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Arithmetic Sequences and Sums of Geometric Sequences Fall 2015

This document discusses arithmetic and geometric sequences. It provides examples to determine if a sequence is arithmetic or geometric, and if so, to find the common difference or ratio. It also covers using variables to represent terms and write expressions for the sums of finite arithmetic and geometric sequences in closed form. Problems include finding missing terms, setting up and solving equations, and writing expressions for general terms.

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Ganesh N
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56 views2 pages

Arithmetic Sequences and Sums of Geometric Sequences Fall 2015

This document discusses arithmetic and geometric sequences. It provides examples to determine if a sequence is arithmetic or geometric, and if so, to find the common difference or ratio. It also covers using variables to represent terms and write expressions for the sums of finite arithmetic and geometric sequences in closed form. Problems include finding missing terms, setting up and solving equations, and writing expressions for general terms.

Uploaded by

Ganesh N
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Arithmetic Sequences and Sums of Geometric Sequences Fall 2015

1. For each sequence below, determine if it is arithmetic, geometric, or neither. Then:


 If it is arithmetic, specify d, the common difference.
 If it is geometric, specify r, the common ratio.
 If it is neither, explain why.
a) 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, … b) 3, 4.5, 6.75, 10.125, … c) 72, 96, 128, 512
3 ,...

d) 120, 40, 13 13 , … e) 8, 8.56, 9.1592, 9.800344, … f) –1, 0, 2, 5, 9, 14, …

2. Marcy and Timmy had a teacher who asked them whether the sequence 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, … was arithmetic or geometric.
 Marcy said it was arithmetic with d = 0, because, in her words, “You keep adding zero to get the next term.”
 Timmy said it was geometric with r = 1, because, in his words, “You just multiply by 1 again and again.”
Who, if anyone, is correct? Explain.

3. Each sequence below is either arithmetic or geometric, but some terms are missing. Determine the missing terms.
a) Arithmetic: 15, ___, 960 b) Geometric: 15, ___, 960

c) Arithmetic: 24, ___, ___, 12 d) Geometric: 9, ___, ___, 576

e) Geometric: 8, ___, ___, ___, ___, 19.90656 f) Geometric: 15


2 , 45
8 , 135
32 , ____

4. Consider the expression    2   3   4   5   6


a) Is the sequence  , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 arithmetic, or b) We want to write a simpler expression for the sum
geometric? Explain.    2   3   4   5   6 without as many terms. Assign a
variable to equal the sum    2   3   4   5   6 , thereby
creating an equation:

c) Multiply both sides of your equation by  and simplify: d) Add your equation from (b) to your equation in (c):

e) Solve for the variable representing the original sum    2   3   4   5   6 :


5. Using a similar process, determine the sum    2   3   4  ....  51   52 in simplest form.

6. Using a similar process, determine the sum u1  u1  r  u1  r 2  u1  r 3  u1  r 4  ... u1  r n1  u1  r n

7. For each problem below, three terms of an arithmetic sequence are listed.
 Set up an equation to determine the value(s) of the variables.
 Solve it.
 Specify the three terms (list three numbers). (Give all possible solutions, when appropriate.)
 Determine the fourth term for each sequence. (Give all possible solutions, when appropriate.)
a) 30, k, 19 b) a + 4, 3a – 7, 42 Hint: remember, the c) k 2  6, k  11, 5k
common difference of the first two terms
must equal the common difference of the
next two terms.

8. Show that the sequence 16, 8 2 , 8, 4 2 , ... is geometric. Find, in simplest form, the general term u n . ( u1  16 )

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