the end is the rth term of an arithmetic progression whose first term is 
and common difference is – d.

r th term from the end =  + (r – 1) (–d)

NUMERICAL ABILITY 3
Find the 20 th term of the sequence : 7, 3, –1, –5, .... THE
Solution SPOT 
t 2 – t 1 = 3 – 7 = –4 LIGHT
t 3 – t 2 = – 1 – 3 = –4 Asequence is anAPiffit's nth termisa
linear expression in n i.e., an = An + B,
t 4 – t 3 = – 5 – (–1) = –4 where A, B are constants. In such a
 The given sequence is an AP in which the first term a = 7 and the case, the coefficient of n is the
commondifferenceoftheAP.
common difference d = –4.
t 20 = a + (20 – 1) d
= 7 + (20 – 1) × (–4)
= 7 – 4 × 19 = 7 – 76 = –69
Hence, t 20 = –69.

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ICSE - (Class-X)
NUMERICAL ABILITY 4
Find the 6 th
term from the end of the AP 17, 14, 11,...., –40.
Solution
The given AP 17, 14, 11,..., –40
Here, a = 17, d = 14 – 17 = – 3,  = –40
Let there be n terms in the given AP.
Then, nth term = –40
 a + (n – 1)d = –40 ( an = a + (n – 1) d)
 17 + (n – 1) (–3) = –40
 (n – 1) (–3) = –40 – 17
 (n – 1) (–3) = –57

–57
 n–1=
–3
 n – 1 = 19
 n = 19 + 1
 n = 20
Hence, there are 20 terms in the given AP. Now, 6th term from the end
= a + (20 – 6)d ( rth term from the end = a + (n – r)d)
= a + 14d
= 17 + 14(–3)
THE
SPOT  = 17 – 42 = – 25
Hence, the 6th term from the end of the given AP is –25.
LIGHT Alternate soultion
A sequence is an AP iff the sumof it's 6th term from end =  + (n – 1) (–d)
first n terms is of the form An2 + Bn,
= –40 + (6 – 1) (–(–3))
whereA,Bareconstantsindependent
of n. In such a case, the common = –40 + 5(3)
difference is 2 A. = –40 + 15
= –25
5. Selection of terms in an AP
Sometimes we require certain number of terms in AP. The following ways of
selecting terms are generally very convenient.
Nu m b er T er m s Com m on
o f t er m s d if f er en c e

3 a – d, a, a + d d
4 a – 3d, a – d, a + d, a + 3d 2d
5 a – 2d, a – d, a, a + d, a + 2d d
6 a – 5d, a – 3d, a – d, a + d, a + 3d, a + 5d 2d
It should be noted that in case of an odd number of terms, the middle term
is a and the common difference is d while in case of an even number of
terms the middle terms are a – d, a + d and the common difference is 2d.
Remark-1 : If the sum of terms is not given, then select terms as
a, a + d, a + 2d,....
Remark-2 : If three numbers a, b, c in order are in AP. Then
b – a = Common difference = c – b
 b–a=c–b
 2b = a + c
Thus, a,b,c are in AP if and only if 2b = a + c.
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Remark-3 : If a, b, c are in AP, then b is known as the arithmetic mean
(AM) between a and c.
a+ b
Remark-4 : If a, x, b are in AP then, 2x = a + b  x =
2
a+ b
Thus, AM between a and b is .
2
NUMERICAL ABILITY 5
The sum of three numbers in AP is –3, and their product is 8. Find the
numbers.
Solution
Let the three numbers in AP be (a – d), a, (a + d). Then,
Sum = –3  (a – d) + a + (a + d) = –3  3a = –3  a = –1
Now, product = 8
 (a – d)(a)(a + d) = 8
 a(a2 – d2) = 8
 (–1)(1 – d2) = 8 ( a = –1)
 d2 = 9  d = ± 3
If d = 3, the numbers are – 4, –1, 2. If d = –3, the numbers are 2, –1, – 4.
THE
Thus, the numbers are – 4, –1, 2.
SPOT 
NUMERICAL ABILITY 6 LIGHT
If the terms of an AP are chosen at
If 2x, x + 10, 3x + 2 are in AP. Find the value of x. regular intervals, then they form an
Solution AP.
As, 2x, x + 10, 3x + 2 are in AP.
 2 (x + 10) = 2x + (3x + 2)
 2x + 20 = 5x + 2
 3x = 18
 x = 6

6. Sum to n terms of an arithmetic progression

The sum 'Sn' of n terms of an arithmetic progression with first term 'a' and
common difference 'd' is

n n
Sn  [2a  (n – 1)d] or Sn  [a  ]
2 2

Where  = last term.

n
Remark-1 : In the formula Sn = [2a + (n – 1) d], there are four quantities
2
viz. S n, a, n and d. If any three of these are known, the fourth can be
determined. Sometimes, two of these quantities are given. In such a case,
remaining two quantities are provided by some other relation.

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Remark-2 : If the sum Sn of n terms of a sequence is given, then nth term
an of the sequence can be determined by using the following formula

a n = S n – S n –1

i.e., the nth term of an AP is the difference of the sum to first n terms and
the sum to first (n –1) terms of it.

NUMERICAL ABILITY 7

Find the sum of the first 20 terms of the AP : 5, 8, 11, 14, ..... .

Solution

First term of the AP = 5, i.e., a = 5

Common difference = 3, i.e., d = 3 and n = 20

20
S 20 = (2a + 19d) = 10 × (10 + 19 × 3) = 10 × 67 = 670.
2

NUMERICAL ABILITY 8

Find the sum : 34 + 32 + 30 + .... + 10

Solution

As the given AP is 34 + 32 + 30 + .... + 10

Here, a = 34

d = 32 – 34 = – 2

 = 10

Let the number of terms of the AP be n.

We know that

an = a + (n – 1)d

 10 = 34 + (n – 1)(–2)

 (n – 1)(– 2) = – 24

–24
 n– 1 = = 12
–2

 n = 13

Again, we know that

n 13
Sn = (a + )  S13 = (34 + 10)  S13 =286
2 2

Hence, the required sum is 286.

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ICSE - (Class-X)

NUMERICAL ABILITY 9

Find the number of terms of the AP 54, 51, 48,...so that their sum is 513.

Solution

The given AP is 54, 51, 48,...

Here, a = 54, d = 51– 54 = –3

Let the sum of n terms of this AP be 513.

We know that

n
Sn = [2a + (n – 1)d]
2

n
 513 = [2 (54) + (n – 1) (– 3)]
2

n
 513 = [108 – 3n + 3]
2

n
 513 = [111 – 3n]
2

 1026 = n [111 – 3n]

 1026 = 111n – 3n2

 3n2 – 111n + 1026 = 0

 n2 – 37n + 342 = 0 (Dividing throughout by 3)

 n2 – 18n – 19n + 342 = 0

 n(n – 18) – 19(n – 18) = 0

 (n – 18)(n – 19) = 0

 n – 18 = 0 or n – 19 = 0

 n = 18, 19

Hence, the sum of 18 terms or 19 terms of the given AP is 513.

So, n = 18

Note : Actually 19th term

= a19

= a + (19 – 1) d ( an = a + (n – 1)d)

= a + 18d

= 54 + 18(– 3)

= 54 – 54 = 0

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ICSE - (Class-X)
BUILDING CONCEPTS 2
Rakesh has to buy a TV. He can buy TV either making cash down payment
of ` 15000 at once or by making 14 monthly instalments as below :
` 1500 (1 st month), ` 1450 (2 nd month), ` 1400 (3 rd month),
` 1350 (4 th month), ..... .
Each instalment except the first is ` 50 less than the previous one.
Find (i) Amount of the instalment paid in the 9 th month.
(ii) Total amount paid in 14 instalments.
(iii) How much extra he has to pay in addition to the amount of
cash down payment?
Explanation
t 1 = 1500, t 2 = 1450, t 3 = 1400, t 4 = 1350, ..... .
Now, t 2 – t 1 = t 3 – t 2 = .... = –50.
So, the fourteen monthly instalments forms an AP.
Here, a = 1500 and d = –50
(i) t 9 = a + 8d = 1500 – 8 × 50 = 1500 – 400
Thus, 9 th instalment = ` 1100

14
(ii) S 14 = (2a + 13d) = 7 × (2 × 1500 + 13 × –50)
2
= 7 × (3000 – 650) = 7 × 2350 = 16,450
Here, total amount paid = ` 16,450
(iii) Extra paid amount (i.e., in addition to cash down payment)
= ` 16,450 – ` 15,000 = ` 1450
7. Arithmetic mean
If three numbers a, A and b are in arithmetic progression then A is called
the arithmetic mean (AM) between a and b.

ab
Also, A 
2

ab
 Arithmetic mean between two numbers a and b =
2
8. Properties of an AP
(i) If same fixed non-zero number is added or subtracted from each term
of an AP, resulting sequence is also an AP.
(ii) If each term of a given AP is multiplied or divided by a given non-zero
fixed number, the resulting sequence is an AP.

NUMERICAL ABILITY 10
If a,b and c are in AP, show that (b + c), (c + a) and (a + b) are also in
AP
Solution
 a, b and c are in AP
 a – (a + b + c), b – (a + b + c) and c – (a + b + c) are in AP
(Subtracting (a + b + c) from each term of AP)
 –(b + c), –(c + a) and –(a + b) are in AP
(Multiplying each term by -1)

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