Sequence and Series

01 02
Sequence Progression

Sequence is a function whose domain is the set of natural numbers or A sequence whose terms follow a certain pattern is called a progression.
some subset of the type {1, 2, 3, ..., k}. We represents the images of
1, 2, 3, ..., n, ... as f1, f2, f3, ..., fn ..., where fn = f (n).
In other words, a sequence is an arrangement of numbers in definite
order according to some rule. 03
• A sequence containing a finite number of terms is called a finite Series
sequence.
• A sequence containing an infinite number of terms is called an If a1, a2, a3, ..., an, ... is a sequence, then the sum expressed as a1 + a2
infinite sequence. + a3 + ... + an + .... is called a series.
• A sequence whose range is a subset of real number R, is called a • A series having finite number of terms is called finite series.
real sequence. • A series having infinite number of terms is called infinite series.

04
Arithmetic Progression (AP)

A sequence in which terms increase or decrease regularly by a fixed

number. This fixed number is called the common difference of AP.
e.g. a, a + d, a + 2d, ... is an AP, where a = first term and d = common
difference.
 06

05 Properties of Arithmetic Progression

nth Term (or General Term) of an AP (i) If a constant is added or subtracted from each term of an AP,
then the resulting sequence is also an AP with same common
(a) nth term is given by an = a + (n – 1)d difference.
(b) nth term of an AP from the last term is given by a′n = l – (n – 1)d (ii) If each term of an AP is multiplied or divided by a non-zero
constant k, then the resulting sequence is also an AP, with common
Note d
(i) an + a′n = a + l difference kd or respectively, where d = common difference of
k
i.e., nth term from the begining + nth term from the end given AP.
= first term + last term (iii) If an, an + 1 and an + 2 are three consecutive terms of an AP, then
(ii) Common difference of an AP 2an + 1 = an + an + 2.
d = an – an – 1, ∀ n > 1 (iv) If the terms of an AP are chosen at regular intervals, then they
1 form an AP.
(iii) an = [an − k + an + k ], k < n (v) If a sequence is an AP , then its nth term is a linear expression in
2
n, i.e. its nth term is given by An + B, where A and B are constants
and A = common difference.

08
Sum of First n Terms of an AP
07
Selection of Terms in an AP Sum of first n terms of AP, is given by
n n
S n = [2a + (n − 1)d ]= [a + l ] , where l = last term
1. Any three terms in AP can be taken as (a – d), a, (a + d) 2 2
2. Any four terms in AP can be taken as (a – 3d), (a – d), (a + d), (a
+ 3d) Note
3. Any five terms in AP can be taken as (a – 2d), (a – d), a, (a + d), (i) A sequence is an AP iff the sum of its first n terms is of the form
(a + 2d) An2 + Bn, where A and B are constants and common difference in
such case will be 2A.
(ii) an = Sn – Sn – 1 i.e.
nth term of AP = Sum of first n terms - Sum of first (n – 1) terms
09 10
Arithmetic Mean Important Result on AP

(i) If a, A and b are in AP , then A is called the arithmetic mean of a (i) If ap = q and aq = p, then ap + q = 0, ar = p + q – r
a+b (ii) If pap = qaq, then ap + q = 0
and b and it is given by A =
2
1 1
(ii) If a1, a2, a3, ..., an are n numbers, then their AM is given by, (iii) If a p = and aq = , then apq = 1
a + a2 + …+ an q p
A= 1
n (iv) If Sp = q and Sq = p, then Sp + q = –(p + q)
(iii) If a, A1, A2, A3, ..., An, b are in AP , then (v) If Sp = Sq, then Sp + q = 0
(a) A1, A2, A3, ..., An are called n arithmetic mean between a and
b, where 1 1 1
(vi) If a2, b2 and c2 are in AP, then , , and
na + b b+c c+a a+b
A1 = a + d =
n +1 a b c
, , both are also in AP.
(n − 1)a + 2b b+c c+a a+b
A2 =a + 2d =
n +1 (vii) If a1, a2, ..., an are the non-zero terms of an AP, then
   1 1 1 1 n −1
+ + + …. + =
a + nb b−a a1a2 a2 a3 a3 a4 an −1an a1an
An =a + nd = and d =
n +1 n +1
(b) Sum of n AM's between a and b is nA
a+b
i.e. A1 + A2 + A3 + ... + An = nA, where A =
2
11
Geometric Progression GP

A sequence in which the ratio of any term (except first term) to its just
preceding term is constant throughout. The constant ratio is called
common ratio (r).
an +1
i.e. = r , ∀n ≥ 1
an
If a is the first term, r is the common ratio and l is the last term of a
GP, then the GP can be written as a, ar, ar2, ..., arn – 1, .... l.
12 13
nth Term (or General Term) of a GP Properties of Geometric Progression

If a is the first term, r is the common ratio and l is the last term, then (i) If all the terms of GP are multiplied or divided by same non-zero
(i) nth term of a GP from the beginning is given by an = arn – 1 constant, then the resulting sequence is also a GP with the same
l common ratio.
(ii) nth term of a GP from the end is given by an′ = .
n −1 (ii) The reciprocal of terms of a given GP also form a GP.
r
(iii) If each term of a GP is raised to same power, then the resulting
(iii) The nth term from the end of a finite GP consisting of m terms is
sequence also forms a GP.
arm – n.
(iv) If the terms of a GP are chosen at regular intervals, then the
(iv) ana′n = al resulting sequence is also a GP.
i.e. nth term from the beginning × nth term from the end = first (v) If a1, a2, a3, ..., an are non-zero and non-negative term of a GP,
term × last term then log a1, log a2, log a3, ..., log an are in an AP and vice-versa.
(vi) If a, b and c are three consecutive terms of a GP, then b2 = ac.

15
Sum of First n Terms of a GP

14 (i) Sum of first n terms of a GP is given by

Selection of Terms in a GP  a (1 − r n )
 , if r < 1
 1− r
a 
(i) Any three terms in a GP can be taken as , a and ar. S n =  a ( r n − 1)
r  , if r > 1
 r −1
a a  na, if r = 1
(ii) Any four terms in a GP can be taken as , , ar and ar3.
r3 r
a − lr lr − a
a a (ii) S n = , r < 1 or S n = ,r >1
(iii) Any five terms in a GP can be taken as 2 , , a, ar and ar2. 1− r r −1
r r where, l = last term of the GP
16 18
Sum of Infinite Terms of a GP Important Results on GP
1
a
(i) If | r | < 1, then S∞ =  xn−q  p−q
1− r (i) If ap = x and aq = y, then an =  n − p 
(ii) If | r | ≥ 1, then S∞ does not exist. y 
m
 q  2n
(ii) If am + n = p and am – n == q, then am = pq and an p  
 p
17 (iii) If a, b and c are the pth, qth and rth terms of a GP, then aq – r ×
br – p × cp – q = 1
Geometric Mean GM
(iv) Sum of n terms of b + bb + bbb + ... is
b  10 (10 − 1) 
n
(i) If a, G, b are in GP, then G is called the geometric mean of a and 
an = − n ;b =1, 2,…,9
b and is given by G = ab . 9 9 
 
(ii) GM of n positive numbers a1, a2, a3, ..., an are given by G = (a1a2 (v) Sum of n terms of 0·b + 0·bb + 0·bbb + ... is
... an)1/n
an =
b
n −
(1 − 10− n ) 
;b =
1, 2,…,9
(iii) If a, G1, G2, G3, ..., Gn, b are in GP, then
9 9 
(a) G1, G2, G3, ..., Gn, are called n GM's between a and b, where  
1 (vi) If a1, a2, a3, ..., an and b1, b2, b3, ..., bn are in GP, then the sequence
 b  n +1 a1 ± b1, a2 ± b2, a3 ± b3 ... will not be a GP.
G=
1 ar
= a 
a (vii) If pth, qth and rth term of geometric progression are also
2 in geometric progression, then p, q and r are in arithmetic
 b  n +1
2
progression.
G
= 2 ar
= a 
a (viii) If a, b and c are in AP as well as in GP, then a = b = c.
   (ix) If a, b and c are in AP , then xa, xb and xc are in geometric
n 1 progression.
n  b  n +1  b  n +1
G
= n ar
= a   and= r  
a a
(b) Product of n GM's,
G1 × G2 × G3 × ... × Gn = Gn, where G = ab
19 20
Harmonic Progression (HP) nth Term (or General Term) of Harmonic Progression

A sequence a1, a2, a3, ..., an, ... of non-zero numbers is called a (i) nth term of the HP from the beginning
1 1 1 1 1
Harmonic Progression (HP), if the sequence , , ,…, , ... is an =
a1 a2 a3 an 1  1 1
in AP. + (n − 1)  − 
a1  a2 a1 
a1a2
=
a2 + (n − 1) ( a1 − a2 )

21
Harmonic Mean

(i) If a, H and b are in HP, then H is called the harmonic mean of a

2ab 23
and b and is given by H =
a+b Arithmetic-Geometric Progression
(ii) Harmonic Mean (HM) of a1, a2, a3, ..., an is given by
1 1 1 1 1 1  A sequence in which every term is a product of corresponding term of
=  + + + …. + 
H n  a1 a2 a3 an  AP and GP is known as arithmetic-geometric progression.
The series may be written as
a,(a + d )r ,(a + 2d )r 2 ,(a + 3d )r 3 ,…,[a + (n − 1)d ]r n −1
22 dr (1 − r n −1 ) {a + (n − 1)d }r n
a
Properties of AM, GM and HM between Two Numbers Then, S n = + − , if r ≠ 1
1− r (1 − r ) 2 1− r
If A, G and H are arithmetic, geometric and harmonic means of two n
positive numbers a and b, then S=
n [2a + (n − 1)d ], if =
r 1
2
a+b 2ab
(i) A
= = ,G = ab , H
2 a+b a dr
Also, S∞ = + , if | r |< 1
(ii) A ≥ G ≥ H 1 − r (1 − r ) 2

(iii) G2 = AH and so A, G, H are in GP.

 Questions

1. The third term of G.P. is 4 . The product of its first 5 terms is 6. If the sum of n terms of an A.P. is given by Sn = 3n + 2n2, then the
(a) 43 (b) 44 common difference of the A.P. is
(c) 4 5
(d) None of these (a) 3 (b) 2
(c) 6 (d) 4
2. If 9 times the 9th term of an A.P. is equal to 13 times the 13th term, then
the 22nd term of the A.P. is 7. If tn denotes the nth terms of the series 2 + 3 + 6 + 11 + 18 + ... then t50
(a) 0 (b) 22 is
(c) 220 (d) 198 (a) 492 – 1 (b) 492
(c) 502 + 1 (d) 492 + 2
3. If x, 2y, 3z are in A.P., where the distinct numbers x, y, z are in G.P.
then the common ratio of the G.P. is 8. The lengths of three unequal edges of a rectangular solid block are in
1 G.P. The volume of the block is 216 cm3 and the total surface area is
(a) 3 (b)
3 252 cm2. The length of the longest edge is
1 (a) 12 cm (b) 6 cm
(c) 2 (d) (c) 18 cm (d) 3 cm
2
4. If pth term of an AP is q, and its qth term is p, then what is the common 9. a, b, c are in G.P. with 1 < a < b < n, and n > 1 is an integer. loga
difference? n, logb n, logc n form a sequence. This sequence is which one of the
(a) –1 (b) 0 following?
(c) 2 (d) 1 (a) Harmonic progression (b) Arithmetic progression
(c) Geometric progression (d) None of these
5. If a, b, c are in geometric progression and a, 2b, 3c are in arithmetic
progression, then what is the common ratio r such that 0 < r < 1 ? 1 1 1
10. What is the sum of the series 1 − + − ....... ?
1 1 2 4 8
(a) (b)
3 2 1 3
(a) (b)
1 1 2 4
(c) (d)
4 8 3 2
(c) (d)
2 3
 Answer Key

1. (c)

2. (a)

3. (b)

4. (a)

5. (a)

6. (d)

7. (d)

8. (a)

9. (a)

10. (d)