Arithmetic Sequence and Series
Arithmetic Sequence and Series
𝒂𝟏 , 𝒂𝟐 , 𝒂𝟑 , 𝒂𝟒 …𝒂𝒏 …
Example:
𝟏, 𝟒, 𝟕, 𝟏𝟎, … 𝟑𝒏 − 𝟐, …
A finite sequence is a function that has a limited
number of terms and whose domain is the finite
set 1,2,3, … , 𝑛 . The values in the range are
called terms of the sequence.
Domain: 1 2 3 4 … n
Range: 𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑎3 𝑎4 … 𝑎𝑛
A infinite sequence is a function that continues
without stopping and whose domain is the set
of positive integers.
Examples:
Finite: 2, 4, 6, 8 Infinite: 2,4,6,8,…
1, 4, 9, 16, …
General term: 𝒂𝒏 =
Finding the general term of the sequence
Practice:
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
a. 𝟏, , , , , …
𝟐 𝟑 𝟒 𝟓
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
c. , , , ,…
𝟐 𝟒 𝟖 𝟏𝟔
Problems involving sequence:
1. The amount of weight in pounds gains in each
month of its first year is modeled by a sequence
2𝑛+8
whose general term is 𝑎𝑛 = , where 𝑛 is the
1.2
number of month. Write the first five terms of the
sequence and find how much the weight the puppy
should gain in its fifth month.
2. The value 𝑣, in pesos, of an office copier
depreciates according to the sequence 𝑣𝑛 =
𝑛
3950(0.8) , where 𝑛 is the time in years. Find the
value of the copier after 36 months.
Quiz:
½ crosswise
Avoid erasures
Fill in the correct terms to complete each
statement.
1. The 𝑛 𝑡ℎterm of the sequence 𝑎𝑛 is called the
____ term.
2. A(n) ____ sequence is a function whose
domain is {1,2,3,4, … 𝑛} where 𝑛 is some
natural number.
3. A(n) ____ sequence is a function whose
domain is {1,2,3,4, …}.
Find the first 3 terms of each sequence
𝑛−1
1. 𝑎𝑛 = 7
(−1)𝑛
2. 𝑎𝑛 =
4𝑛
4 4
3. 𝑎𝑛 = (−1) ∙ 𝑛
Solve:
The distance, in feet, that a Thermos dropped from a
cliff falls in each consecutive second is modeled by a
sequence whose general term is 𝑎𝑛 = 32𝑛 −
16, where 𝑛 is the number of seconds. Find the
distance the Thermos falls in the second, third and
fourth seconds.
Arithmetic Sequence and Series
A sequence in which the difference between
successive terms is a constant is called
arithmetic sequence. The constant is
referred to as common difference, denoted
𝒅.
𝟐𝟕, 𝟑𝟗, 𝟓𝟏, 𝟔𝟑 …
Common difference of 12
Next three terms are 75, 87, 99
𝟐𝟕, 𝟑𝟗, 𝟓𝟏, 𝟔𝟑, 75, 87, 99 …
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + 𝑛 − 1 𝑑
𝑎1 = 12, 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑛−1 + 9
12 𝑖𝑓 𝑛 = 1
ቊ
𝑎𝑛−1 + 9 𝑖𝑓 𝑛 > 1
Find both an explicit and recursive formula
𝑡ℎ
for the 𝑛 term of the arithmetic sequence
35, 23, 11, …
𝑑 = −12
35 𝑖𝑓 𝑛 = 1
ቊ
𝑎𝑛−1 − 12 𝑖𝑓 𝑛 > 1
Exercise:
1. Find the 68th term of the arithmetic
sequence 25, 17, 9,…
2. Find the first term of the arithmetic
3
sequence for which 𝑎25 = 139 and 𝑑 =
4
3. Find the 38th term of the arithmetic
sequence −29, −2, 25, …
4. Find 𝑑 of the arithmetic sequence for
which 𝑎1 = 75 and 𝑎38 = 56.5
If two nonconsecutive terms of an arithmetic
sequence are known, the terms between
them can be calculated. These terms are
called 𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑠.
In the sequence
Sequence Series
-6, -3, 0, 3, 6 −6 + (−3) + 0 + 3 + 6
4.25, 4, 3.75, 3.5 4.25 + 4 + 3.75 + 3.5
𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , 𝑎4 , … 𝑎𝑛 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎3 + 𝑎4 , … +𝑎𝑛
Sum of a finite arithmetic series
The sum of a finite series with 𝑛 terms or the
𝑛𝑡ℎ 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑢𝑚 of an arithmetic series can
be found using one of the two related
formula
𝒏
𝑺𝒏 = (𝒂𝟏 + 𝒂𝒏 )
𝟐
𝒏
𝑺𝒏 = (𝟐𝒂𝟏 + 𝒏 − 𝟏 𝒅)
𝟐
Find the indicated sum of each arithmetic
series
a. −5 + 2 + 9 + ⋯ + 317
b. The 28th partial sum of 27 + 14 + 1 + ⋯
c.
A video game tournament, in which gamers
compete in multiple games and accumulate an
overall score, pay the top 20 finishers. First place
receives PhP 5000, second place receives PhP
4800, third place receives PhP 4600 and so on.
How much total prize money is awarded?
Carter has been collecting basketball cards since
his father gave him a 20-card collection. During
each month, Carter’s father gives him 5 more
cards than the previous month. In how many
months will Carter reach 1000 cards?